Search is about Local

When you are creating a program to gain SEO for your company make sure you are also listed in all the local directories. These are natural ways to build back links to your site or business name... these are often called "Citations". As search engines start to concentrate on delivering local search results this approach provides a legal (white hat) SEO way to have your business appear high on search results on Google. So while our blog often focuses on getting what you sell listed on the front page of Google like a car or a home, this is about getting to the top of the list for your brand or your category heading on local search. Of course you need to be registered with Google Local Listing service called Google Places first. www.google.com/places You also need to think about how to get your listing in the top 5 or 10 of your Places search result.

Then you need to get some people on Google+ to rate your business as the old YELP and Angie's List are not visible any more... however, don't be fooled. These sites and the list below are considered valid and trusted sites for listing data so Google uses them as a basis to determine if a business address is really where you say it is and is involved in what you are saying you do... Here’s a list of the biggest general ones that you need to be listed in: Yelp Superpages City Search Urban Spoon and OpenTable (for restaurants) Yellow Pages Angie’s List Express Update USA (formally infoUSA) Yahoo Local Trip Advisor Merchant Circle Dex Knows Insider Pages Localeze Shop City Judy’s Book Yellow Bot Kudzo Do a test and search for your company. Usually you can get a basic listing for free.