Geo-targeting SEO Is Catching On Slowly
April 10, 2009
Update 12/10/2009: This post is near and dear to my heart and apparently Google likes it as well. This was one of the earliest blogging posts that I have written. It really, I believe, talked about a trend that is growing and one that Google has its sights on. It will be rolling out and ad system soon that is associated with its local maps or Local Business Center. It currently is testing in limited local markets. Google knows the numbers and local searches are increasing steadily and Google wants those local internet marketing dollars.
Google is attempting to take market share from local online directories such as City Search and Superpages. Geo-targeting your website to where you all actually doing business is no longer catching on. It has arrived. I had been predicting to would take 2 -3 years to be a major factor in search. The economic, however, has forced the pace of this transition.
On a side note here: Google really has seemed to like this post a lot. The post only has a few links yet it has managed to rise in the search rankings along with the site Geo-targeting page. They have been in tandem almost from the beginning. For the longest time it was stuck at #5 and #6. They now rank #1 and #2. That has always amazed me. The search Gods at Google seem to have blessed this post, which is OK by me.
A previous update:
I originally wrote this post around May of 2008 and the post still continues to rank well for the searches Geo-targeted SEO and Geo-Targeting SEO in Google. Today while checking my search rankings I noticed that this post had a Page Rank of 1. That really surprised me as it has never had many comments or backlinks. When I see things like this it leaves me scratching my head. So here it is again.
Geo-targeting is slowly getting the attention that it deserves. We have offered this service since this business opened in 2007. Sometimes it is referred to as Local SEO as well. Our business model is based on the location of the clients local markets. Like many small business owners their market is local. So they have much less competition than those that play on a national or international stage on the Internet. It’s very easy to do well in local markets, as they are by definition niche markets.
Since search engine optimization is a numbers game and the website that uses Geo-targeting vastly improves their odds of success. Having less competition offers you the opportunity to obtain high search rankings, if you optimize your web site correctly. There is a very good chance that your competition has not optimized their websites. Almost any web site can be optimized, but usually this is the arena of the larger more serious players. When the small business owner optimizes his web site he usually goes to the front the line (think first page of Google.)
Many web designers only think of GIS software when they hear the words Geo-targeting. GIS is the acronym for geographic information software. This software is used on information and on e-commerce sites to assist you in finding information by city and it is also used to target you with local ads.
When we apply Geo-targeting in the optimization process, we are asking the search engines to index your website by a geographic area and by your products or services. So if your website provides carpet cleaning services and you live in Tucson, then we would optimize your website for carpet cleaning in Tucson. It is really that simple. Most local website forgot to say that they want indexed by there location thus they can’t be found in local market searches.
Geo-targeting is the simplest form of optimization available today. It is also the most overlooked aspect of the SEO industry. When you optimize your website by the location that you actually serve you place your business in a winning situation. You can finally use the leverage of the Internet to grow your business.
Geo-targeting has changed dramatically in the 18 months from when this was first written. The economy has forced SEO providers to look locally for work. Until recently there were only a small group of SEO who focused on Geo-targeted work. I had thought that it would take 2 or 3 years to catch on and it likely would have taken that long of not longer had the economy stayed strong.
I have never failed to get a local client high onto the first page of Google using Geo-targeting. It’s all a numbers game and when you play locally the odds are in your favor.
That’s my story… For now!
While your here I have to ask this: Is your business local? Could you use some Geo-targeting? Or maybe some new Local Internet Business?
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Comments
21 Responses to “Geo-targeting SEO Is Catching On Slowly”
Got something to say?
We have a local business in the Phoenix, Arizona area. Are you saying that we should target the other surrounding valley communities?
Admin: Yes, Phil, if these communities are where you business comes from then you would benefit greatly from targeting those communities.
I think Geo-targeted ( also called local ) search is really on the rise these days, and goes well with a good SEO campaign – both on-site and off-site activities. The more you pay attention and put effort in doing it the more you benefit from it!
Something I’ve been concerned about with geo-targeting your SEO is that your broader keyword rankings could suffer. I’m not sure if that actually happens as I’ve not yet done a whole lot of local search stuff, but its something to test and watch out for, I think.
Admin: Done right it should not be a problem. Our home page reads Local SEO Tucson Search Engine Optimization Services Solutions. We rank nationally for:
Local SEO
Local SEO Services
Local SEO Solutions
as well as for:
Tucson SEO
Tucson Search Engine Optimization.
It can bee done!
Submit your site to local business and local search directories – this can often be one of the easiest methods of attracting local links and local traffic.
Geo-targeting SEO is a great tactic for businesses that operate on a city, state, or regional basis. Even if a company operates on a national scale, segmenting and breaking down their major markets and hitting them one by one can be highly effective (as stated, the decrease in competition at the local level doesn’t hurt either).
Another benefit fo geo-targeting SEO is that the conversions rates can be much higher, especially for service industries. When searchers are looking for relevant services in their city and they find a page that hammers in that concept and messaging, it’s likely to be more effective than a broad national page.
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If we use the Google Webmaster Geo target tool to target a specific country, say Australia, will that have a negative effect on our Google ranking in the USA?
Admin: John, I only Geo-target pages on my website. I did a check for some of my keywords on Google UK and I didn’t notice any difference. Thanks for the responce.
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Small Business owners are largely forgotten. Thats why I only focus on them. I have experience several members of my family file bankruptcy due to small business failures. I also I suffered through 2 destroyed businesses due to failure however, in my failings I have learned some of the secrets to success. (Who can say they know it all?)
What I like about small business owners is that they are not afraid to take huge risks and lay it all on the line. But, I agree they do need a lot of help with their marketing. I think having them go the social media and email route is not only the least expensive but its also the most effective. Thanks for the stats!
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Small Business owners are largely forgotten. Thats why I only focus on them. I have experience several members of my family file bankruptcy due to small business failures. I also I suffered through 2 destroyed businesses due to failure however, in my failings I have learned some of the secrets to success. (Who can say they know it all?)
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Gio targeting has definitely arrived. I am a little disappointed about Google’s local business centre though. I have been having problems such as listing clients business details into the system then it has a competitors link in it. Whats that about. I have been in contact with one of the two guys that run the European service and they don’t even know how to fix it. Maybe it will sort itself out.
when google took that decision, probably considered that seo wouldn’t belong to local service category, which does make sense partialy. the clients in seo are scattered all around the world, therefore it’s not big deal to be listed locally.
Yes Geo targetting tool is frequently used in the SEO its catching a move definetly proved to be useful.Thanks for providing this great stuff. It was really valuable.
Geo-targeting? I usually call it local search engine optimization. It seems, especially with the extensive use of long tail search terms nowadays, the way to go.
It IS very effective for small to midsize businesses, but I’m not sure if it’s really effective for nationally or globally operating companies. I think it’s mostly effective for smaller clients.
Geo-targeting is a powerful feature but it has sense only if your site is made to promote your company which works more offline. Because all online businesses generally are orientated world wide.
I think when it comes to Geo targeting or local SEO, it is a matter of “anchor optimization” using you local city like:
Tucson cleaning or so.my point is that there is no different between internationl SEO or broad seo and between local seo, it is all about the anchor text of your link building campaign.
Hey there! I have to say I rather enjoy Your blog, it makes for an interesting Read! I hope to see more blog posts from you soon! Thanks!Nice post and we all totally agree with the author on this view right here. Its crazy, that is what i can say concerning this. Because this should be what the whole life is all about right? Keep on doing a great job!
Personally as somebody well versed with ppc, geo targeting has been a great tool for marketing local businesses – if you apply the same to SEO then what a huge impact this could be for a business.
I am looking for a list of businesses catering to local markets that have affiliate programs. Cause I think the geo targeting has been a magic charm or secret tactic yet to be discovered by everybody.
I thinks that Seo it’s great for small and medium companyes.
Like the clients are around the world, i think that they don’t have importance for the local listed.
I’ve heard of SEO but what exactly is Geo-targeting? Is it something to do with locations? SEO is growing rapidly but what happens when everyone catches on to it?
The use of SEO can be done to attract the audience across the globe or even the local audience as per the requirement. SEO can be used different techniques as per the requirement and give optimum results. London SEO service provides you the best help for attracting the audience over the globe
Nice information, I really appreciate the way you presented.Thanks for sharing..
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