Local search Local search, Darren Vrede

What is local search? Wikipedia: Local search is the use of specialized Internet search engines that allow users to submit geographically constrained searches against a structured database of local business listings(LBL). An example of a local search query: Restaurant near newlands cape town The “newlands cape town”part is what makes the query a local search. Local search, Darren Vrede

Some local search facts More than 40% of searches on the internet have local intent. Most of these queries contain either the town, neighbourhood or a zip code(in the US) Some cases you are given a text box to enter a zip code. Local search uses a different algorithm to organic results. Similar to Google maps You do NOT need a website to appear in local search Local search, Darren Vrede

More than 40% of searches on the internet have local intent. Most of these queries contain either the town, neighbourhood or a zip code(in the US)

Some cases you are given a text box to enter a zip code.

Local search uses a different algorithm to organic results. Similar to Google maps

Adding your business Local search, Darren Vrede

How to optimize for local search Add your business physical address on every page Have telephone numbers on your site Create a directions or find us page on your site Link to your business location on Google maps from the address on your site Advanced anchor text with internal links on your site, that reads something like: directions to cape town branch Include location names in your titles e.g. Car Rental Cape Town Hout Bay Local search, Darren Vrede

Add your business physical address on every page

Have telephone numbers on your site

Create a directions or find us page on your site

Link to your business location on Google maps from the address on your site

Advanced anchor text with internal links on your site, that reads something like: directions to cape town branch

Include location names in your titles e.g. Car Rental Cape Town Hout Bay

Different types of results You get four different types of results for local search. 10 box 3 box One Box Zip code box Local search, Darren Vrede

You get four different types of results for local search.

10 box

3 box

One Box

Zip code box

Zip code box If the search entered was not a precise one and contained no area information then Google will display this text box for a zip code. Local search, Darren Vrede

If the search entered was not a precise one and contained no area information then Google will display this text box for a zip code.

Types of results 10 pack Gives ten results Name of business Website URL Telephone number Local search, Darren Vrede

10 pack

Gives ten results

Name of business

Website URL

Telephone number

3 pack Gives three results Name of business Website Link Telephone number Address of business Types of results Local search, Darren Vrede

3 pack

Gives three results

Name of business

Website Link

Telephone number

Address of business

OneBox Gives one result Name of business Website URL/Link Telephone number Full Address of business operating hours or any other additional information Types of results Local search, Darren Vrede

OneBox

Gives one result

Name of business

Website URL/Link

Telephone number

Full Address of business

operating hours or any other additional information

Good and bad of local Good keyword in LBL No keyword in LBL Local search, Darren Vrede

Good keyword in LBL

Overview of company Local search, Darren Vrede

What factors make you rank Google’s LBC local business center Trust of business in other domains. Links from trusted domains Well structured website Good titling, internal links, keywords etc Listed in local directories and vertical directories Get listed in any local directories. References/ links from other sites Good links with location name in anchor text Number of reviews most new visitors will look to these customer reviews to get a quick impression of the business Your actual business location. Proximity to search term The search term might contain a certain neighborhood name and the distance you are from that search term will determine if your site shows up Using Google maps Categorization of LBL Local search, Darren Vrede

Google’s LBC

local business center

Trust of business

in other domains. Links from trusted domains

Well structured website

Good titling, internal links, keywords etc

Listed in local directories and vertical directories

Get listed in any local directories.

References/ links from other sites

Good links with location name in anchor text

Number of reviews

most new visitors will look to these customer reviews to get a quick impression of the business

Your actual business location. Proximity to search term

The search term might contain a certain neighborhood name and the distance you are from that search term will determine if your site shows up

Using Google maps

Categorization of LBL

Other countries Although most countries use Google as their preferred search engine there are other places that not even Google has “crawled” into yet. Here is Chinas big search engine Baidu as an example. Market shares for Baidu went up by almost 4 per cent in 2008 while Google and Yahoo! China went down from 26.8 to 26.1 and 8.3 to 5.3 per cent respectively.

Baidui is currently the 4 th biggest search engine in the world. Not better than Google just yet but at the current time Baidui is only targeting one country. This makes it even harder for Google to deliver relevant results on Google china because Baidui already has a good understanding of what people are searching for. Other countries Local search, Darren Vrede

Baidui is currently the 4 th biggest search engine in the world.

Not better than Google just yet but at the current time Baidui is only targeting one country.

This makes it even harder for Google to deliver relevant results on Google china because Baidui already has a good understanding of what people are searching for.

Future of local search I see local search moving forward with mobile devices more than pc. More mobile integration Easier search functionality GPS system on phone working together with local search Better results with more valid keywords in LBL Proper categorization in LBC Local search will be used more with personalised search Local search, Darren Vrede

I see local search moving forward with mobile devices more than pc.

More mobile integration

Easier search functionality

GPS system on phone working together with local search

Better results with more valid keywords in LBL

Proper categorization in LBC

Local search will be used more with personalised search

THE END THANK YOU Local search, Darren Vrede

THE END THANK YOU