What is local SEO?
It refers to getting visibility in organic search results in a local area. Local SEO helps in increasing business in a particular geographic area. These help you get found by people searching your services locally. Hence, this increases your popularity in the local market.
For instance, you have a food joint in Houston, Texas. You wish to be found by people living in or near Houston on internet. For this, you should have a proper website. This website must contain all the information about you. You can get popular keywords in the site that people search for. Therefore, keyword planning is a must. A competitor analysis can be done to assess the your competitors . You can find every nook and corner you lack in and make proper changes. For a full fledged SEO plan you can check our website: www.softteksolutions.com.
This will enhance your local SEO. Ultimately, you will be found in organic searches.
What are citations for local SEO?
Citations refer to your online references that you provide on internet. These are references to your company’s name, address and phone number( NAP). Google uses these references for evaluating the authority of your company online. For example, you want to reach the users. You can put your details in the directory which deals with it. These directories are citation sources. Citation sources are places where you can be seen by people. So it is advisable to put your details in good citation sources. This will ensure to to get found by users.
You must to know why citations are helpful so you get your citations done:
- It helps in cross checking your actual presence
- It helps you work on yourself as a researcher
- Good citation habits make you better organisation
- Good citation practices increase your credibility
- You can gain trust of people by careful citations
As per Moz, here are the top 10 citation sources for Houston:
- Yelp
Also known as crowd- source review forum, Yelp is a citation source. People usually look for reviews before visiting a place. Yelp does the same. It helps in collecting reviews of people. This helps people decide whether or not to visit a place. Along with that, it keeps details of all the nearby places. These details are the citations your company puts forward.
How to cite your details in Yelp?
- Firstly, you visit Yelp’s site
- There you can find your business in the listing by searching
- Then , you can “Claim your business”
- Add your business to Yelp
- You can then complete a form given out
- Then continue till next
- Click on ‘call me now” to validate your number
- Yellow pages
Yellow pages is the directory of business where individuals or organisations who offer services can be found. All they have to do is get themselves cited. Yellow pages used to be the telephone directory of contacts. It consists contacts of almost everything. It brings to you shops, deals, hotels, services etc.
How to cite your details in Yellow pages?
- Check if your contact number is already present in Yellow pages.
- If its not there, you will be given an option to start your listing
- This is given out for free
- Provide your business name, address and website details
- You can add multiple contact numbers if you wish
- It also gives the option of paid service which keeps you at the top
- You can also avail that
- Choose the category of your business
- Add information for review purpose
- You can also add alluring details like gift coupons.
- City Search
It is a type of online city guide. It provides details about everything in a city. It is a guide to dining, travel, entertainment, groceries etc. Your listing in CitySearch can boost your local Seo. They help to give you reviews based on customer satisfaction. It is a platform where you can be rated based on your services.
How to cite your details in City Search?
- Firstly, visit express update at expressupdate.com
- Check for your listing in there
- If it is not there, click on “add it now”
- ExpressUpdate calls to verify your business
- You can fill your business information in a form provided
- After your information is submitted, you can create an account
- Create an account, add business name, email address and password
- Add your contact number in provided space
- Click on “yes, call me now”
- Pick up the call and enter a 4 digit verification code they provide
- Then your confirmation will be successful
- Your business will be listed in CitySearch
- Yahoo Local
Yahoo local is another such directory in which your listing can appear. It is generally used for local listing. It showcases your business across many directories. The best part is that it is all put in one place. It helps people find you instantly online.
How to cite your details in Yahoo Local?
- Visit yahoo and search for your business listing
- If it is not present, click on “ Add or update your business”
- You will be directed to http://www.yext.com/pl/yahoo-claims/index.html
- Enter your information there
- Click on “find my listings”
- Click on”continue” button
- Update your details and click on “continue” button
- Next, click on “Claim your basic listing only on yahoo”
- Complete the given form for information to checkout
- Click on “place order”
- You will be sent an email to verify your email address.
- Click on the link to create password.
- Then login to your account
- They will then call to verify you.
- Now, you are listed on Yahoo Local
- SuperPages
SuperPages is another local Directory which helps you provide your listing. It gives out your phone number, ratings, reviews, directions etc. You have to provide your business category and list yourself. Then you can get yourself cited in SuperPages. It gives a list of complete information about the services you provide with your location.
How to cite your details in SuperPages?
- Visit the site superpages.com
- Enter your phone number
- Claim your listing in superPages
- If not present, click on “add your business”
- Click on “next”
- Fill in all the business information
- You can choose a maximum of 5 categories for the business
- Search for the categories and select them
- Create an online account
- Confirm your email address
- No telephone verification is needed
- Then click on “submit” button
- Agree to their terms and conditions after reading carefully
- Click on “finish”
Being a social networking site, facebook helps in citations. It provides the local seo platform too. Therefore, facebook also features your information.This brings more popularity to your business. People take help of facebook to expand their online presence. So, facebook is a useful tool.
How to cite your details in Facebook?
- You can initiate your APA citation on facebook
- Give out the name of author of the page
- Add the date using YYYY/MM/DD format
- Put in the title of the facebook post
- Add the website URL associated with it
- Define the type of post in parenthesis
- Click on the time and date stamp on bottom right corner.
- It opens a new page for that post with a unique URL
- List the reference in text by adding author’s name and the year in which it was posted
- Youtube
Youtube also provides platform for local SEO. It helps people to find you when they browse youtube. It gives you a visual opportunity to be cited. This way more people are attracted. This will help in increasing your online presence. Thus, increasing your visibility.
How to cite your details in youtube?
- Using APA citation, the format should be as follows
- Creator’s last name, middle name , first name should be given
- Title of the video should be given
- The URL can then be retrieved
- In the description, you can add name of the company
- Entail all the details of the company
- Date of posting can be taken into consideration
- The length of video should be taken into consideration
- Manta
It is a directory which helps finding the local businesses. In and around your city, it finds almost everything. From dining, manufacturing, real estate, it gives every information.
How to cite your details in Manta?
- First step is, claiming your business
- If it is not present, then add your business
- Add all your business information
- You are done with your citation
- Indeed
It provides employment listings. It is the employment search engine. It helps in staffing and product development. Job openings are offered in Indeed. This helps in citing your vacancies. In turn, giving you a platform to offer citation.
How to cite your details in Indeed?
- Using APA citation, the format should be as follows
- Add the position for which citation is required
- Add the location
- Cite the salary you will be providing
- Add additional details about the jobs
- KHOU
It is a digital channel. It is CBS affiliated television station. It helps in citing your details. Thus, communicating you to the local public. Television is the communication channel used here. This helps in people to find you outside internet.
How to cite your details in KHOU?
- Using APA citation, the format should be as follows
- Add last name of author, middle name and then first name
- Add the date in format YYYY/MM/DD
- Add title of work
- Use subtitle if any
- Add address
- Add website URL
Why Softtek for your SEO Needs?
- Softtek is a Digital Marketing company based in Houston, Texas. We offer full range of digital marketing services. To know more about our services, you can visit our services page, softteksolutions.com
- Softtek Solutions is a full stack digital marketing agency
- Softtek has a dedicated team of SEO professionals
- The SEO plan described above is part of methodology. We follow it very strictly
- Softtek is customer centric SEO company in Houston
- Softtek has a lot of experience in managing ads and producing results
- Softtek will produce contextually relevant and eye friendly images which will be brand and product friendly
- Softtek team will report the progress of the ad campaign regularly
