subject: How Local Search Engine Optimization is Changing the Future of Business [print this page] How Local Search Engine Optimization is Changing the Future of Business
The way that people are using the internet is changing. Businesses that understand this shift can take advantage of it. While there are many factors that will determine the success of internet marketing, it is safe to say that local search engine optimization, or local SEO, will start to play a much bigger part. In fact, it already has.
Both local businesses and big businesses can only move forward by recognizing this shift. It is also helpful to understand why the shift is taking place at all. An important factor is the emergence of the smartphone. By allowing people to access the internet while on the go, the smartphone transforms the web from something that stays in the home, to something that is a part of the city in which they live.
Today, people are using their smartphones to pinpoint the location of businesses in their area. They are using search engine maps to find the closest hardware store, rather than checking the phone book. Only the business that understands these changes will succeed in the future.
While the search engines' algorithms are proprietary, many affordable SEO services have personal experience building rank in the search results. Companies that offer affordable SEO packages understand, to some extent, how these algorithms work. The content on the site, links to the site, the content of the links themselves, and the content on sites that the link is pointing from all play a major part. The authority of sites that link to another site also plays an important part.
It is now becoming obvious that location is another important factor, one that is becoming more important. A user's general location can be determined using their IP address, and their exactly location can be determined if they are using a cell phone. All of the primary search engines have not missed this opportunity, and are using it to display results that are relevant to the user's location.
For this reason, a business must also make sure that it is obvious where the location of their business is. Ideally, a website will list the business's address on every page of the site. The site should also be linked to a search engine business directory, as well as several other business directories.
A business will further improve its success if it performs appropriate keyword research. This allows specific keywords to be targeted. Ideally, the keywords should be searched for heavily by local traffic. Certain keywords are more likely to bring traffic that buys. The competition of the keywords should also be assessed. Finding areas of the market that are not already dominated by competitors is a very successful business strategy.
