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Local Search provides the latest news and information about the growing segment of local search marketing, including tips on how to take advantage of local directory providers and online yellow page listings, mapping tools and location based services to help users uncover real-world merchants, franchise locations, locally owned small businesses and community places. Columnists cover geo-targeting, zip code and map data being used by searchers and search engines to provide locally relevant results.

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10 Basic Bing Local Optimization Tips

Jan 30, 2012 at 10:58am ET by Chris Silver Smith

Local business marketers often hyper-focus on Google search rankings, but it's important not to forget that even if Bing and Yahoo! do not have the lion's share, even 15% of search volume can create a sizable number of potential business referrals. So, here are a few basic tips for optimizing for Bing Local search rankings. Optimization of business profiles in the Bing Business Portal (or "BBP") is not difficult nor time-consuming. Microsoft's newish Beta interfacing for administrating business listing details is actually pretty slick and easy to use. 10 Tips For Optimizing Local Busi [...]

Related Topics: Local Search | Microsoft: Bing Maps & Local

Google Plus Connections Are The New Link

Jan 23, 2012 at 9:10am ET by Andrew Shotland

A couple of weeks ago, Google caused a big hub-bub when it launched Search Plus Your World ("SPEW" for short), the catchy-titled deep integration of Google Plus and Google's organic Web results. Naturally as soon as that happened, many of my clients, big and small, called to get some perspective on what this might mean for them. For those of us who have far-flung social networks, the impact on local queries will likely be small as there will not be enough truly local social network content to populate queries outside of some top categories such as restaurants and events. If the current e [...]

Simplicity Is Key To Converting Local Consumers To Customers

Jan 16, 2012 at 9:55am ET by Myles Anderson

As more local consumers turn to search engines and IYPs to locate good businesses in their area, it's surprising how many local businesses have not updated their websites or, worse still, don't have a website at all! [caption id="attachment_107737" align="alignright" width="300" caption="You'd have to be it's mother to love this website!"][/caption] The majority of local SEO activities focus on reaching new, potential customers via Google Places, local directories, social media etc... But not enough consideration is given to what happens when you get a local consumer to your w [...]

Predictions For Local Search In 2012 – Year Of The Dragon

Jan 2, 2012 at 10:30am ET by Chris Silver Smith

The last few years in local search have seen some unprecedented changes in online local business marketing, and you might think that the evolution would be ready to slow down. However, I don't believe that's going to happen yet, so enter 2012 -- Year of the Dragon! For the purpose of this article, I'm using a broader definition for "local search" which includes local services and related marketing technologies through which consumers might discover local businesses and those businesses' promotional efforts. Online options for marketing and distribution of local business messages expanded [...]

Mobile: The Ghost Of Future Local SMB Marketing

Dec 26, 2011 at 11:11am ET by Andrew Shotland

"If I could work my will, every idiot who goes about with 'Local Online Marketing" on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. He should!" - Ebenezer Scrooge Tis the season to contemplate the future of the local Web marketing for small businesses (SMBs) my friends. For all of you tight-fisted hands at the grindstone, 2012 is loaded with opportunity. But are you going to be a Marley, the walking dead bogged down by the chains of your past, or a reborn Scrooge, dancing in the streets in your pajamas? "There is never enough time to [...]

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