Local Listings

Have you done a recent search for your firm in the three main search engines? I’m talking about a basic search on your firms name. I’ve had good success branding my website for the term rising stream

. A fundamental tool for accomplishing that is to include your key words in your domain name. I rank #2 in Google, #4 in Yahoo and #3 and #4 in Microsoft. Add associates to the search – rising stream associates – and I hit #1 in all three search engines.

What about someone searching for business, marketing or technology consulting, a perfect fit for me? Reaching the first page for any one of these services will be a long term commitment and require regular content updates on this site, especially when you look at the number of firms that rank high now. Notice the domain names? The keywords I’m using here are part of the domain name in the majority of the cases.

There is another way to address the problem. For both Yahoo and Microsoft, the main page of their search pages include the “Local” option. Google is a bit different – use

An important component of your Search Engine Marketing strategy should be to rank high in these local searches as well. Consumers are looking for ways to improve search results and the Local component is a simple method to achieve that goal.

Google makes it simple for you if you are not showing up in the local listings. Look at the bottom left of the search page and you’ll see a link for Business Owners – . The sign in process shows you what your listing will look like as you complete the information, including adding up to five categories for your firm. Confirmation is by postal mail or a phone call.

is the method for ensuring your firm will be found in their City Guides

. The process also goes smoothly and confirmation is noted as taking 3-5 business days. An email confirms your listing request has been received and provides links back to the Account Center.

Microsoft is an interesting difference. The boys & girls from Redmond are using a third party service for adding business listings to their Local service. Submit your . Microsoft was also the most annoying service I worked with, primarily because it insisted on using Chicago, IL as my default location, even though I was logged in with my Live.com ID.

Two final items. Google and Yahoo will tie your listing to your email address while Microsoft does not since it uses a third-party service. Finally, make certain that you include your address and phone number, in text format, on your website. A graphic will not be indexed by the search engines and make it that much harder for your prospects to find you locally!