MediaVision Blog » Local Search

Google getting more local with search

Brett Pringle — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 12:56:21 +0000

In the first week of April, Google announced changes to search results for local queries, such as restaurants and dentists, etc that would use a location based search such as dentists in Bristol. To make searches easier results are tailored to match the users IP address without having to type the location within the search query. Traditionally, search queries that include a location would turn up results displayed on a map; however, with this new update the need to use locations within your search queries should no longer be necessary, in theory.

This update has been rolled out worldwide (it has not affected Google South Africa, which has yet to display map listings for any location based search) and also includes results for street addresses and stores without the location.

Now, this is not completely accurate, as the location results are based on IP addresses and you are able to use the “change location” option from within the results to fine tune your search query.

This has not been the only change from Google recently; keeping to the local theme Google AdWords Keyword Tool (as well as the external version) has also seen a change towards local. Columns now display “local search volume” volumes against “global search volumes” for keyword queries. The overall average column will definitely be missed (at least by me), as local search volumes only display the previous month’s search volumes. These results are tailored to the country selected prior to querying your desired keyword for further information. Results are not based on region.

Previous Columns:

Some may think that changes to local results within Google will help avoid the need for SEO. However, with the inaccuracies that accompany IP address matching combined with the fact that these changes may not work for all search queries, business owners would do well not to forget about optimising for local search.

But the local search changes from Google are a step in the right direction

Google getting more local with search

What is local search and where is it going from here?

Brett Pringle — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 07:57:30 +0000

I am sure you are all familiar with local search and have seen various local results popping up in Google in the past but how many of you know exactly what local search is all about.

I have a presentation on local search that explains not only the basics but the in depth factors of local search as well. I also gave my view on where I think local search is moving to.

Some of the main factors covered:

Factors that make you rank
How to optimize for local
Adding your business in the LBC(local business center)
Different types of results and why you would want to be in a certain type

Another section that I covered was how Google needs to up their game in order to infiltrate the local search market in countries like China, where Baidui is the biggest search engine.
Have a look at my presentation and let me know if there is anything i have left out.

Local Search

View SlideShare presentation or Upload your own. (tags: search local)

What is local search and where is it going from here?

Take a look from their point of view to find your core phrases

Dylan Brent — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 08:52:49 +0000

Committing to the wrong key phrases on your site will make it very easy to fail before you even start. For a good key phrase analysis, put yourself in the mind of your audience, and think as if you were the optimal user for your site.

Start simple and use your niche when finding the core phrases that suit your business the best. Every-one has his or her preferred keyword tool, so start there and store up the core phrases for your niche until you have a small handful of focused niche phrases.

Once you have your main target phrases, expand them out into long-tail terms that would be derived from the main target phrase. You can use location based terms, but choose these from the location you`re focusing on, as it`s pointless targeting “Cape Town” if you only sell your service/product in “Johannesburg”. Be descriptive, for example, “silver laptop”, but keep it relevant to what you offer.

When you have decided on all your key phrases, you must fit them into your site. I recommend one page to focus on one core phrase, so it should appear in the META Title, a variant, plural or long-tail version in the description, and then of course in the content. Don`t repeat your core term too many times in a page of content; as you don`t want it looking too spammy or be penalised by the search engines. Use synonyms for your core phrase in the content and description so you cover all the bases. Again, you need to think of what the user is searching for.

Link building campaigns using the main targeted phrases are very important, as links are seen as a “vote” for your site among the search engines, but they are also telling the search engines what your site is about. So, utilising a link to its full potential, you should use your primary phrase in the anchor text directed at a targeted page. Be it an inbound link from another site, or an internal link used as navigation through your site, it must tell the search engines what the page is about.

Refresh the content every so often and play the waiting game to receive domain age, as this will get your site trusted, and if the basics are done correctly, you should in theory reach the top. Once your pages rank well for their core phrases, then use the buddy system and bring up new pages one by one.

Finding the perfect core phrases is extremely important, as it`s the first step of your SEO campaign, and for it to work you must be 110% sure that the basics are done correctly.

Take a look from their point of view to find your core phrases