How to Show Up in Google -- It's Easier Than Ever
It used to be that ensuring that your site would be exposed to the largest possible number of Google users was, at least for a small local business, too difficult, too expensive or too time consuming to deal with. You would have to spend a great deal of time optimizing your site for the search engines (and usually pay a great deal of money to a consultant in the bargain), pay possibly as much as $5 - $10 per click for AdWords advertising, or learn to do your own SEO, which could take a lot more time and effort than you are willing or able to invest. However, it has become much easier for small businesses to become competitive in Google searches.
How Much Easier Is It?
Every business will face a slightly different situation. If your business is located in New York City, for example, you will be up a lot more local competitors than you would if your business was in a smaller market; say, Toledo. However, in most cases, it is relatively easy to rank a business website on the very first page of Google Places, often in the 1 spot, for the keywords that they are targeting in as little as a month. Not only is it fast, it is easy enough for even a non-geek to do on their own.
If your business serves a local clientele, this is great news. Better still, most of your competitors will not know how to do this, at least not yet; so now is the time to act.
What Did Google Change?
Basically, Google has begin to place local business results (these are Google Places results) ahead of the regular top 10 search results. In fact, Google will display local results even if you do not list your location in the search itself; for instance, if you look up "pizza", you will see local results listed first, since Google now makes the assumption that this is what you are most likely to be looking for. If you have heard anyone mention the term local SEO, this is what it is about - getting websites the best possible Google Places rank.
Why Did Google Make This Change?
Local search is a larger and more important segment of the search engine market than ever before and the trend towards local SEO is growing quickly. Statistics from Google tell us that at least 20% of Google searches include location, around 40% of mobile searches are location-related and over 90% of Google users search online for local businesses. With this change, Google has simply made it easier for people to find what they want.
How Does This Affect Your Business?
Consider these 2 facts. Fact 1 More people are searching for local businesses than ever. Fact 2 Google is displaying local business results more prominently than ever. Add those two up, and you have a great opportunity - assuming you know how to get your business ranked in Google's local results. If you can get ranked at the top, you'll get in front of more potential customers than ever.
How Much Easier Is It?
Every business will face a slightly different situation. If your business is located in New York City, for example, you will be up a lot more local competitors than you would if your business was in a smaller market; say, Toledo. However, in most cases, it is relatively easy to rank a business website on the very first page of Google Places, often in the 1 spot, for the keywords that they are targeting in as little as a month. Not only is it fast, it is easy enough for even a non-geek to do on their own.
If your business serves a local clientele, this is great news. Better still, most of your competitors will not know how to do this, at least not yet; so now is the time to act.
What Did Google Change?
Basically, Google has begin to place local business results (these are Google Places results) ahead of the regular top 10 search results. In fact, Google will display local results even if you do not list your location in the search itself; for instance, if you look up "pizza", you will see local results listed first, since Google now makes the assumption that this is what you are most likely to be looking for. If you have heard anyone mention the term local SEO, this is what it is about - getting websites the best possible Google Places rank.
Why Did Google Make This Change?
Local search is a larger and more important segment of the search engine market than ever before and the trend towards local SEO is growing quickly. Statistics from Google tell us that at least 20% of Google searches include location, around 40% of mobile searches are location-related and over 90% of Google users search online for local businesses. With this change, Google has simply made it easier for people to find what they want.
How Does This Affect Your Business?
Consider these 2 facts. Fact 1 More people are searching for local businesses than ever. Fact 2 Google is displaying local business results more prominently than ever. Add those two up, and you have a great opportunity - assuming you know how to get your business ranked in Google's local results. If you can get ranked at the top, you'll get in front of more potential customers than ever.
About the Author:
One of the very best ways to attract new customers is with local seo. The Local SEO Formula is a step-by-step local SEO course designed to show small business owners how to get ranked at the top of Google Places.