Comments on: Local Search Engine Optimization Doesn’t Exist

By: HighPoint

HighPoint — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:06:37 +0000

I can’t agree more. Local search should be a no-brainer, automatically included in everyone’s SEO plans. If you are avoiding your local community, or don’t have that in your marketing plans, you are missing out on a huge opportunity.

By: Tim Miller

Tim Miller — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 18:31:07 +0000

I absolutely love Lisa’s take on local search. Local search is in fact SEO. Local search is one of the best ways for small to medium size businesses to draw in local customers. Franchises or companies with multiple locations can benefit well with Local search, it really helps establish and strengthen their name.

By: MaltaMom

MaltaMom — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 08:06:56 +0000

I agree that we should be targeting local keywords as second nature. However, for business whose main focus is to get calls from locals, there are several things beyond “targeting a niche set of keywords” that they can do to enhance their local rankings that wouldn’t be appropriate for other websites and thus, local SEO does exist as a separate discipline within SEO.

By: Link Builder

Link Builder — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 21:05:31 +0000

Your article is entertaining while educating at the same time. Well, I just wanna share that everything around us evolves, this includes the SEO. It comprises the SEM (Search Engine Marketing), but recently, I’ve heard that SEO wants to be independent from SEM…

By: Jeremy Kuo

Jeremy Kuo — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 16:05:40 +0000

I think it's a sign of growth; a testament of the increasing general awareness for each SEO subset -- regardless of how basic they are.

Back in the "Hello World" era, I knew that various onpage tweaks would cause ranking shifts, but at the time, I didn't know that it was called "SEO"! Just like "local SEO" is to "SEO", you'd assume that SEO should be an integral part of web development. Only, it isn't -- which warrants our professional existence. Did the term "search engine optimization" sound like fancy sales speak back then? Probably did, as much as "local SEO" today.

Words are good. They share meaning and a sense of our world! And it serves us well because most of business prospects already understand the concept of "local".

[Btw, sry I don't blog -- yet. It's an integration initiative that's underway with our site redesign]

By: Rae

Rae — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 13:48:11 +0000

Just as a fun tidbit of information… for simi valley seo: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=simi+valley+seo&btnG=Search you’re only number one for those on a US IP… for those of us in Canada, you’re below the fold after merchant circle and the local listings…

By: Local SEO Guide

Local SEO Guide — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:11:05 +0000

Couldn’t resist commenting on this one. While for the most part there’s not a big difference between doing “local” seo v. doing seo in general, there are some peculiarities that apply to local just as there are peculiarities that apply to any other niche. So if you are working on a seo project that involves local search, it couldn’t hurt to have some experience in that area.

By: Peter Leshaw

Peter Leshaw — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:06:44 +0000

I disagree. I have been promoting local search optimization for a while now. For example, after I verify a clients site with Google Webmaster Tools, I then have the ability to Geo-target the site. In addition, I go to Google Maps, Yahoo Local, and Localeze to register the client’s physical location as well as update the listings if needed. Since Google displays local results at the top of SERP’s and since the results are organic, Local Search Optimization is possible. – Peter Leshaw

By: Kevin Heisler

Kevin Heisler — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:41:32 +0000

Lisa right on the money – except maybe for “canonacalization” since it makes SEO seem like a religious experience. With all the search evangelists preaching SEO, seems like a good fit.

While we’re on the subject of evangelists, no swearing? That gives me the SEO Blues. If i wanted no swearing i’d read Search Engine Watch.

@Catfish – great comment, great mp3. Very cool.

By: Jeremy Rivera

Jeremy Rivera — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:38:23 +0000

I think that specialization isn’t a negative. As search grows, there are more and more facets of search to address. Local search engine optimization adds a category to the mix, and there are a different set of rules and ideas that you should implement to have the best impact on your local market. However, simply because it is a different set of actions doesn’t mean you should exclude it from your overall strategy. I agree that a good umbrella plan should include a facet of local optimization.