How to rank for local keywords (cities) when you don't have brick and mortar stores
-
Hi folks,
We have developed a site that connect local consumers with local businesses (brick and mortar).
The keywords that consumers search for are e.g. "plumber san diego" or "hairdresser" + "local area" and so on...good old fashioned local searches. Sometimes even without the location added in the search.
But how do we BEST optimize our site to get the most organic traffic from these local searches?
We don't have brick and mortar stores or offices but our service is of high value and will save consumers lots of money and even help the local businesses when in need of extra customers.
Thanks in advance for all your input.
Have a nice day.
Chris
-
Hi Chris,
I want to be sure I'm understanding your business model. It sounds like your business is virtual (doesn't make in-person contact with customers) and might be along the lines of a directory or a lead-generation company. Am I close to getting that right?
If so, then basically you are limited to go after organic rankings for the terms you want to rank for. Virtual businesses are not eligible for inclusion in Google's local results, so what you want to do is evaluate your ability to compete for spots in the organic results for the terms that are important to you and your customers.
An example of this would be the review platform Yelp. Yelp specializes in a product: business reviews. They have been so successful at becoming known for their review product that when you search for a very wide variety of businesses in Google, Yelp pages often come up on page one of the organic results due to the authority this brand has built.
Another example would be something like ZocDoc - a directory for medical professionals. If you search for 'doctor san diego' or 'doctor boston' or 'doctor burlington', chances are strong that you'll see results coming up from the ZocDoc directory, because they have become a perceived authority when it comes to finding a local doctor.
So, your own brand needs to take a look at where you can build this type of authority, whether on a local or national level, and then create the types of content that can begin to earn organic rankings for relevant terms.
Hope this helps, and please feel free to provide any further details if our community isn't quite understanding your exact business model.
-
Thank you, Alick300 - but that article seem to give advice to businesses that actually have brick and mortar stores/local addresses.
What I am looking for is ideas on how to rank locally when ones business is NOT local, but target local keywords/customers with it's services.
Hope someone outhere can help
BR
Christian
-
Hi,
Please check this article @ http://searchengineland.com/local-seo-rank-local-business-218906
Hope this helps.
Thanks
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
-
3 Main Local Ranking Factors
In the Moz article titled Should You Pay for Local Listings Management? by Miriam Ellis, she makes this statement: "Prominence, proximity, and distance are the three types of factors Google tells us it takes into account when ranking local businesses. " I always thought that classic on- and off-page SEO was one of those three factors. What puzzles me about Miriam's statement is this: What's the difference between distance and proximity? Aren't they the same thing?
Local Listings | | btreloar3 -
I am having an issue with multiple Google local listings.
We assigned separate numbers for each local listing (using Call Tracking Metrics). However, recently our listings were suspended and when I read through terms of service it says the number has to match on the location page. We use dynamic numbers - so of course that number doesn't show up. Would it work to also add the local number to the page in addition to the dynamic number? Or has anyone figured out a work around?
Local Listings | | vjappleyard0 -
Does Google call your satellite offices and ask what's down the street?
Is this a real thing? Do they actually do this? Should I be concerned and train my receptionists to know their surroundings?
Local Listings | | marketingdepartment.ch6 -
Why does Google only display a 3 pack of local business results for some terms?
We have seen a pattern in the Google UK SERPS where only three local listings are triggered for a query although they have a more local results to show but chose to only show three: Anyone else seen this? Anyone know why? Is there a magic number for them to trigger a six pack, does the data set they pull from need to be larger for them to trigger more local listings. "Solicitors Cambridge" = 3 listings https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=solicitors+cambridge&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=_vCwVc2mHMiAUZ-luZAE "solicitors kent" = 3 listings https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=solicitors+cambridge&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=_vCwVc2mHMiAUZ-luZAE#q=solicitors+kent "Solicitors Oxford" = 6 listings https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=solicitors+cambridge&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=_vCwVc2mHMiAUZ-luZAE Any thoughts?
Local Listings | | highwayfive1 -
How much local traffic should I expect
I handle mostly small business and provide SEO optimization services and content creation. My question is about local search. what is a reasonable amount of local search traffic for small service companies. For instance I handle an electric and hvac company with an estimated population of 100,000 people within a ten mile radius. With approx 20 companies who provide competition. Should I expect 10 hits a day 20, a hundred? How do I quantify results on a local level as to not make expectations too high. The good metrics I have is the amount of prospects who have found my clients through the web and purchased services. That percentage is high. But Is there room to improve if my client received 15 hits a day?
Local Listings | | donsilvernail0 -
Local Medical Practice Listing Question
We have 4 separate locations for an OB-GYN practice. They are XYZ OB-GYN and are affiliated with ABC Health System. All of these OBGYN offices are located in buildings belonging to ABC Health System with multiple practices (other doctors). Two of the locations have seperate suite numbers & two don't. How do we promote our OBGYN practices if they have the same address (with no suite number) as the other practices in the same exact building? I don’t believe Google wants multiple listings for separate practices that are using the same address without a suite number.
Local Listings | | JohnWeb120 -
How to get a verification tick next to the URL in a Google Plus Local page?
Google Plus Local: https://plus.google.com/+PrestedHallFeering Website: www.prested.co.uk So how do I get the verification tick next to the URL on this businesses Google page? Also, even though the website is much strong then those in the map listings for Wedding Venues In Essex, whats preventing this website from appearing in there? My local optimisation knowledge is poor!
Local Listings | | jasondexter0 -
Local seo yoast plug in
https://yoast.com/wordpress/local-seo/ Anyone used? Any good? I have purchased as Yoast seems to be a good all rounder. I am targetting geographical and my question is: Is there any seo benefit ?It isnt a requirement of the plug in to add a physical addess ( you can add that it isnt and put a town) I did a quick test http://www.themorrisagency.co.uk/locations/kent-band-hire/ In conjunction with an area page would Mr Google smile with glee or get his big red marker out ? Cheers as always!
Local Listings | | Agentmorris0