Any advice for better results for local search in the UK ?

[nicklemonpromotions]

Hi there,

I have tried the tools here, and they are BRILLIANT but maybe to much for me. I just wondered if anyone in the UK had time to give me some advice. A lot of my customers are small businesses (mainly trades, like plumbers, builders etc etc), and I am trying to find best practices for getting them more quality traffic amidst a lot of competition. One customer I am working with currently has 50+ competitiors for his small plumbing business that are within 5 miles of him and have an effective web prescence. In those circumstances (take it as read that I have killed myself creating quality content that I am proud of for this client), does anyone have any killer advice for me that could make my sites more effective ? If anyone does have the time I am more than willing to PM the URL I am working with at the moment.

Thanks for your time..

[Will_Craig]

Yea they are a bit of a waste of time,

The client is better to pick a decent brand type domain, ie proplumbers.co.uk
then create landing pages within the site ie

proplumbers.co.uk/plumbers-townname

then optimise the page for that area with unique content, customers quotes, service map, and if possible local phone number of that area. As in my opinion this helps with conversion.

Google has been moving away from keyword rich domains for years now, yes they are still effective but nothing like they used to be. I would definitely stay away from this practice.

[nicklemonpromotions]

Hey Will,

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond to me, its really appreciated. Your points are valid and there is a couple of things you have mentioned which had completely passed me by.

I wonder if you have time to answer another "local" question. I am increasingly getting clients come to me with what can only be described as a portfolion of local domains such as plumbercity.co.uk, plumbercitysuburb1.co.uk, plumbercitysuburb2.co.uk etc etc. Am I right in thinking that these additional domains are pretty much useless as possible type ins and might even cause reputation problems if they are linked in as landing pages ?

Thanks in advance

Nick

[Will_Craig]

Hi Will here

for me the best way is first off good content, you will find that when your dealing with plumbers, plasterers and builders getting links from guest blogging, infographics and giveaways is not practical.

here is what i would do for a local company

• Join all the industry forums and start talking getting involved with your clients community

• Start doing some keyword research into your clients business, ie plasterers, Rendering, Machine plastering ect

• Start Creating content on this ie "how to Render a wall" , "how to plaster a wall"

• For every job your client does locally write a blog post, ie "Plastering Job Glasgow"

• Start Following other local tradesman or services like your clients business

• Tweet your client work to other tradesmen or like wise service

• Join all the local services directories that are related to your niche

• Make sure your business address matches across directories you join,

• Create a google business plus account,

• Create a nice A5 Flyer offers something a small discount on your clients jobs in return for a honest review of your services

• Join Facebook and do the same, if a customer leaves a review give them a little discount

This is just some of my tips

Also one last tip

If for example your client is a local service for example "plumbing" company and your in Manchester. Then try find a area thats more competive than your area, ie London. Complete a few searches ie Plumbing London, plumbers in London, then complete the following

Check their backlinks
Check their google plus profile
Check their sites onsite

This should give you an idea of their strategies, as sometimes when looking at your competition in your own backyard can distract you.