What is Local Search Marketing?

This article gives you an introduction about what is local search marketing and how to do this effectively to bring in local traffic to your website. Local search traffic is the most underutilized web traffic. Statistics shows that search volume for local content and businesses has increased tremendously over the few years. A business or service provider targeting the local people should employ online local marketing for an extra advantage.

So what is local search marketing?

It is actually marketing and website optimization done with the intention to tap local search traffic. Local search marketing is evolving to be a must in internet marketing. It has now, its own set of optimization techniques and guidelines. It offers an excellent opportunity for local small business owners to reach more potential customers from online media.

How to do Local search marketing?

This involves creating business profile pages or rather business listings in top online local business directories. It also involves building up a web presence with a professionally designed website with quality content. Your website should be optimized for the target keywords that your prospective customers are searching for.

Where to start?

Start off by creating business listing in Google places, Yahoo local and Bing business portal. These listings should be consistent and should have the same profile details. Major local traffic is generated by these three search engines. Getting yourself listed in them is must for long term local traffic.

Tips to get to the top

1. You can enhance your online presence by using social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Local search is highly dependent on your social interaction index. All major search engines take this factor into consideration while rendering search results. Strengthen your social media networking and make your company or business more popular.

2. Try to get your loyal clientele, and if possible, your friends and family to rate and pen some positive reviews about your business. More positive feedbacks give you more trustworthiness.

3. Get business listings and reviews in other top local and review websites which the major search engines consider significant. Consistency and concurrent citations are imperative for top listing.

4. Your business listings should be accurate, optimized for the targeting keywords. Stuffing keywords will get you penalized.

5. Learn from your competitors. Doing some ground work on your competition often gives you an edge in your online local marketing.

If you haven't yet utilized this great opening, then you are really missing out. Start your local search marketing campaign today and get found locally.