Looking to build your website’s local traffic? Try these 7 proven tips…

1. Sign Up For The Local Search Engines – It’s free, it’s easy, and it simply works. Each of the 3 major search engines is really trying to expand their market share of local search (they’re obviously on to something here). In doing so, they’re making it incredibly simple to participate. Don’t pass up this opportunity.
2. You’ve Got A Web Address… Use It – Tastefully plaster your website’s URL all over your business’s traditionally-printed material. Business cards, envelopes, stationary, flyers… you name it. Your local customers do want to use and benefit from your website, but in many cases, they just need to know about it first.
3. Participate In Social Media – Twitter and Facebook have become quite the online phenomenon. And the best part about it is that it doesn’t look like they’re going away anytime soon. Local businesses are catching on and finding out that using these tools to reach local customers is really working. In fact, check with your local Chamber of Commerce or other local business organization to see if they’re offering any classes or advice to get started here — many are.
4. Optimize Your Website With Local Keyword Phrases – This proven tip is about as simple as it comes, but also frequently overlooked. Locally inspired keyword terms — especially long tail keyword terms — usually go without any competition at all. In other words, if you use them on your site, you’ll dominate the search engines for those terms!
5. Include Your Local Address On Your Website – For some crazy reason, lots of businesses choose not to do this. First of all, if you’re a legit business, you’ve definitely got nothing to lose by providing your visitors with good level of transparency. But more importantly when it comes to local traffic, by including your business name and address (perhaps in the footer) of every web page on your site, you’ll cross match for even more locally targeted search queries.
6. Take Advantage Of The Maps – There are all kinds of different strategies here, but map mash-up tools (like those offered by Google Maps) enable you to get creative locally. You can literally put your business on the map online by signing up for local search — and you can also use online maps on your site or with social media. Again, it’s all about being creative!
7. Advertise Your Website Locally – Are you already advertising your business locally via T.V., radio, or the local paper? If so, surely you’re already including your URL in the ads. Good first step, but think about setting up an advertising campaign that’s really designed to promote your website. Traditional media sales reps probably won’t be able to grasp this concept very well — but it does work when a decent strategy is established first.

Local traffic is becoming more and more important to businesses online — after all, it’s a niche that you probably already know plenty about. Definitely consider these 7 tips… and don’t be afraid to experiment with other local traffic techniques too. It’ll be worth the effort!

Until Next Time.
George Chaney
President/CEO
SEO King, Inc.