How to optimize a site for local search?

Hi
I want to help my chiropractor to get on the first spot in Google. How to make his site to be #1 on the local search results? Is there any special techniques or I'll just optimize it as a regular site?
Thanks!

 

Quite a number of local search ranking factors means that you need not only to have address on all of your pages, but also the most specific address information you can provide.

Apart from simply mentioning the address on your site, you may as well use your location-specific landmarks on your site. Though the description of visual driving directions patent doesn't relate to local search, I don't see why it can't be used for it either.

Providing your location identifiers both to your site visitors and the search engines is vitally important, if you have a shop or provide services in your local area. However, specifying your location is also important even if your customers are not restricted to a geographical location. This will allow you interest those people that prefer to have business with people from your location.

Though there may be a temptation to include your physical address for the search engines, you'd rather focus on providing it for your visitors. It increases your credibility greatly, especially if you have a specific physical address and a phone number.

As a side note, you can add your site to Google Local Business Center (discussed at Cre8asiteforums), but don't expect throngs of visitors from this.

 

Thanks a lot!!! It will really help, I just found out something I didnt know

 

dear,
you can do one thing, you can host your site on the local domain or you can submit your site to webmaster tool and specify them where the region where you want to target your site.

 

Please check out this tips.. its very useful for local search - http://abdulmalick.wordpress.com/2009/07/27/google-local-listing-got-top-ranks-within-2-days/

 

very good view of Candise. we should use his guideline.

 

I thought this was going to be a doddle but....tough

 

First and foremost, I think you should first select the right target keywords. If you want to optimize a site for local search, your keywords should be geo-specific or target specific market or location. This is important before proceeding to linkbuilding.

 

What does this mean "local domain"? You mean domain should include location in it?

 

I think the Google Local Business Listing is hugely important for a business like a chiropractor. Go to Google and type in chiropractor city name and see what happens. Most users will never look beyond the Google Business Listings. Plus they have reviews which are very important for such a personal service. Bing and Yahoo have something similar.

As for optimizing for search, I would add a list of cities served, maybe in the footer of your pages? For example, if the business was in San Leandro, Ca, I would say "serving San Leandro, San Lorenzo, Hayward, ..." The search engines don't seem to know what cities are right next to each other. Plus there are unofficial place names. Ask your chiropractor what words people use locally for their community.

 

Find out if their are other local businesses that have websites. Link exchange with a few of these but don't just count on this to help. Make it part of your strategy.

 

Google's Local Business Directory will help you a lot mate.

 

Thanks for this tip! Thats what I was looking for!
Yeah I can optimize site to be #1 on regular search, but how someone said, people dont look below local listings. This tip should help a lot

 

In Google webmaster tools you can choose a Geographic target.

 

It appears based on your question, that either you are just getting started or already know a lot, so not sure how to answer without wasting your time or my own.

But here goes:

1) listing with local business directories is great but need to make sure your on page seo is on point

2) make list of his top keyword phrases you think he should be targeting or ask him him to send you the list

3) go to wordtracker and research those keywords for # of searches and the competition

4) research on google competition for those keywords

5) decide which keywords to shoot for based on competition low hanging fruit words

6) apply your keywords in all the places you need on your pages and meta tags and title tags

I offer a free 1 hour seo coaching session if the doctor would like to take advantage of this, I am working on the dark here, cannot see your site to review or anything, so feel a little funny working in the blind...help....

Contact me for a free review of site

 

Thanks
Yeah I know SEO, just didnt know how to get on #1 spot in the local search results. Now I know.
Getting my chiropractors website on the top is going to be really easy. We are targeting just one keyword, city+chiropractor competition is very low, #1 site has 9 backlinks and 7 pages website.

Thank you all for suggestions.

 

city wise local keyword u need to include in optimization

 

I heard you need to buy a domain name that similar to the keyword you are targeting

 

To optimize your keyword in local search engine

1. First your web content should have desired keyword that your going to promote for local search engine.
2. Then you should promote a keyword through links in blogs, classifieds, directories, article directory etc.
3. Then it will bring web traffic to your site
4. Then it will be listed in a local search engine

 

I think he means local server. I think that is a good idea and has its advantages in local searches. Any comments on this point??