A spot in Google’s local business search results is what every business should be aiming to reach. As you have probably seen, Google Local often dominates above the fold. If you think of a webpage as real estate, above the fold is a prime piece of property due to the huge amount of exposure it gets.
Something you probably didn’t know was that Google can add a listing to their local results without you even submitting anything. If you have a website that is seen as an authority in the industry and is frequently being updated with fresh content, you might see yourself appearing in the local search results. If you find your company in the local business results, then you need to claim ownership of that listing:
- Sign up/login to Google’s Local Business Centre
- Make sure that all contact information is correct
- Amend or add more to the current listing
- Optimise keywords and categories you are listed under
Google local listings are socially driven. This means that the more popular your site, the better. One of the most effective ways to improve your chances of a top spot in local business search is to encourage users to provide feedback and reviews on your Google Maps page.
E.g. Book Cape Town’s Local Listing
http://maps.google.co.za/maps/place?cid=16519483469427636445&gl=za
You can then reward people who submit positive reviews with a discount coupon for your product or service if they purchase online. The more reviews you have, the more likely your listing will be promoted by Google.
So there you go, a great way to increase local traffic to your site, improve your SEO and increase brand visibility.
ROI Media offers services ranging from online business development, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to Pay Per Click (PPC). Ensure your online success and say YES to R.O.I Media!
