Search engines have become one of the primary ways that people find products and services in your town. This growing medium increases the need for small local businesses to master local search. In fact, your business should be found on the first page of search results when people type your town plus something they want, like St. Louis Lawyers. Although search engine marketing/optimization is growing, it isn't effective in every industry but makes up a large chunk.
It's important to conquer the search game before competitiors because online authority and trust means a lot to search engines. The next few blog posts will be dedicated to a few steps you can take to get found in your online town.
There are a few ways to make your web pages more localized. This is one of the variables in getting search engines to understand the area in which you operate. Start by adding a physical address to your location, essentially putting your business on the map. Your customers are using Google Maps to find businesses in your area. Make sure your enter you business information on these networks.
Add your city name in your navigation. For instance, if your a kitchen remodeling company in St. Louis, you might consider adding St. Louis in links, site maps, and buttons on your web pages. Also, you can extend the use of city names by adding it to the content of your website. An effective blog is the best way to extend the amount of content on your website, and Google loves blogs. Start writing about local events and make sure to list yourself on local event blogs, websites, and publications.
You can use blogs in other ways, too. Try using tools like Placeblogger to find other bloggers in your area. Often, you can find people who are writing stuff related to your industry or business and get them to link back to your blog. There are many online tools to help you gain the attention you need. Try using Google’s keyword tool or Wordtracker to find keywords that people are using to find your business.