Comments on: SBS Mailbag: Many Service Areas, One Address http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/sbs-mailbag-many-service-areas-one-address/1319/ 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: MiriamEllis http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/sbs-mailbag-many-service-areas-one-address/1319/#comment-80644 MiriamEllis Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:54:59 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=1319#comment-80644 Matt, you did a good job. I would mention 2 things. The first is that one of this reader's questions hasn't been answered...if he publishes an address, he fears people may think that he has a walk-in business location. He doesn't, and this is a problem to which I have found no solution, though we have often encountered it. The client has to decide whether to take the risk that people may think his home is a physical business address, or he must forego the benefits of Local Search. That's the decision he must make. The second suggestion I'd make would be that the reader get a website developed, featuring a separate page for each of his major service areas, optimized with the magic combo of service + location. This could be a big help in his specific situation. Nice question. Miriam Matt, you did a good job.

I would mention 2 things.

The first is that one of this reader’s questions hasn’t been answered…if he publishes an address, he fears people may think that he has a walk-in business location. He doesn’t, and this is a problem to which I have found no solution, though we have often encountered it. The client has to decide whether to take the risk that people may think his home is a physical business address, or he must forego the benefits of Local Search. That’s the decision he must make.

The second suggestion I’d make would be that the reader get a website developed, featuring a separate page for each of his major service areas, optimized with the magic combo of service + location. This could be a big help in his specific situation.

Nice question.
Miriam

]]> By: Mike Blumenthal http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/sbs-mailbag-many-service-areas-one-address/1319/#comment-80642 Mike Blumenthal Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:36:24 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=1319#comment-80642 Steve Espinosa <a href="http://www.stephenespinosa.com/?p=84" rel="nofollow">reported out</a> some research that shows that a #1 placement in organic gets 1.5x the click throughs of a Local 10 Pack listing. I would optimize the site for the long tail of local search ie a page (and as Martijn point out internal linking) for each town + service that he offers. I would also create MyMaps listings of service location. Steve Espinosa reported out some research that shows that a #1 placement in organic gets 1.5x the click throughs of a Local 10 Pack listing.

I would optimize the site for the long tail of local search ie a page (and as Martijn point out internal linking) for each town + service that he offers.

I would also create MyMaps listings of service location.

]]> By: martijn http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/sbs-mailbag-many-service-areas-one-address/1319/#comment-80589 martijn Fri, 10 Oct 2008 09:36:56 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/?p=1319#comment-80589 I think you responded well. LBC: I would add a custom attribute 'service area' which describes your service area. I would define service area in description if appropriate. Onsite: Mention your service area. Get creative! Think of use cases in certain service areas. For a website designer for example: make a portfolio page and mention the cities of the companies/individuals you did projects for (if they are okay with that ) use these locations as internal anchor to your contact/location page. it might work ;-) I think you responded well.

LBC:

I would add a custom attribute ‘service area’ which describes your service area.

I would define service area in description if appropriate.

Onsite:

Mention your service area. Get creative! Think of use cases in certain service areas.

For a website designer for example: make a portfolio page and mention the cities of the companies/individuals you did projects for (if they are okay with that )
use these locations as internal anchor to your contact/location page. it might work ;-)

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