Local search results differ from traditional search results in a few ways:

Local search results are triggered and displayed on a different set of parameters from traditional search engine results.

Local search results are displayed based on a geographic area, while traditional search results are served based on keywords and the country or region you're searching in (google.com, google.ca, google.co.uk, ...)

The geographic area taken into account to display local search results is determined by either the physical location of where the query was submitted from (based on source IP) or a geographic area (city, locality or neighbourhood) prefixed or suffixed to a keyword local search results are usually shown above the traditional search engine results with a map next to it, or they are integrated within traditional search engine results and identified with a marker.

Traditional Search Examples: Flower Shops, Dry Cleaner, Lawyer
Local Search Examples: Flower Shops Toronto, Dry Cleaner Soho NYC, Inglewood Lawyer

Local SEO or Local Search Engine Optimization is the process of enhancing your business' local visibility to appear at the top of the search engine results. This is accomplished by developing a local SEO strategy and implementing it on your website and local business listings on Internet directories.

The Get Me Listed platform helps you develop a sound local search optimization strategy and increase your ranking in local search engine results served by Google Places, Yahoo Local and Bing Local

Key factors in triggering and displaying Local Search Results are: Relevance, Prominence and Distance.

Take the example where a potential local customer is looking for a flower shop in the SOHO district of New York City.

• Relevance - only displays flower shops
  
  
• Prominence - only displays well known or prominent flower shops. This is determined on the quality of the local business listing including which is based on the number of reviews, star rating, citations and other Internet sources to name a few
  
  
• Distance - only displays flower shops within your immediate vicinity, in this case around SOHO district of New York City. If the customer does not specify SOHO the local search results will be served based on your physical location

Google Places, Yahoo Local and Bing Local are online business directories that are integrated into traditional search engine results. These directories can be leveraged by local business owners to increase the visibility of their physical location to millions of Internet users through the search engines traditional (results, maps and local search) sections.

Local searches represent consumer intent to purchase. As printed phone directories once were the primary purchasing resources for "ready to buy customers", today customers are using multiple online resources like search engines, Internet directories, Internet Yellow Pages and social networks to find locally available products and services.

Quick Facts:

• 66% of business' say that consumers find them on search engines
• 88% of local information seekers take action within a day
• 61% of local information seekers call a business and 59% visit a business

Believe it or not, you can optimize your business for local search even if you do not have a website. You can do this by optimizing your business listing for relevant keywords and categories and making sure all information is consistent and up-to-date across the major local search engines, Internet directories, and industry specific review and citation sites.

The key factors that affect Local Search Rankings according to Google are Relevance, Prominence and Distance.

Local Pack Results is a term used to express the local search engine results displayed within traditional organic search results.

The maximum size of a Local Pack on the first page of traditional search engine results varies from search engine to search engine. Google displays a maximum local pack size of 7 results. Bing Local shows 5 and Yahoo Local shows 5.

Local Pack Rankings is a term used to refer to the position of the each local listings within the Local Pack Results.

The Get Me Listed Local SEO Tool KIT was developed to help our clients centrally manage large volumes of business locations efficiently in order to reduce the time, effort and resources required to fulfill and manage ongoing local SEO activities.

Get Me Listed is developed in collaboration with SEO, Agency and National Chain users to assure the needs of our community are met.

If you are any agency or national chain working on Local Search Optimization or considering to offer a Local Search Marketing Service, contact us.

No, Get Me Listed does NOT guarantee your business listings will get top rankings. We do guarantee to provide local marketers and SEOs with local SEO intelligence and reporting tools that guide you to make the best decisions to get you top ranked.

Be wary of any service or tool that guarantees you top rankings for Google Maps and Local Search Engine Optimization.