Local SEO and Google places

A Basic Introduction

What is SEO? Website listings in major search engine results Keywords, tags, incoming links and website

content Ranking on the first page of the major search

engines is the ultimate tool for business exposure

No cost for organic search listings!

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

Targeted keywords Optimised website with tags and SEO content Quality of incoming links determine your sites

popularity Content is the most important aspect of SEO Social Media does contribute to SEO

All of the above contribute to higher SEO rankings

How does SEO work?

Consumer behaviour is changing People are spending more time online to

research products Consumers will buy from people they know,

like and trust Consumers are looking online for product and

supplier reviews and recommendations

Why does SEO matter?

69% - Pricing Information 56% - Proximity to home - local businesses 33% - Product Reviews - users, existing clients 24% - Opening Hours 18% - Reviews by independent experts

(e.g Choice Magazine)

What are consumers looking for online?

*datasource: True Local Presentation, Australian Business Women’s Network, May 2010

41% in person 33% over the phone 18% web 8% book via website (hospitality)

78% of consumers trust peer reviews or WORD OF MOUTH.

Most customers transact OFFLINE

*datasource: True Local Presentation, Australian Business Women’s Network, May 2010

Many business directories are now online

What does this mean for me?

* datasource: True Local presentation, Australian Business Women’s Network, May 2010

Yellow Pages White Pages True Local Google Places

City Search Yahoo Local Bing Local Start Local

To be found online and be considered as the FIRST CHOICE by your customers, an online presence is ESSENTIAL

Local directory listings contribute to your SEO links and click-throughs

They can replace traditional websites

20% of all Google searches contain some reference to locality *

45% of consumers consider product reviews before contacting you**

Listings in online directories increase your search engine rankings

What are the benefits?

*datasource: True Local presentation, Australian Business Women’s Network, May 2010** datasource: SEOMoz http://www.seomoz.org/blog/the-basics-of-local-seo-whiteboard-friday

Yellow Pages and White Pages listings are already online

Claim your business listings in the online local directories

True Local and Google Places Google Places may already have a listing for your

business that has not been claimed

Where do I get started

2 million unique browsers

Over 8.77 million searches per month

Owned by News Limited

Powerful distribution channels: Yahoo, Google and 125 other websites across the News Digital Media Network

True Local searches can be done through mobile phones and GPS navigation devices

True Local

20% of searches on Google are related to location

There are 50 million Google Place Pages

Place Pages are viewed millions of times each day

When people search Google or Google Maps for local information your business will be listed

Optimise your business listing using photos, videos, your address, opening hours and other essential information

Google Places

Address: so local customers can find you on Google Maps

Categories: to help your business be found in search results

Keywords: for specific and targeted results

Social interaction: reviews & recommendations

Metrics: test, measure and review your stats and click throughs

Google Places Listing

What can go wrong?

This listing has 2 customer reviews on True Local that show up in the Google Places listing

Optimise your online business listings. Manage them, control them, look at your web statistics

Engage with your reviewers online. RESPOND

Address issues. TELL your online community how the problem has been fixed

Continue interactions through social media

Caring about what people say builds TRUST

How to get it right

This listing has 83 customer reviews. These reviews are from eatability.com, but the power if True Local links them to Google

There are images, prices, location and even a link to their menu

Phone Russell: 0402 781 020

Email: russell@medialogic.net.au

Questions?