For example, “banquet halls in Toronto” or “iron works in Toronto” will be much less competitive than “banquet halls” or “iron works.” Therefore, by allowing customers to see that you provide services to specific area, you increase your number of clients significantly by making yourself stand out. This is where geo-specific optimization comes into play. Here are 10 tips for doing so:
1) Don’t Alienate Customers across Canada
Although some business are certainly focused locally, some of these same businesses to think nationally as well. If you find yourself in this position with your business, then make sure that you also highlight that you offer services on a national level. This is a simple way to get your name out there and make more customers aware of your business.
2) Give Prominence to Your Contact Details on your Website
It is very important to give great prominence to any terms you wish to be ranked. If you are looking to rank high for a certain service in a very specific area, then it is prudent to make your address stand out on your website. Be sure to mention your location a few times through your website’s copy so that search engines can associate your business with a specific area.
3) Go Beyond Google Search
While Google certainly has a stranglehold on much of the market, Yelp.com is also a great resource for getting people to see your business. Just like Google Places, people can create reviews.
4) Consider Using More than One Domain Name
If ranking high in local searches is of great importance, then using multiple domains might be a good investment. Google, as well as the other search engines, will look at your business’s top level domain in order to see if your website is relevant to a specific country. That said, if you are using a regular domain, like .com, for example, then you can establish your geo-targeting with Google’s webmaster console.
5) Use Incentives for Positive Reviews
Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews when using Google Places so that they can outweigh any potential unsatisfied customers.
6) Use Other Search Engines
Again, while Google definitely has a stranglehold on the search engine market, some people do use other services. Make sure you dedicate time to using Yahoo Local and Bing Maps, as well.
7) Get Involved in Your Offline Community
Perhaps your business can support local charities or participate in community campaigns. This will increase the likelihood of your business getting local press coverage.
8) Update Your WHOIS Information
Make sure your domain name is registered with your current business address for best results when being searched for. Some people believe Google takes this information into account when deciding how to rank certain websites.
9) Use Google Places
Google Places is free for business so it is thus immediately practical. Google Places lets people searching with either Google or Google Maps find your business. Make your information as accurate possible and invite satisfied customers to add reviews to your listing.
10) Get Involved in Your Online Community
Use local websites and forums to advertise your business.
If you have any comments or questions, please let us know.
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