Local Marketing Case Study: Steve Rickman, of the popular McDonough restaurant and bar “Southside Steve’s” agreed to a case study with LocalMarketExperts.com.

The current website is very appropriate for the food and entertainment industries, so we won’t be altering the original in any way. Instead, we’ll create a sideline blog site that we’ll use to optimize for search engine rankings.

EDIT 9/27/2010: We will rebuild the website after all. We’ll build a content management system site so it’s easy to update and optimize. Also, the current website is already ranking for exact quote keywords we are targeting – after only 10 days!

During the first week, here’s how we started:

• Standardized existing business listings online.
  It’s important to have standardized data across all the different information outlets so we corrected inconsistencies such as “South Side” vs “Southside”.
• Google Listing
  We got a Google “1-box” map listing when searching Google for the business name. (see before and after graphics). This is important as a visual cue to searchers and also allows you to take up more screen “real estate”. We’ll continue to track how effective this placement is for you.

Before Google Places Optimization

After Google Places Optimization

We’ll continue to monitor and update your Google listing, adding photos and videos. This enhances your rankings for important search terms related to your business.

• Google Verification
  Naturally, Google wants to make sure the local businesses they list are legitimate. We worked Southside Steve’s and got the business “Google Verified”. This builds your credibility and will help you rank for those important terms.
• Competitive Analysis
  We identified a couple of businesses in the area considered to be direct competitors. We looked at some of their listings and identified about 25 web properties that we can get into. Again, this builds credibility and authority in Google’s eyes. (You need to show up wherever your competition shows up.) We did a site analysis on the competing websites.
• Which Search Terms
  Identified an initial 11 search phrases that we want to rank on Google Page 1. These are mostly “McDonough” based phrases (i.e. “mcdonough ga restaurant”).
• Created a target list of 50 directories, local sites, and review sites where we will create “citations” on your behalf. Citations are basically business listings that sometimes have room for descriptions, reviews, photos, etc. The more you are listed, the better the search engines “like” you.

678-701-7265

Ready to get started with your own local marketing? Call Kim and we’ll get started today!

Are You Ready To Market Your Business Locally?

If you are a small business that targets a local customer base, we help you generate new business quickly and effectively. We do this using a number of current marketing strategies that work for nearly any profession or trade that serves a local area.

What We Do

We help small and medium businesses get more more local customers using the internet, even if the business doesn’t understand a thing about their website or online marketing.

Why We Do This

It’s more important than ever for LOCAL-based companies to leverage the Internet to generate new business. *Since 2008, 85% of consumers use the internet to search for LOCAL goods and services. Of those searches, 95% click on the first page of Google results.

This means: Your new customers are already using the internet to find you and you need to be listed on page 1 of Google search results.

We get you on Google Page 1 for targeted search words ALREADY being used by new customers.

What Else?

Besides getting you on Google Page 1 for important search words, we also get you indexed in other top search engines. Then you get a standardized listing in important databases used for 411 Information, GPS, and OnStar. Also, your business is listed in industry-related and locally-related directories. Put all this together and you have a powerful locally-based marketing presence.

What Areas Do We Cover?

We are based in the Atlanta area, but work with small businesses in all areas within the U.S.

Call Kim at 678-701-7265 or email info@localmarketexperts.com

*Sources: The Kelsey Group & Cornell University.