Comments on: The Other Problem with Local Search: Location http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/the-other-problem-with-local-search-location/919/ 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: Matt McGee http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/the-other-problem-with-local-search-location/919/#comment-15112 Matt McGee Sun, 07 Oct 2007 22:19:27 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/2007/10/04/the-other-problem-with-local-search-location/#comment-15112 Tim - you're right that SEO should be part of the discussion. No argument there. David - thx for the kind words, and excellent point about the geographic center of a city not always being the ideal "local target" point. Michael - thx also for commenting. If you ever read the Google Maps help group, you'll see a fair amount of discussion about the situation you describe, where towns or even street names are changed and lead to all kinds of confusion. Tim – you’re right that SEO should be part of the discussion. No argument there.

David – thx for the kind words, and excellent point about the geographic center of a city not always being the ideal “local target” point.

Michael – thx also for commenting. If you ever read the Google Maps help group, you’ll see a fair amount of discussion about the situation you describe, where towns or even street names are changed and lead to all kinds of confusion.

]]> By: » Local Search For Rural Businesses Local Advertising Journal http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/the-other-problem-with-local-search-location/919/#comment-15094 » Local Search For Rural Businesses Local Advertising Journal Sat, 06 Oct 2007 13:14:53 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/2007/10/04/the-other-problem-with-local-search-location/#comment-15094 [...] Matt McGee at Small Business SEM had an interesting post on the challenges of local search for small businesses. In essence, he said the problem is more than SEO. The issue is really geo-targeting. And I’d like to add that it isn’t all on the shoulders of the small business owner. A part of the solution to the problem will have to come from the way the search engines program their algorithms for local search. [...] [...] Matt McGee at Small Business SEM had an interesting post on the challenges of local search for small businesses. In essence, he said the problem is more than SEO. The issue is really geo-targeting. And I’d like to add that it isn’t all on the shoulders of the small business owner. A part of the solution to the problem will have to come from the way the search engines program their algorithms for local search. [...]

]]> By: » Local Search Presents Some Unique Challenges Search Engine Optimization Journal http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/the-other-problem-with-local-search-location/919/#comment-15093 » Local Search Presents Some Unique Challenges Search Engine Optimization Journal Sat, 06 Oct 2007 12:57:23 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/2007/10/04/the-other-problem-with-local-search-location/#comment-15093 [...] (Source) Local Search: Keyword-based and location-based. User provides a query and search engine matches documents to both the keyword and the location. To rank for “seattle green widgets,” develop great content and links about green widgets, and be located in Seattle. In theory and practice this is not simple, nor is it easy. [...] [...] (Source) Local Search: Keyword-based and location-based. User provides a query and search engine matches documents to both the keyword and the location. To rank for “seattle green widgets,” develop great content and links about green widgets, and be located in Seattle. In theory and practice this is not simple, nor is it easy. [...]

]]> By: Local Hound http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/the-other-problem-with-local-search-location/919/#comment-15087 Local Hound Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:29:29 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/2007/10/04/the-other-problem-with-local-search-location/#comment-15087 Matt, you're definitely right that I somewhat oversimplified seo as it applies in the local space. But as you said, it's right up to a point... and so it belongs in the conversation and that's not a minor point. Especially, from the perspective of a small business owner coming to the web in an effort to better understand how to market their business on the web. And wouldn't you just love to hear one of these "prominent" people admit that SEO is legitimate and improves the usability of the web for search engines and user alike? If even just once. Matt, you’re definitely right that I somewhat oversimplified seo as it applies in the local space.

But as you said, it’s right up to a point… and so it belongs in the conversation and that’s not a minor point. Especially, from the perspective of a small business owner coming to the web in an effort to better understand how to market their business on the web.

And wouldn’t you just love to hear one of these “prominent” people admit that SEO is legitimate and improves the usability of the web for search engines and user alike? If even just once.

]]> By: planetc1 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/the-other-problem-with-local-search-location/919/#comment-15085 planetc1 Fri, 05 Oct 2007 17:26:02 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/2007/10/04/the-other-problem-with-local-search-location/#comment-15085 Just had someone new to my business this morning coming from one of those renamed cities (typically done to raise real estate values and separate from 'bad' neighborhoods). Toss that into the pile of things to figure out. Just had someone new to my business this morning coming from one of those renamed cities (typically done to raise real estate values and separate from ‘bad’ neighborhoods). Toss that into the pile of things to figure out.

]]> By: planetc1 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/the-other-problem-with-local-search-location/919/#comment-15082 planetc1 Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:48:31 +0000 http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/2007/10/04/the-other-problem-with-local-search-location/#comment-15082 Some good points Matt. Often times in local, once you think you have it figured out, another factor arises. Going to be interesting to see how all this plays out. Some good points Matt. Often times in local, once you think you have it figured out, another factor arises.

Going to be interesting to see how all this plays out.

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