Local Optimization-What Does It Mean for Lansing SEO?
I have posted a few examples in my poor, sporadically used and lonely blog (especially compared to my partner Adam Henige, who is a blog machine) about the importance of localized search results. I believe it will be an important and ever growing role for businesses as they market on the web. As Google looks to increase value for users, it is seeking to create geographically relevant search results for searchers.
I have discussed using the Local Business Center. But I have not gotten around to discussing some new features in the Local tool which was launched a few months ago - the Local Business Center Dashboard. The business center is now providing information on your company’s total impressions, and actions taken. On the impressions side, you can view the keywords in which you appeared, a la Google Webmaster Tools.
For example, for Netvantage Marketing in the last month, I can see that our local listing appeared for:
- Netvantage Marketing
- Netvantage east lansing
- East Lansing web marketing
- Lansing SEO
- marketing consulting (which is more of an accidental listing for us)
As importantly in the dashboard, we can see the actions taken on the listing - with a neat breakdown of:
- Those who went on to visit your website
- Got driving directions to your business
- Gained more info about your business on Google Maps
So when Lansing businesses are figuring our their SEO tactics for the web, again, don’t discard the Local Business Center. It has also provided great free advertising, and now, it provides solid reporting to back it up.
Back to School
I had an opportunity to do some guest teaching at Mason High School yesterday. I came in for Kristin Higgins’s Info Tech class. I talked about the importance of Google, and how it will become an increasingly important channel for marketers to market to their generation. To make the point obvious to them, we took some polls. We took an obvious poll of how many of them watch TV, or even watch the commercials on TV. Many of them barely listened to the radio, much less listening to those commercials. Finally, I rattled off some search engines, Yahoo, Live, AOL, Cuil, Omgili, Ask, and a few kids raised their hands. Then of course it was nearly 100% of those that raised their hands for Google as their search engine of choice. We then talked further about how Google will become the primary marketing channel for their generation of consumers.
We then walked through some fun keyword volumes examples, such as approximatley how many times do you think Jay-Z was searched on Google in September. (1.8 Million) I showed them some of the basics of natura search, keeping light, of course. We then walked through and set up a Google AdWords campaign for Mason Bulldog Sweatshirts, writing the ad, selecting geography, setting the budget, etc. Within 10 minutes, there ad was showing on Google, which of course was neat.
Finally, I talked about careers in search marketing, and in marketing/IT in general. Within this, I mentioned the Capital Area IT Council, and their efforts in trying to promote careers in our field, and getting people excited. As high school kids go, many haven’t thought that far ahead, but I tried to stress the possible educational/career track, as well as the many benefits of working in our industry. In summary, it was great to be in the classroom with young people, and give them a little insight into how a powerful marketing channel works. I look forward to representing Netvantage Marketing, and the CAITC in the future with such events.
