Description

Do you rank high in Google? How about locally? In this video, Eric Spellmann shows you the secret to showing up in every search your local prospects type into Google.His no-nonsense, non-technical instructions guide you through the steps necessary to enable this business boosting optimization for your site.

Transcript

Note from Eric: Below, you will find a word-for-word transcript of this video. I provide this as an aid for the hearing-impaired and for those who might just want to read it rather than watch the video. This conversational style is not reflective of how I write. Be nice! Hi I am Eric Spellmann and today’s topic is the Local SEO: 5 Minutes to Higher Ranking. You know a lot of people don’t understand what local SEO is. You know when we talk about ranking in Google, and you know I don’t mean Bing and Yahoo because who really cares about those. Google gets 97% of the traffic.
So when we talk about SEO (Search Engine Optimization) that really means being found when people do searches. Now most people think you want to be found nationally. But keep in mind, as a local business you also want to be found when someone in your neighborhood, when someone in your city does a search.

Especially if you’re a brick and motor retailer and you’re looking to get all of that traffic you’re not currently getting. So let’s talk a little bit about how to arrange your website, the things you need to do to make sure that when local people are searching Google for you, you show up.

Local SEO is basically just that. It is making sure that the attributes you put into your website, the things that you do and the directories you go on are all tied in making sure that as it relates to your city, or your state, or your region, you are relevant! So, what are some of these ideas?

First, and this is the biggest one of all. In fact, you can probably not even listen to the rest because this is that important. You MUST optimize your Google Places page. Now some of you are going what??? Google Places page! People have also called it a Google+ page for business.

Now if you’re saying what is that, it’s very simple. Have you noticed that whenever you do a search in Google for a company and you actually type in the company name, maybe even your own. Your website usually comes up first. And it better!

But if you look under that listing for your website right under the description, you will see something that says a Places page or a Google+ page. Click on that and you will discover that you have a Google+ page. Basically, any mail able address has one.

Google created them a long time ago. And you as a business owner, must go and claim yours so that you can update it. Because only the basics were there, like where you are on a map. And that might even be wrong. The name of your company, and that might even be spelled wrong! So what I want you to do is Google yourself, Google your business name and then look for that Google+ page link under your listing.

Click on it and when you get there you’re gonna see some very basic information. Now what you want to do is prove to Google that you are the owner. Because you really don’t want anyone else messing with that page. You don’t want everyone to have access to make changes to it, especially your competitors. So the way Google does that is very simple.

Click on the Edit Details or Add Some Information, and then look for a link that says Manage this Page. And that’s where you will claim this page. And the way Google does that is typically through a postcard. They will send a postcard to the mailing address that it has for this business.

And on that postcard will be a Pin Code, a numeric code. When you get that, you have to enter that code in on the website to prove that you are the one checking the mail at that location. That’s how Google does it.

And yes it takes a few days. And you also got to make sure you don’t throw that card away because it looks like junk email. But that is the only way to get it. In the past Google used to do a phone verification but they discovered that can be abused. So, the majority of you are gonna have to do the postcard.

So you need to update that page. When I say update it, you need to put in categories, your hours, I want photos, I want everything that it has a blank for you to fill in, you need to fill out! So that Google understands that when people do certain searches and put your city name on there, you show up! It is key. It’s called the Google+ page, you’ve got to optimize it. Do it now!

You’ve also got to gain reviews. Local people are looking for reviews. They want to know if people in their community have used you. So, make sure that you’re gaining reviews. The biggest reviewer out there, believe it or not is Google! And so once people have used your service, why not simply say Hey!

If you enjoyed your experience here, please go to Google and review us. You’ll be surprised by how many people will do that just because you simply asked them! And make it very easy. You’ve got to get reviews.

The reason you’ve got to seek these reviews is because if you don’t, the first review you’ll ever get will probably be a negative one and then you’re gonna be busy trying to bury that in good ones.

So what I’m saying is go ahead and stop the pot with good ones, Real ones! Don’t fake it. I want real customers giving you their real experience in that review. But you need to ask them to do it because most don’t know that they even can.

Directory Listings, this is huge! One of the big optimization attributes that Google looks at is who is linking to your website. And what is the quality of their website if they’re linking to you! What I’ve discovered is that Google gives a lot of extra bonus points from people who’re linked from their Better Business Bureau (local) and linked from their Local Chamber of Commerce.

For whatever reason, Google really sees those 2 organizations as highly relevant. And links coming from those benefit you greatly from a Google standpoint.

Now if you’re a restaurant, I would also add to that TripAdvisor, Urbanspoon. You know some of these industry specific review sites, or sites where you can setup a profile for your company. You’ve got to go fill those out. Those are also directory sites but they also tie in reviews. (06:00)

Monitor your competitors. And this is the last one of all. Monitor your competitors. Go see what they’re doing. Google their business name and then look at all the links that they’re showing up on, not just their website, but all the other places they’re showing up on.

And if you find one that they’re on and you’re not, heck that’s an easy way for you to do it! Of course you’ll always gonna hear me say it “Do some recon on your competitors online!”

Well guys I hope this was helpful. As always content content content is the key to being found on the internet. But when it comes to local, you’ve got to make sure that you’re listed, you’ve got to make sure that people are reviewing you and you’ve got to keep up with your competitors. I’m Eric Spellmann; I’ll see you in cyberspace.