Local Search Engine Optimization

**home-values** · 07-24-2009, 08:35 AM

Google has a special section that shows up in search results for any query that specifies a location. A location is any geographical reference, as general as a state or province or specific as a street address.

So, if someone types in "Real Estate Agent", the top results will be realty sites that have optimized for the generic term "Real Estate Agent". These sites have to spend a huge amount of time and money to get ranked for these highly competitive terms, which puts you, the local real estate professional in competition with big money. A little further down, you will see the map designated to "Local Results", where Google tries to figure out your location and displays results.

However, if someone types in "Orlando Real Estate", now Google does things a little different. Because there is a location specified, the "Local Results" moves to the top position, displaying results from business registered in their local business directory. You can register your business with Google for free, by filling out a short form.

Optimizing, however becomes much more challenging because there are only 10 slots in the Local Results section and the factors that weigh in are more complex. Clicking on the "more" link of a local result will reveal a number of subtabs that each has a different type of content in it.

The Overview tab brings in content from the other tabs, which include Details, Reviews, Photos & Images and Web Pages.

Details specifies the information you submit to the Google local business directory, such as business name, phone numbers and addresses.

Reviews are Google users that offer a review of your service/products.

Photos are images related to your business that Google associates from alt tab content harvested from your own and other websites.

Obviously, Web Pages lists websites that mention your business.

There are some other tabs that are revealed as different content is generated on Google sites about your business. For example, if a user generates a custom map that includes your address as a location pin, that custom map will show up in a Maps tab.

How can you make this work for you? The first step is to get listed in the directory. You can either start from scratch using Google's submission form: http://maps.google.com/local/add?hl=en

Or you can use a service to add yourself to multiple local search engines, which will instantly give you a boost on Google's local results. eppraisal.com offers the Total Exposure package, which includes adding your business to about 80 different local search engines with a single profile. (This is not a free service, but worth it if you are starting local search from scratch)

Once you are listed, you can begin adding content that will increase your local search rank. Get some of your clients to add reviews, create a custom maps with your business address and other real estate landmarks. Add some images to your site that reference your business name in the alt tags. All of this will show up in the "more" tabs and contribute to your rank.

Since the default click on the Local Results in a link to your website, you can easily rank up your business listing to generate more qualified clicks to your site.

Post your questions and I'll try to answer. Hope this was helpful.

**officespace** · 08-06-2009, 10:02 PM

Thanks for that relevant information.Well optimized real estate website are in the higher rankings, those are search able websites.

**Luxury Homes Tampa** · 08-10-2009, 04:37 AM

Good informative post about local search engine optimization. I think local search engine optimization is very effective for small or local business.

**nitsujri** · 08-11-2009, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Luxury Homes Tampa

Good informative post about local search engine optimization. I think local search engine optimization is very effective for small or local business.

It's not just good for local or small business; it's good even for startups that plan to grow big namely it gives you the ability to get into a niche and grow from there. Everyone wants to be amazon or fb, but realistically, it's just amazon and fb...

**amber.ella** · 08-17-2009, 09:49 PM

Most of the website owners are targeting specific regions like UK for instance. They prefer to use Google.uk rather than google.com.

**jondiego** · 08-18-2009, 07:49 PM

SEO is very confusing for most, I happen to make a great living at it. I'm not here to get hired to do any SEO work, I'm here to help how I can. SEO comes down to a few things (tweaked specifically for your niche, obviously)

Quality Content
Quality Back Links
Quality Website code

It boils down to that but there are obviously specifics that are invovled. Hope this helps!

**linkers** · 08-29-2009, 09:43 AM

Thanks to share the great information. It will help for SEO work

**Hanratty** · 09-04-2009, 11:49 PM

Ever since local search engine optimization has become industry-accepted, webmasters and local business owners have wanted a way to benefit from it. For those in the search engine optimization (SEO, SEM) field, this means optimizing sites to be ranked high for localized search queries.
This can be done by including your targeted geographical area(s) in your Title tags, content and links. Chances are your site can rank higher for "Seattle office supplies" than the more competitive term, "office supplies". That's simple. Job done, right?

**iproperty123** · 04-11-2011, 05:50 PM

The shared information is really good, thanks for suggesting tips.

**mikesmith** · 04-12-2011, 04:51 AM

Originally Posted by home-values

Google has a special section that shows up in search results for any query that specifies a location. A location is any geographical reference, as general as a state or province or specific as a street address.

So, if someone types in "Real Estate Agent", the top results will be realty sites that have optimized for the generic term "Real Estate Agent". These sites have to spend a huge amount of time and money to get ranked for these highly competitive terms, which puts you, the local real estate professional in competition with big money. A little further down, you will see the map designated to "Local Results", where Google tries to figure out your location and displays results.

However, if someone types in "Orlando Real Estate", now Google does things a little different. Because there is a location specified, the "Local Results" moves to the top position, displaying results from business registered in their local business directory. You can register your business with Google for free, by filling out a short form.

Optimizing, however becomes much more challenging because there are only 10 slots in the Local Results section and the factors that weigh in are more complex. Clicking on the "more" link of a local result will reveal a number of subtabs that each has a different type of content in it.

The Overview tab brings in content from the other tabs, which include Details, Reviews, Photos & Images and Web Pages.

Details specifies the information you submit to the Google local business directory, such as business name, phone numbers and addresses.

Reviews are Google users that offer a review of your service/products.

Photos are images related to your business that Google associates from alt tab content harvested from your own and other websites.

Obviously, Web Pages lists websites that mention your business.

There are some other tabs that are revealed as different content is generated on Google sites about your business. For example, if a user generates a custom map that includes your address as a location pin, that custom map will show up in a Maps tab.

How can you make this work for you? The first step is to get listed in the directory. You can either start from scratch using Google's submission form: http://maps.google.com/local/add?hl=en

Or you can use a service to add yourself to multiple local search engines, which will instantly give you a boost on Google's local results. eppraisal.com offers the Total Exposure package, which includes adding your business to about 80 different local search engines with a single profile. (This is not a free service, but worth it if you are starting local search from scratch)

Once you are listed, you can begin adding content that will increase your local search rank. Get some of your clients to add reviews, create a custom maps with your business address and other real estate landmarks. Add some images to your site that reference your business name in the alt tags. All of this will show up in the "more" tabs and contribute to your rank.

Since the default click on the Local Results in a link to your website, you can easily rank up your business listing to generate more qualified clicks to your site.

Post your questions and I'll try to answer. Hope this was helpful.

The quick advice i can give you regarding local SEO is to not only add your website in to search engines locals like Google, Yahoo and Bing but also get reviews and ratings from your existing and happy customers to gain the word of mouth. must upload on yelp.com and Google & bing they all really works!!