Local Search SEO Seminar

Have you ever been in a situation when once you feel that you totally understand the rules of the game someone tehn comes along and changes the rules and the entire environment of the game changes?

That’s exactly how many Internet Marketers and I felt when Google changed the landscape of local search on April 6th when they announced on their blog that they would now include local search results in their regular organic listings.

Several months ago I was asked to be a featured speaker regarding local search at the Off Line Gold Summit held this past weekend in Las Vegas. As I was going to speak before a room packed with other knowledgeable Internet Marketers and business owners my staff and I spent months on research and testing the local search arena so I could be totally prepared.

So on April 6th I found most of the material and research I had done for this event pretty much worthless so with only two weeks to now prepare a entirely new presentation, I gathered up my crew and hit the road running.

I put the finishing touches on my presentation during my introduction and I then took center stage what perhaps may had been the first SEO training seminar regarding Google’s new local search.

The following video discusses this presentation along with testimonials from my audience.

Google Local Now Targets Organic Search

On April 6th Google announced on their blog their rollout of their map enabled local search function within their mainstream search interface.

As an example, type in “doctors” into Google and chances are that within the first few results you’ll see the Google map along with their “ten pack” of doctors that are local to your IP address.

Now the results are not always 100% accurate as Google explains in their blog that they are providing a broad range of results based upon your IP address and that you can click on the “change location” link, but this shifting to providing local results in their typical organic results is BIG NEWS, especially for those that target a specific geographical area with our business.

At the present time not all the generic keyword terms you may type in are providing local results, however when I’ve searched for Mexican food, dentist, used cars and even SEO Training I’ve been served with results local to my area.

I feel that Google’s roll out of local search is perhaps the biggest news in years for Internet Marketing and Search Engine Optimization and those of us who are selling ANYTHING and have the abilities and know how to properly tag and list our sites for local search will kill their competition.

My presentation at the Off Line Gold Summit on April 25th – 26th will focus on this topic and those that follow my blueprint will become successful in implementing Google Local into their marketing campaign.

Local Search – Is Your Business On The Map?

Millions of searches are done online each day for specific products and services, are you on Google/Yahoo’s map, will you be found in Local Search? 

Today there are more Internet users accessing the Internet using mobile devices then traditional desktop and laptop devices. And this increase of mobile users are expected to grow expediently as mobile GPS devices tap into wireless Internet networks providing a whole new menu of services such as coupons and daily specials at stores local to your area.

Search engines like Google, Yahoo, AOL, or MSN have replaced the Yellow Pages as the method of choice to search, compare, research and buy.

There are several ways for local businesses to market their company to the communities they serve such as pay-per-click advertising, Google/Yahoo maps, local search directories, online video, social media and the local search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN.

The first step to capture your local audience is to have an Internet presence such as a website or blog. The more information you provide to prospective clients the greater chance you’ll have to convert them into customers. One point to also consider during development of your website, will it be mobile friendly? If you’re site is a Wordpress website (such as ours) there are plug ins that you can install to detect a mobile user and serve the properly formatted page(s) to the user.

Next, sign up with Google Local and Yahoo Local services and get on their map. You’ll be required to provide a call back number and the mailing address that they will use to confirm that your entry is legitimate.

Now build up your Internet presence by joining social media websites such as Hubpages and Squido and post articles about your company, products and/or services with links back to your main website.

Then you may want to consider joining some of the other local search directories such as InfoSpace and Local.com.
And then consider setting up a Pay-Per-Click campaign using regional keywords and settings.

At both my two day Essential and three day Advanced SEO Workshop, I go into much more detail on how you can take advantage of the local search landscape to dominate your competition, SEO training schedule and registration here!