So, today I spent most of the day learning about Local Search tools and maximizing website positioning in local searches. Projects by Peggy, Inc. is now listed in the top 3 (Google, Yahoo and Bing). But I learned a few new ideas and am hoping to be able to help clients use these free tools to improve their visibility on the web. ;-)

To check your local listings, visit www.getlisted.org and type your business name and town, state in the search box. This will show you where you are in 5 search engines, as seen for Projects by Peggy below:

GetListed.com shows local listings for Projects by Peggy claimed in search engines Google, Bing and Yahoo; not in Yelp or Best of the Web.

GetListed.com provides links to five search engines, where you can add free local listings but it can be confusing.

A Few Local Listings Tips

1) Google Is Confusing! – Google Places (local search) and Google Maps are 2 separate applications, so you should claim both. I had claimed local search, but not my map listing.

2) Registration Is Required – All of the local listings services REQUIRE that you register an account with them (including an email for verification). I chose to use “info@projectsbypeggy.com” to keep it separate from my usual business email. This will also allow me to hand the reigns over to an employee if desired.

3) No Quick Fix – It won’t happen overnight … verification may take up to 6 weeks for some search engines.

4) Free Directories – The more competition you have in your service area, the harder it is to be at the top. An organic search may show directories in the top pages when searching. If that’s the case, it may help to add your listing to the free directories.

A Few Warnings

1) More than one business with the same address may hinder rankings.

2) Watch for FRAUD in the local listings and report it to Google.

   - Competitors may claim your listing.
   - Competitors may add false reviews, which can be quickly seen if the same user is adding reviews to sites in various locations geographically. You can report this to Google.
   - Repetitive use of keywords (known as keyword stuffing) will have a negative impact on your listing.

Check out the GetListed Resources

A final note – The more you help Google by providing valid reliable information about your business listing, the more Google helps you in placement in the search engines.

Congrats to Frank and Sandy Tranor and Black Bear Pottery and Fine Arts in Benton, PA – the Black Bear Pottery website was launched recently after a site makeover. Improvements include color changes and better text and information for search engine. We’re hoping this site is a winner and something the Tranors can be proud of.

For more information, visit www.blackbearpottery-finearts.com.