Colliding Continents

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Localize it!

According to Andy Gordon, VP of content acquisition at Localeze, “Today, Web users conduct 1 billion local searches each month.” Local searches, if you aren’t aware, are searches that are associated with a particular geographic area and more often than not, appear with a map (Google: Washington, DC hotels for example).

As a hotel in the District you want to be on that top 10 list. The next logical question then becomes “How do I get my hotel on that top 10 list?” – this is the tricky part. It is a combination of information that search engines gather from 3^rd parties like Localeze and InfoUSA, paid campaigns and traditional SEO efforts. Then you get into the nitty gritty stuff like rankings and reviews which from a hotel’s perspective you only have so much control over.

It doesn’t stop here though, if (on Google) you click on the “Local business results….” Link above the map you will then be redirected to a page with all the results listed and businesses around those results. See below:

If you rent Kayaks so that tourists can boat around the Potomac River in DC then you want a listing here. These listings are located on the map and (if you notice the little bubble next to their link) allows you to upload a logo with your SEO optimized copy and contact info below it. Get your name out there!

Read Andy Gordon’s article What you Don't Know About Local Search Can Hurt You.

Written at 10:35 AM by Sebastien.

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