Best Techniques to Generate Local Traffic from the Search Engines

Local search engine optimization is not really all that new. Here are some tips to help you better leverage the local searches in your area so that you can have better profits. local SEO marketing is easier than “normal” SEO.

One of the simplest methods you can use for local SEO is writing optimized classified ads. This is an easy way to take advantage of the local searches because the search engines tend to favor such sites and when you use them, you increase the chances of driving direct local traffic to your website. When you start out your focus should be Craigslist because it is the most popular classified site on the internet. What you need to do is make a regular habit of posting optimized ads to Craigslist to help your business. You need to make sure you target your ads to your chosen market. Ensure that it is simple and not too loud. When you write the ad, focus on the title because this is what increases most of the response. Your title needs to have your city, state and keyword phrase in it. You might think of your Craigslist ad as a landing page of sorts because, if you pay attention, you’ll see that often the ads on Craiglist are higher ranked than the websites they advertise. A good strategy for Craigslist is to use it as a channel for funneling traffic to your website, which is your main goal. If you want to expand your reach you can try USFreeAds; you won’t get as good a response from it as you would from Craigslist but it is still a well ranked classified ads site so it is better than nothing. Your main goal with the classified websites should be to send as much traffic to your best offer by either posting directly or using their traffic as a starting point.

The major search engines run local listing services like Google Places, Yahoo! Local and Bing Local, and claiming your profile is the first thing to do when visiting these sites. Each of these sites has a fairly straightforward verification process to claim your profile, and all you have to do is complete some boxes and verify your address and phone number. This doesn’t take much time but it will definitely give you an edge over the others who haven’t done it. By including photos of yourself or your business on these local site listings, you enhance your reputation, as people feel more positive and trusting when they see an image. Just find some good quality pictures from your site and upload them to give you a more effective listing. While these don’t have to be professional quality photographs, you do want them to reflect well on your business, so they should be fairly good.

You will also want to make sure every page your site has lists your address. The search engines seem to like this and you’ll rank higher because of it. What should you put on there? You’ll need your business address, your telephone number and you’ll always want to make sure to list your zip code on every page your site has. The search engines will then immediately know that you’re targeting the local searches.

All in all, you can go far if you use these SEO techniques, but you must do them correctly if you hope for them to work.