The days when a yellow pages listing was adequate to market your business are gone. Today, potential customers search for services via the Internet, allowing them to choose the best value among hundreds of similar business. In order to capture engaged audiences, local Internet marketing techniques are essential to the visibility of your company. Leading tactics such as directory listing maintenance, geo-local optimization and backlinks with keyword-rich anchored text all work to enhance your visibility and brand recognition.

So how does one start with establishing an online presence in an era when every competitor is fighting for top rankings?

Online directories set the standard
In the past, customers referenced yellow pages for local services. Today’s yellow pages are primarily online which enables businesses to advertise more efficiently while reaching a wide demographic of customers. The most visible companies maintain dozens of accurate directory listings, providing potential customers the ability to find information within seconds.  Many of these directories also give customers the opportunity to submit testimonials, a very effective means of establishing a reputation for quality and value. Closely monitoring and managing these accounts is critical.

The power of keywords in a geographically-defined page
Google and other search engines pull pages that achieve the highest relevancy for keywords.  Geo-local pages optimized for specific locations are critical to achieving a high rank on Google. Once these local pages are developed with specific keywords and services, you are on your way to driving more traffic to your site, and increasing the potential for customer conversions.

Maintaining visibility as competition grows
While local marketing may seem relatively straightforward, the complexity arises as competitors enter the marketplace and employ local Internet marketing tactics. A website with fresh content, keyword-rich backlinks, search popularity and social media interest all play a role in your page ranking. Managing and maintaining the campaign is vital to ensure your visibility does not decrease as the Internet evolves and search engines continue to adapt SEO best practices.