Comments on: SBS Mailbag: When Local Keyword Research is a Dead End http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/local-keyword-research/1787/ Because not everyone can throw thousands of dollars at the 'How do we market ourselves online?' question... Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:57:14 +0000 hourly 1 By: Greg Boyer http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/local-keyword-research/1787/#comment-454918 Greg Boyer Fri, 06 Jan 2012 07:56:13 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=1787#comment-454918 You could use this equation to figure out local search counts. City Population (divide) US Population (times) global monthly keyword count (divide) by 2 = your local monthly keyword count. You could use this equation to figure out local search counts.

City Population (divide) US Population (times) global monthly keyword count (divide) by 2 = your local monthly keyword count.

]]> By: Alex Mitchell http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/local-keyword-research/1787/#comment-352307 Alex Mitchell Sun, 30 Oct 2011 08:36:58 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=1787#comment-352307 Don't forget about your analytics information! I'll have a look at what keywords are being searched to bring users to the website. Then I'll go and have a look to see where the website is ranking for those keywords the SE's. If the keywords are bringing in good traffic volume, but are NOT ranking in position 1, I'll get them ranking in position 1. That SHOULD improve traffic volume for that keyword. I continue to do that without keywords in Analytics, and then use broader, generic versions of keywords. Don’t forget about your analytics information!
I’ll have a look at what keywords are being searched to bring users to the website. Then I’ll go and have a look to see where the website is ranking for those keywords the SE’s.
If the keywords are bringing in good traffic volume, but are NOT ranking in position 1, I’ll get them ranking in position 1. That SHOULD improve traffic volume for that keyword. I continue to do that without keywords in Analytics, and then use broader, generic versions of keywords.

]]> By: TJ Kazunga http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/local-keyword-research/1787/#comment-179418 TJ Kazunga Mon, 28 Dec 2009 15:02:57 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=1787#comment-179418 My 2 cents: 1. Google's data for local search is not very reliable so use your common sense. If you know that "fitness club" is a popular search term, then it is likely that "Westport fitness club" will yield some results, regardless of what the keyword tool says... at least in my experience. Also, remember that a large proportion (not sure of the exact % but remember reading 50%?) of searches are unique to that searcher so will not normally show up on a keyword tool. Most powerful tip. Optimise for the main keyword i.e. "Westport fitness club" but make sure that you use a lot of relevant modifying keywords, including secondary geo-terms (such as Hartford or even Boston). As you begin to build quality backlinks to the website, you'll find that page will rank for multiple terms. 2. I personally always go for the Adwords option first. Persuade your client to spend £200 ($300 - $400 USD - or just do it yourself and include the cost in your SEO set up fees) to test which keywords will convert and do that first - then optimise the website for those those proven keywords. Glad I found this blog. Cheers to all TJ My 2 cents:

1. Google’s data for local search is not very reliable so use your common sense. If you know that “fitness club” is a popular search term, then it is likely that “Westport fitness club” will yield some results, regardless of what the keyword tool says… at least in my experience.

Also, remember that a large proportion (not sure of the exact % but remember reading 50%?) of searches are unique to that searcher so will not normally show up on a keyword tool.

Most powerful tip. Optimise for the main keyword i.e. “Westport fitness club” but make sure that you use a lot of relevant modifying keywords, including secondary geo-terms (such as Hartford or even Boston). As you begin to build quality backlinks to the website, you’ll find that page will rank for multiple terms.

2. I personally always go for the Adwords option first. Persuade your client to spend £200 ($300 – $400 USD – or just do it yourself and include the cost in your SEO set up fees) to test which keywords will convert and do that first – then optimise the website for those those proven keywords.

Glad I found this blog.
Cheers to all

TJ

]]> By: Andrew http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/local-keyword-research/1787/#comment-172459 Andrew Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:32:34 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=1787#comment-172459 The problem with low volume keywords on any of these tools, even Google's, is that they almost always inaccurate and unpredictable. The only way to really be sure is to run an Adwords campaign as you suggested. But I think we are neglecting the other avenues for traffic other than Google...I mean we have Bing, Yahoo, Facebook, Shopping search engines, etc. The problem with low volume keywords on any of these tools, even Google’s, is that they almost always inaccurate and unpredictable. The only way to really be sure is to run an Adwords campaign as you suggested. But I think we are neglecting the other avenues for traffic other than Google…I mean we have Bing, Yahoo, Facebook, Shopping search engines, etc.

]]> By: Tyy Ward http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/local-keyword-research/1787/#comment-170269 Tyy Ward Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:47:05 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=1787#comment-170269 Hey Matt, Great post! I have been looking for information on local SEO for quite a while now and just found your post today. I have a question for you regarding doing searches on non-localized search terms and then adding the geo keywords to that term. Do you recommend only going after the really high volume keywords and then adding the geo keywords or would you go after the long tail (low hanging fruit) keywords also? Example: Mortgage Rates = 9,085 daily searches VA Mortgage Rates = 166 daily searches Would it be worth going after VA Mortgage Rates + city and/or state? Or is that to little to spend time on? As you said in this post, there is no search volume when I add geo keywords and it has been very frustrating. Your post couldn't have come at a better time for me. Even though I am finding it 7 or 8 months after you posted it. Thanks for the help. Hey Matt,

Great post! I have been looking for information on local SEO for quite a while now and just found your post today.

I have a question for you regarding doing searches on non-localized search terms and then adding the geo keywords to that term. Do you recommend only going after the really high volume keywords and then adding the geo keywords or would you go after the long tail (low hanging fruit) keywords also?

Example:
Mortgage Rates = 9,085 daily searches
VA Mortgage Rates = 166 daily searches

Would it be worth going after VA Mortgage Rates + city and/or state? Or is that to little to spend time on? As you said in this post, there is no search volume when I add geo keywords and it has been very frustrating. Your post couldn’t have come at a better time for me. Even though I am finding it 7 or 8 months after you posted it. Thanks for the help.

]]> By: Jo Dodds http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/local-keyword-research/1787/#comment-153608 Jo Dodds Tue, 09 Jun 2009 13:22:23 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=1787#comment-153608 @Matt great point about local search traffic not showing up on keyword tools; I also take the view that with long tail keywords and truly local suppliers it actually doesn't take much traffic for them to convert quite a few customers given the % of offline purchases that start online and specific searching using geo qualifiers. So only getting traffic in the 10s or 100s is actually very beneficial for them, with a higher potential conversion in comparison to internet marketers and the usual 1% conversion. @Matt great point about local search traffic not showing up on keyword tools; I also take the view that with long tail keywords and truly local suppliers it actually doesn’t take much traffic for them to convert quite a few customers given the % of offline purchases that start online and specific searching using geo qualifiers. So only getting traffic in the 10s or 100s is actually very beneficial for them, with a higher potential conversion in comparison to internet marketers and the usual 1% conversion.

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