Optimizing Your Website For Local Searchers

Optimizing Your Website For Local Searchers Most website owners optimize their website for targeted keyword phrases but many miss out on one of the most effective methods of website optimization - local search optimization. Basically, this involves adding keywords targeted to your local region, city, town or area to your website optimization plan. You'll have the added benefit of less competition for localized keywords and phrases since you will only be competing against local competitors, as opposed to worldwide competitors when you optimize your website for general keyword phrases.

Local search optimization can be especially effective for local businesses with a website who also have a brick and mortar store or office. Many searchers, when looking to buy services, will type in their town, city name, county or state name or abbreviation before or after a keyword. For instance, Alice Green from Long Beach, California, is looking for contractors in her area to give her estimates on remodeling her bathroom. Alice goes to Google and types in "long beach contractors" or "contractors long beach california". She may also use her region, for example, "southern california contractors" or "contractors los angeles county". As you can see, there are many possible opportunities for local search optimization.

Here are some tips to help you optimize your site for local searchers:

Research your keyword phrases carefully and don't forget to consider the city, state, town, region, county, neighborhood, zip code, area code and even local larger cities and towns in the area.
Once you have your local keywords, put them in front of or after your general keywords, like this: long beach contractors los angeles contractors southern california contractors los angeles county contractors contractors orange county contractors 90745
Consider including singulars and plurals as well as common misspellings.
Use free online keyword research tools to build and refine your keyword list and to make sure you are targeting phrases that actually get searched on a regular basis. It's a waste of time to target phrases that no one uses.
Add the local search phrases to your site by adding them to your page title, file names, links, alternate image text and, most importantly, integrating them into your text content on the page.
For online businesses that don't have a brick and mortar counterpart, create a special area on your site just for local searchers and optimize those pages for those customers.
For online businesses with a brick and mortar store or office, don't forget to place your phone number and address prominently on your website, so local searchers can contact you easily.
Be sure you are listed on all local search engines, directories and yellow pages for your area. Almost every state has one or more state search engines. Many local areas have their own directories as well.
When submitting to the Yahoo Directory or DMOZ.org, be sure to submit to their regional categories.
Lastly, try to obtain links from other local businesses, visit your local Chamber Of Commerce or their website for help.

Optimizing your website for local searchers is an excellent way to promote your website and it should be a part of most webmaster's promotion campaigns.

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