How to benefit from local search
Posted on April 3, 2008
Filed Under Marketing the Rental Websites, Search Engine Optimization |
What is local search?
When we talk about search we are talking about a user typing words into a search engine requesting information on the internet about the word, or words. It is the search engines job to return the most relevant web page for your search. The search becomes a local search when we add a location to the search request. An example of a local search would be Drexel Hill, Pa auto insurance.
How can you benefit from Local Search?
A business (or anyone actually) can benefit from a local search by being listed in the top 10 search engine results of a local search. It is very important to be listed in the top 10. The top 10 represent the number of web pages listed on the first page of the search result. Most user do not go past the first page of any search result.
How do search engines determine which results to show?
Exactly how search engines determine their results is a secret. In addition to that all search engines determine results differently. If everyone knew how to be listed number one there would be no number two! Search engines determine what web pages results to show on a local search by reading the search request, and then matching the request with the best web pages for the words typed in the local search. To state it very basically they determine which pages match the request, then after they have all the pages, they determine which web page has the most relevance, or authority. So to be listed in the top 10 results for a local search make sure your web pages match what the searcher is typing into the search engines, and then make sure your web page has the most authority. It sounds simple, but trust me, it is very difficult. Most business owners with web sites rely on search engine optimization consultants to make sure the search engines know what their web pages are about, and to get authority for their web pages.
Most business owners get it backwards
How about an example. I happen to be in this goofy business. Look at my web site design site. The first thing I did was to buy my domain name - lamach-web-design.com. Isn’t that what everyone does? All looks good right! Not a bad site, just sit back and watch the fireworks! Well, thats what usually happens. Of course no customers come to the site, and the business owner is pretty sure he’s been sold a bunch of crap. The web site must be marketed. This is called internet marketing. You know, the stuff that never gets done!
How do we get customers using local search
Thats what the article is about! Let’s use our example and see how it could be with local search. I am on the internet to gain customers. I am also on the internet to supply my present customers with information, but, I am looking for that new customer. This is easy, all I have to do is make my web pages match what the customer types in. The problem arises because my customer is looking for drexel hill, pa web design, not lamach web design. All my pages talk about lamach web design. My customer is doing a local search, and I don’t have local pages to match their request. My customer may also do a search for different locations. I imagine, actually I know, he types in Drexel Hill Pa. web design. If he doesn’t type in the location, he is going to get some really strange results from all over the world. They also might type in Pennsylvania web design, Philadelphia, Pa web design, or Delaware County, Pa. web design. Does everyone see how they did not type in Lamach? If they did, they already know me. I want the new customer.
To get results from a local search use a local web site
I believe the solution to the problem requires all businesses in a community to band together on local rental websites. How strange, that just happens to be the business I’m in. Lets see how a local web site can help my situation out. I belong to the Drexel Hill Pa. Blog. I post articles under the heading of web design. Here check it out for yourself - Drexel Hill, Pa. Web Design. Where do you think the search engines are going to send the customer that types in Drexel Hill, Pa web design? I’ll give you some help, it won’t be LaMach Web Design. And when the customer goes to the Drexel Hill, Pa they will find me. Doesn’t this make sense. And guess what, every business that belongs to that Drexel Hill, Pa. web site, makes the authority for Drexel Hill, Pa. stronger. It snowballs. All adding authority to your web pages. Fact is is really don’t need a web site at all, but it usually does help.
The Local Web Site
We here at local rental websites do two things. We create local web sites, like Drexel Hill, Pa. and we rent websites on each local web site we develop. The secret is to build the web site, then control the competition that belongs. I didn’t say that. To find out more information, please use the contact form. Thank you for your time.