Local SEO for 2013 Erick Kirks

What is Local SEO? Local is, well, Local! Local is Social Local is Mobile Local is Reputation

CTR for Page 1 Organic Rankings

Local SEO is Great for Lead Gen

The sooner you begin taking steps to establish and grow your local online authority, the sooner you will begin generating leads from the internet.

Local SEO is not all about Google There are Many Local “Search Engines” Yelp CitySearch Urban Spoon OpenTable FourSquare TripAdvisor There are literally hundreds more. Knowing which ones to take the time to add your listing to is challenging and time-consuming. Mobile Apps either help or hurt you An unclaimed listing on any respectable geo-location type directory, relevant app or social platform is unacceptable by any potential customer that prefers to engage with you through one of those channels.

Semantic Markup Schema.org Using semantic markup & microdata shows Google more signals for content on your site - “grease the skids!” Visit schema.org to see the many uses of markup – Location – Reviews – Videos – Products – Events KML File & hCard format Creating and uploading a kml file to your root directory helps Google Maps correlate your business address to their algorithm – huge for local hCard is a Google preferred format to display location information (your address, phone #, etc) on your contact page. Easy to create these, just Google it! Schema-creator.org or microdata-generator.com

Tips: Put together a txt file or spreadsheet with all of the information needed to optimize these listings (address, description, hours, social media links, etc) Create a tracking spreadsheet to track progress, confirmed listings, further actions needed, etc. Aim for 25 new ones each month (dedicate the time or hire this out!) How to Get Started: Google your business name and search through several pages, then do the same for some of your competitors and popular businesses in your market and larger markets Visit Yext.com and run a report (free) Visit GetListed.org and run a report (free) Claim & Verify your info on Acxiom & Infogroup (expressupdateusa.com). Consider paying for Localeze account.

Check-in Optimization?

Mobile is the Glue

Your Competitors are Getting Into Local – Are You? There is still opportunity to get ahead: Your Competitors are getting into the game. Are you? There will always be an opportunity to begin optimizing your local persona but the sooner you get going, the better!

Just Take Action!

Questions? Let’s Be Friends! We welcome questions anytime! Facebook.com/LeapdogMarketingLinkedIn.com/in/erick.kirks Twitter.com/bluedogmktgLeapdogMarketing.com/blog (919) office(919) cell “Book Me Erick” to to receive a complimentary pdf copy of our Local Internet Marketing Book (April 2013)