Tag Archives: local seo techniques

This is collection of posts from the Local Splash Blog that cover specific local SEO techniques.

If your Google listing is claimed and verified, but you still aren’t climbing the rankings like you had hoped you would, it may be duplicate or incorrect listings around the web that are holding you back. Cleaning up these listings can help you boost your rankings to the first page of Google. “Cleaning up” your listings is another way of saying, updating your listings to make sure they are consistent throughout the web.

First, you must identify the problem. Search for your business name on Google and check out the results that pop up. You will likely see a result for your Google+ Local listing as well as other local directory listings. If your business has been around a while, chances are it’s in a lot of directories that you may not even know about. These listings are unclaimed and unverified, so they are in danger of having incorrect or inconsistent information. When the information about your business around the web is inconsistent, Google has less trust in the business and will penalize it with lower rankings. This is why it’s important to find out where your business information is on the web and gain control of it by claiming and verifying listings.

Explore the listings and claim and verify each one. This can be done usually by clicking a button that says “manage this page” or “is this your business?” the exact wording varies from directory to directory. Edit these listings to make sure they have the correct address, phone number and other business information. Remember, the more information that is filled out, the more trustworthy the listing becomes. While editing addresses, remember, 1234 Harbor Blvd. is not the same as 1234 Harbor Boulevard. Although they are the same place, because boulevard is spelled out in one and abbreviated in another, Google sees it as an inconsistency and it will affect your rankings in a negative way.

Cleaning up your listings can be time consuming, especially if you have more than one business location. Local SEO companies like Local Splash can clean up your listings for you, so you have more time to focus on your customers.

Local SEO is very beneficial to small businesses, however many have yet to claim and verify their Google+ Local, Yahoo Local and Bing Local company pages. If you are a local business that has not dipped a toe in the local search pool, here are 5 good reasons why you should.

1. You get more control over your listings.Local businesses that claim and verify their local businesses pages have more control over their information. Business owners can edit the information to ensure that it is correct, search engine optimized and appealing to potential customers. Since these pages must be verified, they are more trusted by both search engines and consumers.

2. Local businesses have an increased presence in the SERPs. The local search results are more prominent in the SERPs than ever and eyetrack studies show that people look at the local results and Map before the organic results. Local SEO can help you get more eyes on your businesses.

3. Conversion rates are higher. Conversion rates for potential customers searching for local keywords are higher than those searching for general or national keywords. When the potential customer is near the location of the business this increases the chance that they will click on and visit the business.

4. Local SEO is easy. For small businesses that don’t have a huge marketing budget, local SEO is a breath of fresh air. It’s easy to claim and verify your listings on local directories and many are completely free. The only drawback is, local SEO can be time consuming.

5. Mobile searches for businesses are often local. Instead of scouring the Yellow Pages for a local pizza place, consumers are turning to their smartphones. Local map listings are perfect for companies that want to be found by consumers on-the-go. These consumers often have a higher purchase intent and are more likely to turn into loyal customers.

Local SEO is valuable to small businesses. It can help increase their presence, gain control over their online information and attract more customers. Ready to get started with you local SEO campaign today? Call Local Splash.

Photo courtesy of Kelsey Group

Local Splash CEO, Steve Yeich, spoke this morning with Andrew Shotland, Principal of Local SEO Guide, at BIA/Kelsey’s SMB Digital Marketing Conference. The two spoke about the value of local SEO for SMB’s.

Shotland gave an update on what’s happening with SEO for SMBs and Yeich discussed how SMBs with multi locations can benefit from local SEO. He used Local Splash client and Chicago pizza chain, Leona’s, as an example.

For more details on the presentation, read Kelsey’s blog post, SMB Digital 2012: Local SEO and the SMB Value Prop.

Tag Archives: local seo techniques

How To: Clean Up Incorrect Listings and Increase Your Rankings

Top 5 Ways Local SEO Helps Small Businesses

Local Splash CEO, Steve Yeich Speaks at BIA/Kelsey’s SMB Digital Marketing Conference in Chicago