Maximising Local Search
-
Hi,
I work for a weather company. I have recently begun to define a keyword strategy to target specific keyphrase segments with the objective to maximise webpage visibility and increase CTR.
One growing keyphrase segment is "location weather" based searches (e.g. "London Weather", "Manchester Weather"). I am keen to understand how I can maximise our presence for location weather searches within the SERPs. This seems to be a common trends seeing as Google announced that over 20% of all searches contain a relevance to locality.
I have been trying to understand if there is a way to maximise our location based weather pages, perhaps using the Google Local search tactic and if there are any recommendations you could suggest?
ISSUE: In order to maximise your presence through local search you need a fixed address, something our site does not offer, however it does offer bespoke landing pages for a specific weather forecast based on locality (city, town etc)
Essentially, are there any recommendations you can provide a website that offers specific location based pages (without a fixed address) to maximise our location weather based search rankings within the SERPs?
Many thanks
Simon
-
Thanks for the responses guys...
The specific location based weather pages have been optimised within the page titles. As you suggest, I've been targeting high authority local websites that provide specific local content (sport, lifestyle, events, news etc).
This seems to be the only solution to the problem in trying to increase our ranking for these pages, any other suggestions would be much appreciated
-
Have you thought about using micro-formats?
http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?answer=146897
If these are not currently affecting rankings, they certainly will be going forward. Very cheap to implement as well.
-
Google Places (formerly, Google Local) isn't the right solution for a situation like this - you need to have a bona-fide address at each location to list there.
Some people USED to get around the PO box requirement by using mail centers that provide you with a street address instead of a box number, however I don't recommend this. Not only would it be an unreliable tactic on a large scale, but it would be way too easy for Google to identify and block these providers (if they aren't already.)
At the risk of stating the obvious, make sure the location is in your page titles. Local directories are a start, but try to get backlinks from local businesses and resources. What are your competitors doing that you can do better? Lots of web sites post local weather links - the trick is in getting them to post YOUR link.
Hope this helps!
-
Well, I know having P.O Boxes is against the Google Places guidelines making them a negative local ranking factor. so lets throw that idea out.
I found the best method was local directories and backlinks on local pages with proper anchors.
I'm interested in seeing what others suggest. This may also help: http://www.davidmihm.com/local-search-ranking-factors.shtml
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Once you start fixing Local citations with correct NAP, is it normal for your rankings to plunge at first?
I strongly believe that I have received the most solid Local advice I could from these forums and have started (in just a few days) to make the needed corrections. At the same time I'm somewhat excited and optimistic that it will be a long journey but that it's a learning process. About 5 days ago, I set my website up with "City landing pages" and I started plundering through google, fixing and claiming and correcting as many citations as I could with correct NAP. The journey still continues today as I just got my Bing Local card in the mail and verified. I went to check my rankings on Google Maps, just to see if anything had changed and sure enough it had. My listing had been holding strong at page 10 (which drives me nuts) and now after 5 days of solid work its on page 18. I have to assume that because I'm stirring the dust perhaps Google is confused and maybe in a month or so things might start moving the other way? Thoughts?
Image & Video Optimization | | jonnyholt0 -
Any Legit Local Address Services Out There?
I have a client who lives in the UK but runs a US ecommerce site. I'd still like to get him some local trust signals but he has no options when it comes to getting an address here. Has anyone found a reputableplace where you can rent an address that isn't already being used by umpteen other companies?
Image & Video Optimization | | iAnalyst.com0 -
Google Places, Google+ Local, or both?
I understand that Google is in the process of merging Google Places into Google+ Local, but the current state is very confusing. There are still two separate signup pages, and neither even MENTIONS the other. If someone is establishing a business web presence today, what should we set up?
Image & Video Optimization | | LunaGraphica0 -
Local SEO: Ste vs. Suite vs. #
Hi, I used the spelled out "Suite" in my local NAP, but sometimes it's been shortened to Ste by citation websites. I'm trying to remain consistent here Should I use Ste H, Suite H, or #H? This is a good article on it: http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/google-local-citations/1605-suite-vs-ste-vs-your-citation-addresses-2.html but I'd still like your opinion.
Image & Video Optimization | | BobGW0 -
Yahoo! Local
Is anyone else experiencing issues with Yahoo! Local listings when trying to make edits? It seems SUPER buggy right now. Just curious is anyone else is having the same setbacks. Thanks!
Image & Video Optimization | | AmberRobinson0 -
Does anyone know a browser extension that could show me the position an image has in Image Search?
Hello and thank you for your attention! Does anyone know a browser extension that could show me the image ranking in Google Image SERP - similar to what SEOmoz Tool does for regular search - shows you a number under each result, in the left side. Thank you so much!
Image & Video Optimization | | Netlogiq0 -
Confused about Google+ Local vs Google Places
If you're doing SEO for a new local business that currently does not have a Google Places listing (or a Google+ Local page), do you have to set up both for them? Or do you simply create the Google Places listing and wait for Google to merge it to a Google+ Local page? I am so confused!
Image & Video Optimization | | MarieHaynes0 -
Listing in Local search
Hi, Are several listing in google places allowed ? I've got 1 address but with 3 differents services with 1 website for each activity . Tks a lot..
Image & Video Optimization | | mozllo0