Google Local Search Keyword Tip – Think Smaller and Reap Great Rewards
Local Search Engine Marketing is Different
As I was writing an article on Direct Mail Marketing, I noticed something interesting I thought I’d use to prove a point about local search and the importance of keyword research.
As I’m sure you know, keywords are the words your customers type into the search engines to find you. By selecting the right keywords, you can insure you get a steady stream of qualified visitors to your site.
There are a ton of web sites, videos, and e-books telling you how to do keyword research. They’ll show you how to find which words are being searched for, how often they’re searched for, and even give you some tips on how to differentiate between keywords lookers use and the keywords buyers use.
But none of them are geared for a small, local business. They all assume your business is completely online or you have a massive budget to test and compete in your market with.
How to Compete in Local Search with the Big Guys!
Here’s what I got when I searched for “exterminator Edmond OK.” This is a pretty typical local search result in a larger city (Edmond is a suburb of Oklahoma City). You see my search at the top, followed by paid ads in the pink. Then, right below that is what’s known as a 7-pack local search result.
It’s obvious several companies are already taking advantage of local search to get leads. So if you’re a new upstart or a smaller company that has been around a while but hasn’t been actively competing on the web, how can you break into this market and steal some top rankings from these guys?
By doing smart keyword research and competing on less competitive terms. Of course, the terms are less competitive partly because they get fewer searches than the main keywords. But would you rather not show up in the results for competitive terms or show up #1 for less competitive ones?
Besides, you can even out the playing field somewhat by simply competing for more, lower traffic keywords.
Local Search Keyword Example
Let me show you what I mean…
Here’s what happened when I searched for “ant exterminators Edmond OK” instead. There’s no local search results at all! This term is wide open!
So while I’m sure it gets many fewer searches in an average month than “exterminator Edmond OK” does, the ones it does get will be much better focused for you. You can take them to a specific landing page that speaks to ant problems rather than simply dumping them on your home page and hoping they find what you want them to find.
Note: The reason I can’t give actual search volumes is because none of the terms receive enough searches to register in Google’s Keyword Tool… which will often be the case for local search keywords.Do you get the idea? By simply taking the broad market and sib-dividing it, you can quickly become the #1 result in the search engines (for both local and natural results) and you can bring people right to the offer you want them to see…an offer that’s specifically tailored to their problem. It’s truly a win, win situation!
And if you’re worried about losing traffic, don’t be. None of the terms below had any local search results. Do you think by being #1 in all of these terms you could get as much business (focused, pre-qualified customers) as you could by being #1 in a more competitive term?
wasp exterminator edmond ok
mice exterminator edmond ok
insect exterminator edmond ok
fly exterminator edmond ok
You Have to Be Found in Local Search
If you depend on the internet for a constant stream of local customers, you must be found in local search.
If you’d like to have pre-qualified customers asking you good questions rather than just try to find the lowest prices possible, you must be in local search and drive your prospects to a landing page that addresses their problem.
Local Search Success Requires the Right Keywords
Two lessons:
You need to know ALL of the terms your customers might use to search for you and compete for as many of them as possible. If you’re in a competitive market and other businesses already have the top spots, you can grab number one spots on less competitive, more specific terms while you work your way to the top on more general and competitive terms.
By: Todd Temaat
About the Author:
End your confusion and stop wasting your valuable time! Click Here to get your FREE step-by-step guide to Getting to the Top of Google Places.
Win Your Local Market ( http://www.winyourlocalmarket.com ) provides online marketing tips focused on small, local, primarily offline businesses. Our exclusive 5 Step Plan to Win Your Local Market shows you how to create the perfect online marketing plan to sustain and grow your small business…and how to do it without sinking much time or money into it!