Attend SMX Local & Mobile To Leave The PageRank Pack Behind!

As I watch search marketers often continue to obsess about things like PageRank, I wanted to do a personal post / wake-up call related to our SMX Local & Mobile Search Marketing show happening next month in San Francisco, July 24-25. Because for all the buzz that goes on around link building, link baiting, PageRank sculpting and so on, too many people are overlooking the new and prosperous frontiers of local and mobile search.

If a picture is worth 1,000 words, then I shouldn’t have to write anything further to explain the importance of local search. Look at the screenshot above. That shows you everything I see on my screen, without scrolling, in response to a search for san francisco plumber. The local search results dominate the page — the "regular" search results, thanks to how blended search now works.

As for mobile, Google’s already remarked on several occasions as to how much the iPhone is pushing mobile search ahead in general. With the new 3G version of the iPhone about to come out, things should accelerate even more.

Search Engine Land executive editor Chris Sherman, along with local/mobile search expert and Search Engine Land contributing editor Greg Sterling, have assembled a wonderful show that look in-depth at both local and mobile search tactics and issues. Among the sessions:

Ranking Tactics For Local Search – The rollout of blended and universal search results has presented even greater opportunities for local search marketers to capture top and sometimes multiple page one listings. This session looks at cutting edge tactics for capturing top rankings in all the variations of local search listings.

Local Search 3.0: Engaging the Community - Web Search 3.0 is all about leveraging community to create the best experience, and local search 3.0 is no different. This session looks at how communities are shaping and influencing local search, from the major search engines all the way down to the players specializing in "hyperlocal" niches.

Targeting Locals in a Blended Search World – Options for local search marketers have exploded in the past year, from the ability to target "above the fold" local listings in blended search results, to new opportunities with "hyperlocal" services that focus on small towns or even neighborhoods. This session explores how you can broaden your reach to narrow your focus with the local searchers you want to reach.

Mobile Advertising Opportunities & Tactics – Mobile search advertising is still in its infancy. How do you create an effective ad in a tiny space? How can you effectively track the performance of ads? And which advertising networks are the most effective at reaching the mobile searchers you’re targeting? This panel explores these and other issues related to mobile search advertising.

Local Mobile & Retail - Whether you’re a local merchant or a national retailer selling locally, you can reach customers in your neighborhood through targeted search marketing efforts. This session looks at strategies employed from big brands all the way down to Mom & Pop retailers to market to qualified, local customers.

Managing a Local/Mobile Search Marketing Campaign - Managing a local or mobile search marketing campaign can be a challenge, as there are dozens of providers each targeting different potential audiences. How do you choose partners? How do you allocate resources for maximum impact? This session explores the tactical demands of running a successful local/mobile search marketing campaign.

Ranking Tactics For Mobile Search – Even the best optimized web sites can turn into disasters if not properly tuned for mobile search engines. Following on the "Cracking the Code" session, this panel takes an in-depth look at how to best optimize content to achieve high rankings, dealing with duplicate content issues and other key aspects of performing well in mobile search results.

Cracking the Code: Inside the Black Boxes of Local & Mobile Search Algorithms – Most search marketers are familiar with how web search ranking algorithms work, but local and mobile search services use completely different approaches to determining relevance. In fact, employing best practices with web SEO may actually harm rankings in local and mobile search. This session explores the unique ranking algorithms of local and mobile search services, with suggestions on how best to optimize for each type of platform.

There are many more sessions beyond these, plus the show kicks off with a keynote from Frazier Miller, general manager of Yahoo Local.

SMX Local & Mobile is the only show happening this year dedicated entirely to local and mobile search. It’s something savvy search marketers should be attending to stay well ahead of the pack. So register now — plus you’ll still get "early bird" pricing through the end of the week.