• Take Advantage of Google’s ‘Local Business Results’ Map Listings •
• Proper Attention To Keywords Can Get You On Top •

Are you taking advantage of the FREE opportunity to have yet another place for your website to show up in Google’s organic rankings? Have you taken the 5-minutes to sign up and fill in the information for the Google ‘Local Business Results’ Maps? If not, I highly encourage you to do so.

Google’s Local Maps Listing Is A Way To Showcase Your Business Via An Eyecatching Map

Nothing like having great organic search rankings for the local search results that Google returns for my SEO consulting business. I have (of course!) made sure to optimize a number of pages on my www.SEO-Innovation.com website for the city, county and state in which my business resides. These pages normally rank up in the top-ten results for the keyword phrases that I’ve targeted.

To learn how to search engine optimize your site’s content for top ranking local results, please read my post: How To Effectively SEO Your Website To Be Local Search-Friendly

But how would you like to see your business listed above the top-ten local results on page one? You can, if you utilize the small business maps feature. Even if you are not in a top-ten, or even a top 40 organic listing for the targeted keywords being queried, you still might very well get a #1, #2 or even #3 placement on the map which then puts your small business name up at the top of the first results page!

Real Time Examples

I am pleased to show you two examples of my #1 ranking positions (screenshots taken June 13, 2008). I have held these map-listings top positions for quite some time, so obviously I have done a good job of providing targeted, keyword focused information for the local listings.

And this one …

It’s great to get listed in this way, as not only is there value in being shown in the map’s lisitng, but the map is interactive just like regular Google maps, so people can click on the map to find driving directions; or they can click on the “more info” link that takes them to the information about the services I offer that I provided when I set up my maps listing.

Note that you are able to edit and/or add more information to your business profile after it has been approved for listing, so you are not “stuck” with the original information provided.

Case in point: I recently added another keyword phrase to the description for a service that I do truly offer to clients. That extra keyword phrase also helps me come up for other local search terms a potential client might be typing in.

Do not discount the value of getting your online business listed in Google’s local search map. It is free and quick to do.

Also, when I updated my information the other day, I was pleased to find that now they have an instant validation method, whereby Google calls you within seconds of hitting the submit button, and immediately authenticates you as being legitimate and your listing is immediately approved! How great is that?

Previously, the only option was to wait to receive a post card at the address you listed for your business, and it contained a pin number that you keyed in online to activate your listing. This option is still available, but I was pleased to see they’ve tried to make the whole process easier and quicker for those of us who don’t like waiting.

Your Organic Listing Does Not Affect The Position Of The Map Listing

As I mentioned previously, Google determines how to rank the local map listings, just like they determine how the organic results are returned. So, don’t fret if your organic listing isn’t yet a top-ten position. It will not affect your chance at possibly achieving the #1 slot for the local map.

Make sure to use your targeted keyword phrases that best describe your business when you fill in the listing description! Google is going to take your entire listing description into consideration then it comes to what position they give you. You will have to deal with the same ranking issues, more or less, like you do in the regular rankings. Google has their criteria as to who is #1 and so on! So write a great description and keep your fingers crossed (just in case ).

You could be #1 or all the way down to #10 in the map listings. Again, Google has their secret way of figuring out who ranks where. In addition, your position is affected by the number of other businesses that have taken the time to submit their information … ranking competition exists in local maps, too!

For Some Of You, The Coupon Feature Might Really Help Stimulate A Few More Sales!

Depending on the nature and niche of your business, offering a coupon of some sort might really be a winner with the people who are searching for your product or services online. Well, guess what? Google has integrated the ability for you to create free printable coupons that will be included with your local business listing.

As Google states, “A new way to attract customers. Adding coupons to your listing in Google Maps will bring new customers to your business. The better savings you offer, the more customers you’ll gain.”

Maybe you sell auto parts; maybe you are a barber or hairdresser; maybe you own a local restaurant; maybe you are the local florist; whatever your business may be … a Google small business map listing isn’t just for those of us who have internet based businesses. Brick and mortar businesses can benefit greatly, too!

All-in-all, you can’t go wrong by taking the time to include your small business listing in the local maps feature. To learn all about it, or to start right now and fill out the information needed, please refer to Google’s Local Business Center. (You need to have a free Google account set up in order to take advantage of the free listing.)

• Yahoo! Looks For Certain Criteria When Ranking Website Content •
• SEO For Yahoo! Sticks To Ethical Proven Guidelines •

I am always asked by clients how they can rank highly in organic results both in Google and in Yahoo!. I’ve even had a couple of clients ask if they are going to have to write two sets of content geared to each search engine, and will I have to provide meta tags that are uniquely optimized for each search engine, too.

Fortunately, none of that is necessary (except in extreme cases, which I won’t bother to explain, as it rarely is an issue most of us would have to address). I assure clients SEO for Yahoo! and their small business website or blog isn’t going to cause us problems, not at all!

As I tell everyone, Google brings almost every website at least 60-65% of its traffic, thusly it is important to keep Google “happy” as far as how we go about ethically optimizing the site for top search rankings results.

That being said, Yahoo! most likely will bring in the 2nd highest amount of visitor traffic.

There are algorithmic differences between how the two engines determine ranking positions. Though neither search engine publishes their well guarded secrets as to EXACTLY how they determine who gets to be #1 versus #2 or #3 (or #1,352 ) … there are assumptions that SEO analytical experts have said most probably do hold true.

How Does Yahoo! Differ From Google’s Ranking Factors?

As I just stated, it is really a very well guarded secret as to how the search engines come up with the final ranking results. However, it is generally agreed that the following are things that make Yahoo! rank pages differently. These are not all of the differences that have been uncovered, but in my opinion some of the most interesting to note for the average website owner:

• Yahoo! offers a paid inclusion program, so that skews the ranking results in favor of those paid inclusion sites;
• Yahoo!’s results seem to be biased more toward commerce than informational sites;
• They have an incredible amount of their own content, so let’s face it – they are probably biased to ranking their own content pages highly;
• They seem to not put as much relevance on a site’s age;
• Their returned search results are based more on the actual search words used in the query, whereas Google analyzes the query on a conceptual basis and determines what you are really searching for; and
• Yahoo! is not as good at filtering poor quality or non-relevant to the site’s theme in-pointing links as Google is.

Can I say unequivocally that these are 100% true? No, I can’t. Like I told you, the SEO analysts have to make educated guesses. But I believe the above assumptions are safe to make note of. But please don’t obsess over them

So … Back To the Topic Of This Post:  How To SEO For Top Yahoo! Small Business Rankings

If we realize that Google is going to bring us the lion’s share of our visitor traffic, and we realize that there are algorithmic factors Yahoo! uses that we have no control over, then how to best optimize your content and Titles, Descriptions and Keyword tags?

The answer is really quite simple and straightforward: use the tried and true search engine optimization guidelines that work well for all the engines. We’re not going to fret over the nuances between algorithms! We’re going to roll up our sleeves and just do a darn good job of ethically optimizing our sites!

In a nutshell, utilize your keyword phrase properly in the Title tag and meta tags; use it in the title of the page of content; use it within the content, without becoming spammy; and use it in a hyperlink if possible.

Have you download a copy of my free guide yet?  THE SEO EDGE: Get Ahead Of Your Competition Every Time!

Learn effective optimization techniques. Plus, you’ll automatically receive my no-hype informative bi-weekly SEO newsletter too!

In a broader sense, make sure all your content is original, well written and relevant to the keyword phrase you are targeting. Over-deliver the content. Keep your visitor’s experience first and foremost before what you think will make the search engines happy. Write for humans, not spiders!

Have a well designed site, with easy to follow navigation. This enhances your visitor’s experience; helps keep them on your site for a longer period of time; and helps the spiders be able to crawl and index your site.

Fill your site with lots of great, well optimized content. Yes … get other sites to link to you. Yes of course take advantage of social marketing. I could go on with other things to do to help you rank better in Yahoo!, but not right now.

The message here is that we cannot drive ourselves nuts over algorithmic differences! If our SEO efforts are sincere and carefully tended to, then Yahoo! will hopefully rank us well, as will Google, MSN and all the rest, too.

If you want to see what criteria Google uses in order to rank pages, read Google Webmaster guidelines.

To read up on Yahoo! search content quality guidelines and other ranking criteria, refer to their informative page SEO For Yahoo! Small Business Guidelines.

• I Stumbled Upon Yet Another Unethical SEO Company •
• Now You Can Even Pay For ‘Placement Protection’ Service? •

OK, I know you’ve read it here before, but I’m going to keep bringing this subject up, because most of you reading my blog are in the beginning stages of learning how to build your website or blog; learning the ins and outs of internet marketing; and trying to understand how to search engine optimize your site.

And sometimes when we are new to it all, we are vulnerable to hypsters and crooks. I feel it is important to educate you to what is, and isn’t, possible in the world of search engine optimization!

So on that note, the subject for today is (drumroll, please) … unethical SEO consultants and companies that GUARANTEE top rankings! Grrrr …

Well, this afternoon I came across another one of these sites. Honestly, I do not spend my time trying to find these people. I tend to just stumble onto their sites during the course of my normal investigative work that I do for all my clients. I have to nose around my client’s competitors. I have to see who’s doing what, and where. And sometimes, I end up on the website of the company that handles the competitor’s account … and lo-and-behold I read that the company also handles the SEO and BINGO! I sometimes read lies like this:

“Guaranteed top-20 placement on at least three(3) major search engines with a minimum of at least one keyword(s)/phrase(s) on each engine for one year.”

That is a direct word-for-word quote from a so-called SEO company. And oh boy!! You ought to see what they charge their clients for this service. I wonder … is there someone out there who is paying them the exorbitant rates for this service??

But wait!! It gets even worse … the rip-off increases:

” … This option will provide top placement protection of your selected keywords. $100.00 per month.”

And  “If your overall placement begins to slip away, we make the necessary adjustments for you to maintain your web site placement within the search engines.”

Say what?? Top placement protection?? What is that?? How are they going to “protect” your ranking positions in Google, Yahoo! or MSN??? Tell me!! How?? Teach ME the secrets to placement protection! Pleeeeeeease ….

Plus, you have the added benefit of paying another $100 dollars a month! Golly, such a deal!

Listen up everyone. Please. I’ll say it one more time to protect you, my much appreciated readers. There is NO WAY an honest, ethical SEO consultant can guarantee you any ranking position, for any length of time, in any search engine. PERIOD!

Note this firm was guaranteeing a period of one year top-20 ranking positions; in at least 3 major search engines (who do they consider major??); with at least one keyword phrase. Umm … is the phrase supposed to be a targeted, highly trafficked phrase that will be of benefit … or is it some obscure phrase, that is easily highly ranked, but of no importance to bringing targeted traffic to the website?

If you’d like to see what an honest and ethical SEO consultant should be promising you, take a moment to read my SEO-Innovation Code of Ethics. I have no qualms about letting potential clients know where I am coming from, and there are many other very trust-worthy SEO consultants and consulting firms that do the same.

If you are thinking about investing in professional optimization services for your site, do yourself a favor and ask about the guarantees you can look forward to with your keyword phrase rankings.

If there is excitement in the person’s voice about how you’ll be top ranked, guaranteed … I’ll say it once again … take your money and RUN!

Would you like a no-hassle, 30-minute phone chat with me about the current status of your site’s SEO status? Great! Please fill out my SEO Services Questionnaire. It will be my pleasure to speak with you.