If you wish to rank highly in Google and other search engines for local search terms, it is important that your website is optimised to target a range of local keyword phrases, that are relevant for your business.

Local search terms are usually made up of a generic keyword with the addition of a local town or region, for example:

Chinese Restaurant Manchester

Carpet Cleaning Birmingham

Structural Engineer Edinburgh

Cosmetic Dentist Sussex

The following top local search engine optimisation tips will help you to achieve top Google organic listings for your chosen local keyword search terms:

1. Meta Title Tag

It is extremely important to include your location in your meta title tag. Including your location in your title tag will definitely help to improve your local rankings on Google and other search engines. Many website owners fail to include their location in their title tag, which is a missed opportunity.

For example, if you are an interior designer based in Brighton, then the content of your title tag should look something like this:

“Professional Interior Design-Brighton”

In addition to targeting Brighton, if you also wish to target the surrounding areas, then your title tag should look something like this:

“Affordable Interior Design-Brighton-Eastbourne-Sussex”

Reinforcing your location in your Description and Keywords Tag is also worthwhile.

2. Business Address

If you have not already done so, you should consider including your actual physical business address on every page of your website. Including your address in the footer of each web page is an easy way to inform Google that your site is highly relevant for a specific location and any relevant local search terms.

Therefore if the majority of the content on your website is about interior design, and every page also mentions Brighton, Google and the other search engines will determine that your website is highly relevant to customers searching for “Interior Design Brighton”.

3. Google Places

You should also make sure that your website is registered with Google Places, in order to appear on their local map listings. Google Places is a free service which allows you to provide Google with up to date information about your business.

4. Local Business Directories

Getting listed in local business directories will help to build incoming links to your site which are closely related to your industry and location. Some of the local directories to consider are as follows:

By following these Top Local Search Engine Optimisation Tips you should have a strong foundation for achieving a high ranking on Google and the other search engines, for your local targeted keywords.

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