Top 7 tips for a local search optimization

In the last 2 year the world of search got new exiting and fresh direction.
Local search, but what is Local Search?
 

Local search is a Search results centralized around some Geographical location City or Place that you entered in your query, for Example: "Pizza in London".
Or searched on mobile phone and gave Google permission to use get your phones GPS coordinates. The base target of Local Search is to give you the most relevant info around 3 things

1. Location 
2. The Query Team or Meaning.
3. Reputation

Example of Local Search Result:

Here is a quick explanation  videos from Google:

Here are Top 7 Tips to get better Rank on house type of results:

1. Is your business / website is really local?
   Are you trying to promote local Yoga Trainer or Global Brand?
   If there is really a physical local location then it's relevant for you on the other hand if you try to promote a Global Brand and it doesn't have any local physical branches local search is not for you. 
2. Create a Google Maps Listing and Bing Business Listing with full business details and opening hours, add Images, Videos etc…
   Here is a link to a good Example
   Also add your business to:
   Yahoo Local, Yelp, Citysearch and Yellowpages.com
   Tip: You can use this tool to determine better the business category:
3. Get Links from Local Sources and host your site in your country
   Sites that link to you help bolster your presence in search rankings, and sites associated with your location that link to you will help connect your business in search engine algorithms.
   Video from Google: Can the geographic location of a web server affect SEO 
4. Work under One Domain Name
   So it will be simpler to the search engine to aggregate information about your Local business. 
5. Encourage Reviews
   Think of it this way: The more people are talking about you, the more popular you are. Ask friends and customers to review you on sites like Yelp.
   Though many small business owners shy away from reviews for fear of a bad one, search engines factor online reviews into your ranking. 
6. Open Facebook Page and Google Plus Page for your business and provide the local address of your business in both.You can also add a Public note to the Facebook page those seem to rank very well today. 
7. Create or Update Contacts info on your website:Be sure that search engines can find your location data.  At a minimum, your contact information should be in clear HTML (not an image or flash), and the page Title and even that page name should contain Contact-Details or Address in them. 

In additions to all the above you should do all other SEO stuff, such as providing Descriptive Titles , Uris and Great content , but this is a another story.
Wish you to Rank Well, Rank Local.
Happy new Year 


Guest Post by : San Diego SEO