Local Search For Rural Businesses

Writing by nick on Saturday, October 6, 2007 Leave a comment

Matt McGee at Small Business SEM had an interesting post on the challenges of local search for small businesses. In essence, he said the problem is more than SEO. The issue is really geo-targeting. And I’d like to add that it isn’t all on the shoulders of the small business owner. A part of the solution to the problem will have to come from the way the search engines program their algorithms for local search.

In the past, it has been suggested that zip codes be used, but Brick Marketing’s sister blog at Search Engine Optimization Journal this morning gave an interesting analysis on the difficulties of zip code searches for urban businesses and rural businesses. These challenges cannot be denied.

The question is, how can rural businesses ensure they end up in the search engine results page for the keywords they want to target? It’s a good question. Here are a few suggestions:

• Make sure each page of your website targets a specific keyword phrase AND a local geographic area
• Be as specific as possible in your geographic place names
• Try to use the geographic terms that are used by the people in your area
• Don’t be afraid to use other nearby geographic locations and well-known landmarks in your area
• Put your address and phone number in the footer, header, or somewhere on every page of your website

To elaborate a little on No. 3 above, if your business faces a creek that is named Cripple Creek, but that particular section of the creek right in front of your business is better known by the local people in your area as Crip Neck Hollow then be sure to use the phrase “Crip Neck Hollow” often on your website. You might describe the location of your business, for instance, as “facing Cripple Creek at Crip Neck Hollow,” or use a general description like “two miles east of Crip Neck Hollow.” These kinds of phrases are phrases that people might use when searching for businesses in your area.

Now for the danger in this approach: You could pigeon hole yourself if you get too specific. Be sure to include as many place names on your website within your service area. If you serve an area that is 20 miles in radius and there are about 50 small towns in that area then have a “service area” page on your website and list every one of those towns on that page. You might even have specific web pages to address the unique needs of people living in each of those areas.

Leave a comment                      Category: Local Search Engine Optimization                      

Read similar posts in Local Search Engine Optimization

• Create a Short Promo Video and Launch on YouTube
• The Importance of Local SEO
• Local Search Engine Optimization - Do You Really Need It?
• Local SEO Content Strategy
• Content, but Keep It Relevant

Subscribe to our RSS feed

No comments yet.