How can we boost our rankings in a London-based Google search?
-
Hi all,
I work for enterprise app development & mobile consultancy, Mubaloo.
We tend to rank fairly well on Google for our targeted keywords in the Bristol area but not as well in London. Obviously there is more competition in London but that aside, we still don't rank brilliantly.
We use our London address as our main address on our website, same for our London telephone number. Both of our offices are submitted to Google Maps and we include blog content with London and Bristol in the headers. Our main HQ is in Bristol but the London office is growing. What are the ways we can improve our rankings from a London-based Google search?
Thank you in advance!
-
Hi Gary,
I thought I had added a local listing for London, do you know where I can do this?
-
Sorry Andy! Thanks so much for your help.
-
^-^ Andy
-
Thanks so much Gary.
I've absolutely no idea how you found out this information but it's all correct! I'll take a look into your suggestions.
-
Thank you so much! This is all very useful.
-
Hi Clair,
Let me recommend a few learning resources for you here from Moz as it sounds like you may just be starting on the big task of Local Search Marketing.
Here's an intro to the very basics:
http://moz.com/blog/free-local-seo-education-for-businesses-on-a-shoestring-budget
Here is the big new Moz Local Learning Center, which is literally chock-full of information about this topic:
Here is an illustrated guide to the Top 20 local search ranking factors:
http://moz.com/blog/top-20-local-search-ranking-factors-an-illustrated-guide
And here is the official annual expert survey from 2013, Local Search Ranking Factors, that you can study in great detail:
http://moz.com/local-search-ranking-factors
If you're experiencing a local ranking failure, check out this post:
http://moz.com/blog/troubleshooting-local-ranking-failures
And you will need to understand the concept of building local landing pages. This should help:
http://moz.com/blog/local-landing-pages-guide
Hope these resources will get you off to a terrific start!
-
Ok so I looked at the site and there are a few things you can do.
Firstly I looked at your site on archive.org all the way back to 2009 it seems you have had a UK address and Bristol address on the site for the time in the contact us page. In July of 2012 the site was re-designed and the London address was used on the homepage. Then in July of 2013 until now the registered address in Bristol is used at the bottom of the page in a format favored by Googlebot and Google+
Second I looked at Google.com results (not UK) to see where your default local listing points to. The answer is Bristol.
First of all I do not see a local listing for London, I would get that sorted out as a priority.
Secondly I would used rich snippets with schema.org to markup your code.
Lastly (an option if the others do not solve the issue) I would create a London page on the site with correct schema featuring the London office and the services provided at that address. maybe something like Mubaloo.com/london-office/
I suspect however that most of your issues will resolve fairly quickly with a local listing. But giving Google more content to work with directly on the subject matter is always a winner.
-
Hi Clair,
How is your Google local listing? Has this been confirmed? It is also worth looking for some localised listings and cocitations from sites dedicated to London - Google will still use these sites to confirm your site and contact details.
i would also suggest having a look at http://www.whitespark.ca/ as they are a great way to find local listings. This has helped me many times in the past.
-Andy
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Image results Bing vs Google
I have a website with a number of images and I have optimized all of the images on both a file name and ALT text level, relevant to content on the page they are published on. I haven't created a separate image sitemap, but the strange thing is that Google has all of my images indexed and they can be found for the right keywords, but when I look in BING! images, there is no image indexed available at all ...
Image & Video Optimization | | ConclusionDigital0 -
Google Places UK address has randomly changed to a US address in Texas!
Hello, one of my clients has 2 Google Places listings, both UK addresses. However one of them has randomly changed to a US address in Texas, and it won't let me update the country unless I create a new listing.... https://www.google.co.uk/maps/preview#!q=the+43+club&data=!4m16!1m15!4m8!1m3!1d22152595!2d12.5088275!3d47.73855!3m2!1i1440!2i774!4f13.1!7i10!9m1!6e0!10b1!17b1!25b1!6m1!1e1&fid=1 As you can see the second listing is Texas, but it should be: Tall Trees Cottage, Winkfield Road, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7EX. 0208 144 0166 Any help would be great. Thanks
Image & Video Optimization | | Kerry_Jones0 -
Google Carousel - What Should We Now Be Doing Differently?
Google Carousel is rolling out for even more topics. How does it affect or change tracking in Google Analytics? For example, if I am in the Carousel and someone clicks my listing, then Google completes a search for my property… then the searcher clicks through to my site organically. Will I know that someone originally clicked the Carousel or will I have no idea and simply see a Google organic click? Should we be optimizing our Google+ Places listings differently? How does this change our own organic keyword targeting? In other words, if I am in the Carousel should I go after a different keyword organically? Does anyone know how many people are clicking into the Carousel vs. the organic listings or even pay per click below? Searchers behavior will be altered because of this change. What say you all? Articles That Relate: http://blog.autorevo.com/2013/06/new-local-search-layout/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=local-carousel&r44b=no http://searchengineland.com/google-knowledge-graph-carousel-sightings-becoming-more-frequent-within-a-wider-variety-of-searches-163562 http://blumenthals.com/blog/2013/06/14/google-local-carousel-display-showing-more-frequently-in-more-categories/
Image & Video Optimization | | Hospitality-SEO0 -
Local SEO: Google Places and Google+
Hello, I'm a little confused by Google+ for business. I set up a Google Places page in 2010 and recently changed my address to incorporate my suite number and to spell out "Street" instead of abbreviating. I'm planning on carefully changing all citations to match. Next I started a Google+ page for my business. But I couldn't fill out the address and ended up requesting a postcard for verification to continue. The postcard was sent to the right address but no suite number. I'll still get the postcard, but I can't finish my page yet. Also, I don't know if I have to re-verify my Places page with the slight changes. Am I on the right track?
Image & Video Optimization | | BobGW0 -
Ranking Report - Universal Placements Data Count Issue
is there any Mistake for Number of count on Universal Placements Data because in My Campaign i checked Ranking Report and there is available Local result data 34/52 but if i will count manualy than its 24/52 may i know the correct reason?
Image & Video Optimization | | E2LOGY0 -
Encouraging people to review my client's business on google places
Hello mozzers, I would like to encourage visitors that come to my site's client to review their google places listings. In order to do so, I need the Google places badge or seal (if it exists) to place it on their website. Does anyone know if it is available or not? If it sn't available what should i do to encourage Google places reviews? Thanks
Image & Video Optimization | | Ideas-Money-Art0 -
Targeting Local Search Terms
I normally advise clients never to optimise around keywords with very low or even zero recorded Google search volumes. However, if the core keyword has decent volumes but the organisation is serviing specific towns/cities/locations would you consider it valid to optimise for : core keyword + focused location (even if this has zero search volumes). The Google Places results are obviously highly relevant but depending on the core keyword you sometimes get the 3-box places at the top but sometimes in the middle of the natural results.
Image & Video Optimization | | bjalc20110 -
Will hosted videos be indexed and pulled into search results if a video sitemap is submitted, but the video itself is in an iframe?
We're working with a client to create and submit a video site map. All of their videos are on separate pages, with unique copy, etc. The problem is that the videos may have to be within an iframe. Will this be an issue with regards to being included in video and universal search results? Or will the video site map take care of it? While we're on the topic of video site maps, does anyone know conclusively what the best thumbnail size is? Google has conflicting information, one resource says 160 x 120, and another says 120 x 90. Thanks in advance!
Image & Video Optimization | | RedDoor580