Optimization for your web site is crucial, because it supports all of the other marketing and advertising strategies you use. You need to include your business name and local information in your optimization strategies. Why? Well, you want to show up when people do local searches for your services or products.

For Example, I have #1 placements for the keyword phrase “Sarasota SEO Copywriter”. No matter how you switch up those words, I still have the #1 placement. I am also #1 for Sarasota Copywriter & Sarasota Copywriting (Please don’t jinx me). I optimized for local search. I work more with clients nationally, but local work is great too and it will help you pay the bills.

Back to the point, when you optimize for local search you help people find you. There are other ways you can help people find your business:

• Google Business Center– this is a must! You add your business information and you can add a picture of your building so when people are trying to find you they will have an easier time. Google puts three of these results up if the keywords in your business description matchs the words the Internet user is searching for. This means you could possibly be at the top of Google, without the optimization of your web site and because of your optimized description. Now here is an important tip– you can use your business name in the business name section or you could add keywords such as, “Columbus Ohio Injury Attorney- Plymale”. These keywords help your chances of showing up for more than just your business name.
• Do the same thing on MSN Local and Yahoo Local – Remember your keyword option. If you do some local searches on these sites you can evaluate those that are placed at the top of the local search results and optimize your business description accordingly.
• You need to add your business to Verizon Superpages– when you have a business listing in the Superpages you automatically create a certain level of trust. People trust businesses that list their businesses and business info here. Additionally, if you don’t have a lot of backlinks to your new site this is a good one to have.

All of the places I listed above allow you to give the reader a lot of info about your business and the listing will link back to your web site. They all offer maps for the reader and you can add important keywords to the description of your business… 🙂 Lots of bonuses! Just 3 things I think you should keep in mind. Good Luck!

Melissa- SEOAware.com

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