Tag Archives: local search

At today’s San Francisco iPhone 5 launch event, Apple revealed a thinner, faster iPhone equipped with Apple Maps/local search, Siri enhancements and other updates.

The new iPhone 5 will be the first iPhone to feature Apple Maps instead of Google Maps. Apple Maps could have a significant impact on local search if the application’s user experience proves to be a good one. If Apple Maps is successful, it could take a large piece of Google’s local search traffic on the iPhone. However, the user experience of Apple Maps is still to-be-determined. Apple revealed that the new iPhone 5 features enhancements to Siri, which could mean more people will be using Siri to perform searches rather than Google.

Apple Maps will feature turn-by-turn voice navigation and will have real-time traffic data available. This means as traffic conditions change, alternative routes will be offered to the user. One feature that is exclusive to Apple Maps is the “flyover” feature which includes 3-D images that were taken by helicopters as they flew over major cities.

What did you think of the new iPhone 5 and Apple Maps? Will you be trading in your iPhone 4s or Android phone for the slimmer, faster iPhone 5?

Local search matters. According to Google, 97% of consumers search for local businesses online. A study by comScore stated that 61% of searchers consider local search results to be more relevant and 58% think they’re more trustworthy. Eyetrack studies prove that users’ eyes go straight to the Maps results in Google when viewing the search results. These are just a few reasons why your business should have a local search campaign. Here are 5 local SEO tips you can start using today to help your business get found:

1. Track your rankings. Use software or reporting tools that allow you to monitor your rankings on different search engines and compare. Check out which cities are working best for you and concentrate on them. Also see what people are typing in to find you and focus on those keywords.

2. Create local-targeted landing pages. This allows you to optimize for searchers in a specific location or those searching with that location name in their query.

3. Claim your business listing on multiple directories including Google Places, Yahoo Local, Yelp, Merchant Circle, Superpages, About Us. Make sure you fill out your business profile completely on each of these sites.

4. Get active on social media. Combining social media with local search efforts with increase the time in which you see success. If you don’t have a company blog, start one! 57% of businesses have acquired a customer through their company blog. Link from your social media networks to your website to drive traffic.

5. Enhance your listings and landing pages with coupons. Give your potential customers an incentive to try out your business rather than your competitors’.

Although Google’s “I’m Feeling Lucky” button is pretty irrelevant to most users (only 1% of users actually use it), the company recently gave it 8 new options for fun.

If you’re never used it and aren’t sure what the button is all about, typing in a search query on Google.com then clicking “I’m Feeling Lucky” instead of “Google Search” takes you to the website in the first position of the results for that query. You don’t go to the search results page at all. If you click the button without typing a search query, you’ll be taken to Google’s collection of Doodles.

If you’re not feeling lucky, now you can try one of these on for size:

• I’m Feeling Artistic takes you to a random Google Art Project
• I’m Feeling Hungry takes you to a search for restaurants
• I’m Feeling Wonderful takes you to a random World Wonders project
• I’m Feeling Stellar takes you to Google Earth
• I’m Feeling Playful takes you to an interactive Google Doodle
• I’m Feeling Doodly takes you to a random Google Doodle
• I’m Feeling Puzzled takes you to a Google-a-Day site
• I’m Feeling Trendy takes you to Hot Searches

To try these out, just go to Google.com, put your cursor over the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button and watch the phrases change. Click them with or without typing in a search query and see where the button leads you.

Have you ever used the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button?

Tag Archives: local search

Apple Launches iPhone 5, Fully Equipped with the New Apple Maps

5 Local Search Tips to Start Using Today

Google Adds More Phrases to “I’m Feeling Lucky” Button