Changes to Google local search results and what it means to local businesses.

If you thought that getting your business listed on Google Maps (now Google Places) and displaying in the search results was difficult, think again, it’s now become even more of a science. Whereas until recently Google Places results linked were separated from the organic and paid results, not anymore. Now if you want to appear in the local results you need to optimise both your Places listing AND your organic listings.

The biggest effects are –

If you previously didn’t have a website and just used Google Places, your days are numbered – you are going to need your own optimised website.

If you were receiving traffic from directory sites which were already optimised locally, then check carefully their rankings. These sites have been hit hard by these changes and moved down the rankings.

As always with these sorts of changes there are winners as well as losers, those businesses with well optimised sites for local search, along with a carefully created Google Places account have seen their ranking increase. They are also experiencing increased clicks from them due to the greater prominence their listings have in the new style layout.

Why a search specialist is becoming so important for local business

Most businesses are now getting to the point where they understand the need to address their visibility online. They've probably heard the term SEO (short for Search Engine Optimisation) and Pay Per Click advertising. They may have noticed that some businesses appear with a map in certain search results. But how does it all tie together and where do you start, to get advice or help?

The reality is that the search landscape is not only complex, its very fast moving. With the massive expotential growth of mobile devices search is changing daily. Search engines are changing (Bing and Yahoo are merging for instance) and users are using different entry points to find information they need. Social Media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Linked In all have a part to play in the search mix.

As a specialist SEO Cheltenham company and it's our job to keep up to date with all these changes. We can analyse your current position and marketplace and then recomend a search strategy that works for you at a budget that works for you.

Mobile Search and Paid Ads

As previously forecast on this blog, Local Search and Mobile Search are developing fast based upon the proliferation of Smartphones.

Google Announced today -

"Introducing Click to Call Phone Numbers in Google AdWords on Mobile Devices

We’re pleased to announce that starting today, users on mobile devices with full Internet browsers can see your business phone number and call you directly from your ads.
The cost of a click to call your business will be the same as the cost of a click to visit your website. "

For more on Local Search visit Click Insight.

Local Search is over for SEO and Web Designers

Google has virtually removed all SEO and Web Design Companies from local search results.

I'm not entirely sure of the logic, perhaps they think we're too good at getting our local listings optimised? But then what about our customers, for most of us we spend more time on them than our own sites!


http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2010/01/04/google-ditches-local-listings-for-seos-and-designers

Cheap MOT Cheltenham 2

If you'd like your business website to appear in the first page of search results for Cheap MOT Cheltenham then contact us today.

We recently posted this blog http://www.clickinsight.co.uk/2009/10/cheap-mot-cheltenham.html
to highlight how few companies optimise for search on a local level. This has two effects -

Firstly, those companies lose business as they are not found in the results.
Secondly, the search engine results end up filled with directory listings and the users search experience is compromised.

This search keyword we used as an example is relevant to so many Cheltenham Business's it's surprising how few are optimised for it. Competition is not that great and with some on-site and off-site optimisation a first page position is attainable in a relatively short period of time. Of course there are quite literally thousands of keywords similar to Cheap MOT Cheltenham which once a site is optimised for, could drive low cost, high quality traffic to your business website.As a Cheltenham SEO company we're expert in increasing your website traffic through optimising your site for any given keywords relevant to your business.

Cheap MOT Cheltenham

If you'd like your business website to appear in the first page of search results for Cheap MOT Cheltenham then contact us today.

This search keyword is relevant to so many Cheltenham Business's it's surprising how few are optimised for it. Competition is not that great and with some on-site and off-site optimisation a first page position is attainable in a relatively short period of time. Of course there are quite literally thousands of keywords similar to Cheap MOT Cheltenham which once a site is optimised for, could drive low cost, high quality traffic to your business website.

As a Cheltenham Search Engine Optimisation company we're expert in increasing your website traffic through optimising your site for any given keywords relevant to your business.

Measuring Search Engine Optimisation Success

There is an old saying that Cobblers children have no shoes. I often find myself thinking about this with regards to business. Anyone who knows a plumber can testify that they'll have hot water problems at home, or an electrician whos lights don't work properly. The point being that they are too busy fixing other peoples systems to find time for their own. After all they don't get paid to fix their own homes!

It's a similar scenario for Search. We spend all our time increasing other company rankings leaving little to work on our own. This month though we felt our site needed an injection. We targeted the term SEO Company Cheltenham as our ranking was around a lowly 160 in Google UK.

Pleasingly within a month we're now showing (at the time of writing this blog) to be number 5 in Google UK. Obviously competition is high on keywords involving terms surrounding search so we're aware that this could change at any time. But through ongoing maintenance we'll hope to hold it, or improve it, time permitting!

Cheltenham Builder Keyword

It's not that difficult for local building companies to achieve a high ranking in search for the keyword "Cheltenham Builder".

Competition is relatively low for the search Cheltenham Builder. There are plenty of small business's who have websites, but don't appear in the rankings for these terms. With more and more customers using the web as their tool of choice to find local tradesmen and other services you'd think it would make sense for them to spend a little money on a good Cheltenham SEO Company to build their listing place on keywords relevant to their business such as in this case, Cheltenham Builder.

Cheltenham Local Business Websites

It constantly amazes me how few local business's optimise their sites for search. Looking today at searches including -

Cheltenham Electrician
Cheltenham Plumber
Cheltenham Builder

Competition is relatively low for all of these spots. There are plenty of small business's who have websites, but don't appear in the rankings for these terms. With more and more customers using the web as their tool of choice to find local tradesmen and other services you'd think it would make sense for them to spend a little money on a good local SEO Company to drive them up these rankings in a short space of time at relatively low cost in relation to some of the other advertising they may be spending money on.

SEO Company Cheltenham Gloucestershire

Don't forget that we're currently offering a FREE SEO site audit for local businesses.

As a Cheltenham SEO Company we're perfectly placed to understand your needs in local, as well as national and international search.

The survey includes -
A simple site technical audit.
An SEO review of keyword terms relating to your company.
A general SEO review of the site.

These audits can cost hundreds of pounds, feel free to contact us today to arrange yours.
http://www.clickinsight.co.uk/

Bing Search Engine - Local Search Results

I was looking at the introduction to Bing earlier - http://www.discoverbing.co.uk/map/multimap.aspx and found myself looking at Multimap for the first time in ages. It's fairly safe to say that Bing's market share is more likely to rise than decrease in the coming months and correspondingly this will lead to a rise in Multimap users.

From a local search perspective what immediately caught my eye after entering Cheltenham as a location into Bing was the the useful information box on the left hand side (see image above). You'll note that it suggests 24 cashpoints, 26 parking spots and only ONE shopping location in Cheltenham (ok I'll spoil it for you, The Regent Arcade).

I'm sure there's a few shops and locations in Cheltenham who wouldn't mind being included in that "useful information" box. Call us to find out how important local search is to your business.

http://www.clickinsight.co.uk

Do small businesses need a website online?

Do small businesses need a website online?

It may seem ironic to suggest that small businesses start building an online presence without a website. But there’s a very good reason why businesses, and in particular small business start building their online presence even if they don’t have a website and that’s the development of local search.

For many business types a website is never going to be a transactional tool; a plumber, electrician or gardener for instance are never going to be able to complete their services online. For them it will only ever be an information portal to advertise their services and attract customers.

Arguably the website is a tool that can convert customers, answering all their questions, reassuring them of the trustworthiness and integrity of the business and above all getting them to pick up the phone and call the business! But for many types of businesses which operate on a local level it’s most important to raise their profile and awareness of their services on a local level. The most important thing is being found.


If a small business can be found within “search”, the website conversion process can to some extent be removed from the entire customer journey. This reflects the process customers would follow pre-Internet, the customer has a requirement e.g. needs a plumber, the customer searches for a plumber who’s can fulfil that requirement and once they locate one nearby they call. End of process, no website required to convert the customer.

So how can small businesses be found within search on a local level without a website? Well here’s the two most powerful ways this can be achieved –

Google local search results – Probably the most powerful tool of them all and no you don’t need a website. Any business can sign up for a local Google business account, simply fill in some details regarding the types of service you offer, telephone and address, validate the details by phone or post and away you go. These local search results are always displayed at the top of relevant pages meaning you can “out SEO” an SEO expert without a website!

Online Directories – There are thousands of directories and whatever your business, they’ll be several which you can add your details to for free. Some directories will be based on geography, some on service types. Just search for “Free (area) directory” or “Free (tradesman) directory” and you’ll find loads in no time. Plenty of them will allow you to submit without a web address.

Naturally, working for as an SEO Marketing Consultant the suggestion that a business doesn’t need a website is only a short-term one! Due to the low cost of designing and hosting a simple website and the likelihood that it’ll increase conversion, visibility and awareness of the business it will always make sense to get one built. However, if the funds aren’t available for it right now that doesn’t stop you starting to build your online presence for free.