Google Local SEO – Helping Small Businesses Everyday

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Many smaller firms just can’t compete with the larger companies when it comes to being able to obtain a high ranking on the normal search engine results page, even when using search engine optimization (SEO) techniques. Google local SEO opportunities available through Google Places and Google Maps are an affordable (free!) and easy way for smaller local companies to turn the tables on the larger companies. Not only can one out-rank the behemoths at the local level, they can out-smart them as well.

Large companies get their high rankings on the normal search engines a variety of ways:

Shear volume of hits by customers that are simply familiar with their name
Tying their company’s name to other “brand names” that customers look for
Exhaustive research on the effectiveness of certain keyword searches with internal staff evaluating these keyword strings, or by hiring marketing firms specializing in doing this type of analysis
High quality content that is looked upon favorably by the algorithms used by Google and other search engine providers

Small businesses were just not in a position to compete with the giant companies in a head-to-head search engine results battle; that is until Google local SEO came into play.

Using certain keyword phrases that will trigger the generation of a Google Map on the search results page, smart business owners are exploiting this opportunity to their advantage. As an example, the search string “commercial painters” in Google will pull up a results page that is different from the normal screen that one typically sees when performing a search. Google local SEO functions create a screen that provides a listing on the left similar to the normal results page, but with a summary listing of companies contained in the map found off to the right of the screen. This map includes featured companies related to the summary listing to the left with numbered balloons designating the locations of various providers.

Google local SEO allows for the small business to get a toe-hold in niche local markets where their customer base is predominately located in the first place. The opportunity to beat the big guys at their own game while providing excellent content to prospective customers is a definite win-win scenario. It is much better to compete head-to-head with your local competition where you can be a big fish in a small pond rather than trying to compete at a national level where you become a small fish in a vast ocean.

Savvy small business owners are taking advantage of the Google local SEO functionality by using this free feature to create customized listings that promote their business on the web at the local level. Many testimonials from business owners are available that extol the benefits of investing a little time and energy in developing the Google local SEO function for their business. Perhaps the one that benefits the most is the potential new customer that is now able to find a convenient local source for purchasing that specific product or service that they have been searching for. Make this potential customer your next customer by registering your business in the Google local SEO process today.