Google, the world wide search engine that allows people from all over the world to come together online has a secret that is starting to get around. Google’s best work is not around the world , but right down the street from my house and yours. Google best kept secret that is starting to grow, it is Local Search. Local Search is a powerful tool for Mom and Pop local businesses to Fortune 500 companies. Local Search allows users to find goods and services in their neighborhood. Let me explain how it works.

This morning I wanted to find someone to do my Online Marketing in Temecula California. I went to www.google.com and typed in the search bar 

I was greeted at the very top of the page with a map and Google’s online listings. This first page supplied me with a website, contact phone number and a more link for ten companies that offer the srvice I am looking for . I chose the first listing MaryEllen Gibson Online Marketing (she must be awesome at local search to be the first listed Oh wait, I know she is awesome at local search that is me! ) If I clicked on the business name it would take me directly to their website, if I click on more it takes me to their Google Local Listing

Above is the Google Local Listing it includes:

• Business Name
• A link to leave a review
• Address
• Phone Number
• Website Address & Link
• Get directions to
• Business Overview
• Reviews
• Details
• Coupons
• Related Websites
• e-mail to a friend
• print
• link this page

Do you know what it is?

Are you using it to drive sales to your business?

If not you are missing out on a powerful tool. 

It is Yahoo Local and it is making the world wide web more about what is down the street than what is around the world.

     When you first click on local on the yahoo home page it should automatically show your home town (if you have a yahoo account) . Type in what you are looking for from Apple Pies to Zambonis. I typed in Online Marketing for Temecula, California. Company X Inc is the first local listing (Wow, they must have an outstanding Online Marketing Director…..oh wait that is me…..then I know they have the best Online Marketing Director) .  On this intro page are listed about 10 businesses with a brief summary, part of a review, and the Yahoo Map showing the location of the businesses.  I clicked on Company X Inc to view their entire page.

        

 I have been working on the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for websites for over ten years. I am a huge fan of the belief “Content is King”. I have worked on keyword rich content that fed my visitors as well as the search engines. Then I started blogging. Slow at first and then building my blogs to an online marketing resource. Then came Social Media Sites such as Technorati, Stumble Upon, Digg , and the vast amount of others. It took me a bit to realize that these sites were Google and Yahoo’s dream of human rated content. As soon as I started to offer my site and blogs to Social Media Optimization I started once again climbing to the tops of the Search Engines.

1. Update, Update, Update – This is the most important priority for a website or blog. Too many sites on the web are “dead” or “static”. They were created to be an online brochure and there they sit.  The more you update your site the more “sticky” your website becomes. Visitors will want to come back over and over again. They will even start linking to it.

2. Linkability: To get a website or blog ready for social media optimization, we need to build the linkability (still not sure if this is a real word) of the content. Blogs, Event Calendar, and visitor submissions help to increase the links to your site. If you do not yet have a content management system for your website. Now is a good time to invest in a new site

3. Bookmarking – My website is a joomla based site. So some wonderful person out there created a Social Media bar that has links to all of the Social Media Sites. This makes it easy for my visitors to link to my site. To view a sample go to www.maryellengibson.com and take a peek at my footer.
4. Submit – Make sure to submit your own new content. When I create a new video, pdf., image or article I submit it myself. This allows the community to become involved as soon as I post it. It also helps me with quick feedback. I grow by knowing what my readers want to know.

5. Know your readers – I love SMO if for no other reason that I know my audience. Unlike writing for a newspaper or website with SMO I know who loves my work and who doesn’t. Wow! Where else can you find that. I also love being able to learn more from my readers and increase my own knowledge and ability to share.

6. CONTENT!!!!! – Create it , Grow it, Spread it. Write articles. Create images. Narrate a video. Content is a must. The entire web revolves around content and we all know there is more bad than good. So create some outstanding content.

6.5 Read and Mark: Go out there and comment on other sites. Read other blogs and articles. Leave your review on Stumble Upon. SMO creates a community become part of it.

3.       The search engine will show AnnaKate the most “ Relevant” high-ranking resources. Google might rank www.divaprincess.com relatively very high because princess is part or the URL or website name.

Is this all there is?

 NO.

Many businesses have the Field of Dreams mentality for their website. ” If I build it they will come”. Sadly, many sites sit on the internet not being visited because they are poorly designed and marketed. It takes more that having your Brother-In-Law create a weekend website for you and hanging your shingle on the world wide web. Here are some helpful hints to getting your site seen.

• Create a website that is professional and distinctive.  Your website may be the first time your potential Client experiences your business. Make sure it has the same professional feel as your storefront or office. Check for bad or broken links they make your website look thrown together and frustrate your viewer. JavaScript errors must be eliminated. The company’s profile should be clear and concise. If you allow clients to order from your site it must be secure, no one will put in their personal information unless they see https in the address bar.
  
• Design with the user in mind. Never use heavy images they slow down your site. Potential clients will not wait to see slow loading images. Use graphics that enhance content and match the design of your site.  Avoid images that change color or blink. Use standard layouts that are reader friendly, the page should feel spacious and font size must be comfortable. Limit the number of advertisements, banners, and links on a page. Be sure to Test your website using multiple browsers (Internet Explorer, Safari, & Firefox).

• Increase traffic by submitting the site to web directories. Choose to submit to major ones as well as minor ones, even a few Relevant niche sites will boost your popularity and traffic.

• Link your site to others. Search engines give higher positions to sites linked from others. Link your website to major sites as well as minor ones. Contact high traffic sites and request a mention or link. This will boost your engine placement and direct traffic from the pages that are linked. Large sites will only link to sites that look as professional as their own.

• Create a site map and link every page to it. These invite spiders sent out by search engines to know where to look for information on your site. These have become more complex , but are a must on Yahoo and Google. Adopt an easy-to-use navigational structure. Check for errors regularly. Include a site search tool. Be search engine friendly and avoid frames or code that will trip up a spider or engine.  
  

The internet maybe the perfect location for YOUR NEXT LOCATION. Think of your website as another office or storefront. Include it in budgets, advertising, and staffing. You can now be “OPEN” 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Make sure you Online location is seen.