Local Search Marketing Expertise

Since January 2008 all of the major search engines, including Google, have displayed an interface similar to the one above at the top of their search results for a wide variety of geographic searches.

What many businesses--and even most search engine optimization consultants--don't realize is that Google ranks Local results by a completely different algorithm. The factors that matter for ranking in Local are totally different from those that matter for ranking organically. It takes a consultant specialized in Local SEO, like myself, to bring about maximum rankings in these search results.

David is one of the most knowledgeable people I know in the area of local search. He goes above and beyond to educate his clients, and others working in the industry of local search, sharing much of his hard earned knowledge.

--Michael Dorausch, Planet Chiropractic

I cannot emphasize the above point enough. The ranking and placement of businesses within this new interface are almost entirely exclusive of the power of their websites. In fact, there are some searches for which the top search results don't even have a website!

This "10-pack" Map interface is both good news and bad news. The good news is that typically, it's not very difficult to rank well in these new Local algorithms. The bad news is that typically, it wasn't very hard to rank well [at least for my clients :)] in the regular search results that preceded the advent of Local. So businesses trying to market themselves effectively online now have just one more essential avenue to pursue. Not only must they incorporate traditional SEO within their marketing budget and strategy, but they need to integrate their online presence with a solid Local SEO strategy.

Why Hire Me for a Local Search Campaign or Consultation?

I eat, breathe, and even sleep Local Search (it's more than a little sad, but I literally dream about it sometimes).

I've been asked to speak to my search engine optimization peers about Local SEO at the foremost conferences in the our industry, including:

+ SMX Local
+ SMX West
+ SES New York
+ Local Search Summit
+ SEOmoz Expert Seminar
+ SEMpdx / Searchfest (Search Engine Marketers of Portland)

I write a monthly column for the leading search engine news site, Search Engine Land and have been interviewed by Forbes about Local Search tactics.

And my clients love working with me.

For more information on Local SEO, I encourage you to check out Mihmorandum™ (my blog) or the Local Search Ranking Factors project.

A Few Articles to Help You Get a Handle on Local SEO:

+ Local vs Traditional SEO: Why Citation Is the New Link
+ A Framework for Thinking about Local Search Campaigns
+ The Ten Commandments of Online Marketing for Small & Local Businesses
+ The REAL Problem with Local Search (or, Why Google REALLY Introduced Universal)
+ What Google's ZIP Code Targeting Means for Local Businesses
+ The REAL Value of the Yellow Pages for Small Businesses
+ The "BCS" for Local Search Engine Optimization
+ SMX Local Recap

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