Ranking a website for a specific keyword or phrase isn’t easy, and this task is made even harder when it involves local keywords. But there are some simple ways to encourage higher search rankings for geo keywords, which we’re going to discuss further in this week’s post.
Google My Business
Formerly known as Google Places, Google My Business – or GMB for short – is a free-to-use tool designed to help small business owners improve their online visibility. Using your Google account login, you can create a specialized a page for your business that will appear in the search results, Google Maps, and Google Plus.
So, how can GMB improve improve your rankings for local keywords? When creating your business page, you’ll have the option to include relevant information such as your business name, phone number, email address, hours of operation, menu (if applicable), and street address. Google will notice your business’s address, taking it account when choosing where and how to rank your website.
One Domain
It’s not uncommon for local business owners to register and use half a dozen different domain names, assuming it will benefit their SEO efforts. In the past, this practice may have proved useful in ranking for different city/regional names, but Google has since updated its algorithm to protect against this type of manipulative behavior. A safer and more effective solution is to use a single domain name for your business website.
When choosing a domain name, stick with your actual business name (preferably businessname.com). Avoid using keyword-rich domain names like “yourniche+city.com” or city+niche” – you get the idea.
Local Business Directories
If you haven’t done so already, create a listing on the top local business directories. Doing so is a simple and effective way to drive more customers to your establishment while encouraging higher search rankings in the process.
Google My Business is technically considered a local business directory, but some of the others you’ll want to use includes Bing Places For Business, Yahoo Local Listings, Yelp, and Mantra.
Content
Of all of the local ranking factors, nothing holds more weight than content. However, this doesn’t mean you should create keyword-driven content with the sole purpose of manipulating your site’s search ranking. Google has cracked down on “keyword stuffing” as of late, penalizing offending sites. When creating content for your website, add city, state and other regional-specific keywords when appropriate and meaningful. If it helps convey your business to visitors, then it’s probably okay to use. But if it fails to add any real value to your content, it’s best to avoid using it.
