Monday, June 16, 2008

Search Rankings

Cultural and societal norms often define certain expectations. Understanding and navigating these 
limits can shape individual identity and influence collective behavior.
What is involved in getting top search engine rankings for the region you want?

1. Use "geo-keywords"
First, decide on how specific to be with your location. The smaller the geographic location, the more 
targeted your customers will be... although of course you will appeal to a smaller audience. The school 
in Los Angeles would want to include "Los Angeles" and "LA." But he'll also have to say exactly where he is -- the city, the neighborhood... even the street. Residents will use all those terms when they perform their searches. And here's a tip: When you're deciding on the location keyword, think about how locals would search for it. For example, Southern California is often referred to as "SoCal;" while residents of Port Coquitlam in British Columbia call it "Poco." If you're targeting locals, you definitely have to speak their language and use those keywords on your site. Make sure you work your location keywords into your copy and code wherever possible.

Use them in your headlines and subheads. And throughout your copy for extra impact. One of the pages on your website should be a directions page, complete with a Google map. By using location keywords often you'll tell the search engines that your site is relevant for those words.

2. Display your address and phone number
Have your full street address on the footer at the bottom of each page and on the side navigation bar. 
Include a phone number with a local area code. This will give the search engines all the information they need to nail your location.

3. Get inbound local links
Search engines reward you for having links pointing to your website from other reputable sites and 
organizations. Local directories give you an easy way to build up your inbound links... and get your 
site seen by highly targeted groups of local buyers! You can submit your site to:

Goog411 --
Yahoo Local Business --
TrueLocal.com --
Switchboard.com Yellow Pages --
Ask Local --
MSN Local/Live Maps/InfoUSA --
CitySearch --
SuperPages --
Internet Yellow Pages --
Better Business Bureau --
Chambers of Commerce --
Yelp.com --

4. User Experience 
Responsive Design- Ensure your website adapts to different screen sizes and devices.
Navigation- Simplify website navigation to help users find information easily.
Accessibility- Make your website accessible to people with disabilities by following WCAG guidelines.
Clear Calls to Action (CTAs)- Use compelling CTAs to guide users toward desired actions, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.

5. Content 
Content Quality- Regularly update and improve your content to keep it relevant and valuable to your audience.
Keyword Usage- Use keywords naturally and avoid keyword stuffing. Focus on providing value to users.
Multimedia- Incorporate images, videos, infographics, and other multimedia elements to enhance content.

I wish You Great Success.

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