How to perform Local SEO for sites like Angies List/Task Rabbit or Craigslist

[VITALBGS]

I have a new SEO client that has a business model similar to Criagslist and Angies List or Task Rabbit, Where they offer local based services nationwide. My first thought was Local link building and citation building etc. But the issue is they are a purely online service company and they don't have a phyiscal address in every city/state they will be offering their services in.

What is the best course of action for providing SEO services for this type of business model. I am pretty much at a stand still on how to rank them locally for the areas they provide services in. it's a business model that involves local businesses and customers looking for services from those local businesses.

[VITALBGS]

That's good to know, thank you for the suggestion on creating geo based. I was hoping their was another way to rank locally for each city we provide services in. Maybe one day, i guess this type of business model isn't quite in Google's sites yet for local.

[jesse-landry]

blogs, social media, comparison charts, infographics, something interesting. show me in a fun way how you are different than those well established brands.

That's some tough competition... Good luck!

[TakeshiYoung]

If they don't have a physical address, they're not going to show up in Local Search (Craigslist/Angies List don't either).

Your best bet is to follow standard SEO practices and build good links & content. Create pages your site focused around each of the cities you are targeting, and make sure city name & zip code are in the URL, title, etc. Same thing for the individual business listings.

For on-page optimization, you can copy a lot of things Angies List is doing as far as SEO. For backlinks, get links from relevant local sites like local businesses, government websites, business associations, local news, etc.