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Even For a Small Business in A Big City Like Los Angeles, SEO Should Go Local

If you’re a small business in a small town, getting a website up online and having an SEO company do some local internet marketing for you is almost a no-brainer. The benefits are significant — you can make sure that any time anyone from (or visiting) your town searches for a term related to your business and includes the town’s name, they see you first. It’s an easy way to get dozens of extra customers though your doors every week — if not every day.

But when you live in a big ol’ city like Los Angeles, SEO can seem like a much less valuable deal. After all, when there are hundreds of businesses just like yours within a hundred — or a dozen — miles of your front door, chances are one of them is already working hard to dominate the local search engine results pages.

Right?

Not really. There’s a lot about SEO that isn’t immediately obvious to a small business owner, and this is one part of it: your business’ website doesn’t just ‘rank on Google’, it ranks for specific keywords on Google. It doesn’t matter if you’re talking general, broad-spectrum SEO or locality-specific SEO; there will always be keywords out there that no one is really working hard to dominate. They can be yours.

For example, let’s say you’re a florist. You know that “LA florist” “Los Angeles florist” and all the similar keywords are sewn up tight. But get just a little creative, and you can find dozens of keywords like “LA floral bouquet” that are untouched. Design a few websites to attract a dozen of these less-competitive keywords, and you can get just as much traffic as the site that has one highly-competitive keyword dominated (and often for less cost.)

The second trick to winning the local internet marketing contest is to control just how local you’re getting. For example, let’s say you live in Hazard, California. Hazard is just outside of East Los Angeles — toward the west. You could market your business under “Florist LA”, but you could also compete for “Florist East LA”, or even “Florist Hazard” — the smaller the pond you play in, the less you have to worry about big fish.

59 thoughts on “Even For a Small Business in A Big City Like Los Angeles, SEO Should Go Local”

  1. We are starting to get into net (pod)casting and web-based business enterprises and need to promote our websites, netcasts, blogs, etc.. We are researching and discovering lots of good ways to self-promote, but we also want to enlist the help of a good SEO company with a proven track record to augment our own efforts. Given that there are hundreds of companies on the net clamoring for our business, how do we find one that will get the job done for us? Is there a forum of some kind where we can find some relevant, informed input on this?

  2. I am trying to find a search engine optimization company for months. The problem is, is that there are many promises but they are unreliable. I spend a lot of money without any results. How to find a company you can rely and trust ?

  3. I see a lot of ads when I search on google about home business and making money online, I guess this is what internet marketing is all about, but there’s so many different websites offering different products.

    So where can I go to learn more about this without having to sign up or buy something first, I mean the real truth about this stuff and not the hype I seem to run into everywhere else I go.

  4. Do you have a business? Then you must have a website. To make your website much for visible to the people it must be a SEO friendly one. We are here to optimize your website in the top search engines. We, the Web Infocom Solution, optimize your website in the search engines and also increase your website’s visitors which will increase your business in the local as well as international market.Visit: http://www.webinfocomsolution.com

  5. I need to optimize my real estate business situated in USA. looking for cheap SEO provider in India.
    Please suggest me some companies which you have experienced before.

  6. Can any body tell me the name of leading SEO companies which provide a good website Search Engine Optimization Service in Melbourne Australia.

  7. Internet marketing can get various tedious if you only rely on emails (although emailing messages about the event to anyone i know should be the first step). I really want to find a way to send this message out to as many people as possible. Any marketing genius out there who can help me with this? Thank you so much!

  8. This site is a for e-commerce
    I need to convert my sales dept to the 21st century
    I want it to make a profit
    I would like it to be grow

  9. I am looking into a company called seo image from new york for marketing my website. Does anyone have experience with them?

  10. I have internet through my local cable company but it is very expensive.Can i get any other internet service through my cable lines in my house?Can i get internet with out getting a home phone?

  11. a well established hospital in the middle east, well known by the community what else we can do regarding the marketing efforts?!

  12. I want to know the best type of insurance for me: my business is search engine optimisation and web content copywriting. I may also do some web design

  13. I would like to do a homestudy course of some sort that offers support and training in this area. I am in Australia don’t know if that matters. Can anyone help?

  14. I belong to a online community at http://www.videosift.com, which users post the best videos from major video hosting sites such as Google Video and Youtube.com.

    Its a small community but we are looking to extend our reach via online marketing, and i was wondering what is the best way of getting a site known on the web.
    The site is updated hourly by users, and there is around 4000 users.

  15. I have to do a marketing research for a daycare school for pre-k, k, 1st and 2nd grade. The question is: What secondary data may help us find this information? Will this include using the internet, books and looking at research on schools?

  16. Hello I am new to this and I was takes to get my companies website up in the SE list. Can anyone out there help me, I would like to know what would be the best first steps in getting this site up in the SE’s, I would be grateful for any help anyone might offer..
    Thanks!!!!

  17. So I’ve heard about this through a friend and it sounds really interesting. Can anybody help me with this topic? What are its advantages and what makes it different from… you know… normal real estate marketing? Thank you so much!

  18. I own a florist in Chicago area, we have been in business for over 50 years. We have never really had to do much advertising because everyone knew us. Times have changed and I find myself looking for ways to boost sales. I never used a marketing company but I feel I have to try sometime besides an ad in the local paper.

  19. I have a business and been using advernation.com and was wondering if anyone else used them they got my business site to the top of search engines and got me a larger customer base, they are located in queens ny advernation internet marketing seo web design hosting and more

  20. I just started a business providing a service in homes. I am only selling the service. I need ideas to advertise free onlne, I have a website. Do you know of prime places or sites to get listed for free or any ideas to sell the service ?

  21. I originally registered a listing with the wrong Yahoo! account — I’d like to transfer it. Can I do this?

  22. We are softeare comapny. We sell Google calendar + Outlook sync programs.

    We are about to start affiliate marketing program.

    Who will the good affiliates for our product?

  23. Have tried ad words (Google) yahoo sponsored search
    Washington /Baltimore area
    I’m a tax consulting firm
    shapirotax.com

  24. I am starting a Hi Def tvs and accessories business. We have had a local photo store for years, now we’re getting into the HD market. Our niche: internet prices, savvy consulting, delivery, setup, installtion all at lowest prices.
    We are already using craigslist. What about cost/benefit of: local radio ads?, promotions through other local retailers- and which kind?, mailings?, we do have a limited website currently, but we sell local only- so how to SEO for that?
    We are also Ebay powersellers/drop-off site and use Constant Contact to email blast our existing local customers with deals.
    Other ideas on product line and pricing would be helpful.

    Thanks in advance.

  25. Does anyone have suggestions for an SEO company that does international SEO, i.e. europe, latin american and asia? looking for one company to take care of all regions, including US.

  26. Local Internet Marketing Company http://www.iclicklocal.com I am starting a Local Business here is Los Angeles, CA do any of you guys have any opinions on HOW to choose a company? I have a couple of business partners who have used iclicklocal.com A Local Internet Marketing Company and have got great results. What do you think of a company that I KNOW is reputable and I KNOW will get the job done?

  27. I’m currently a sophomore in college, intending to get an MBA after graduating with a degree in English Literature. I intend to start a business in the future, however I really don’t have much of a clue on the economics and businesses of today’s world. I try to keep in touch by reading, but this doesn’t seem like enough.

    Where can I learn about what the market is demanding today and what kind of small businesses would stand a good chance if I do start a small business in the future? I’m asking so I can learn early and have an idea what it’s like to start a business. I would like to follow the economic trends of the market until the day I run my business.

    Mature and informative answers would be much appreciated. Thanks

  28. (only for setup)
    does price necessarily reflect quality of service?
    any honest suggestion for search engine optimization?

  29. everythingisgonnabefine

    A friend of mine has started up a website which caters to the locals in the area looking and searching for business in the area and providing info on local events.

    It just launched recently however she is having trouble finding clients to advertise their businesses on the website. The website also provides local listings such as events that are occuring in the city etc.

    Its a really good idea, however I dont want to see the site flop. How can we market or what strategies can we use to improve it, and make it a high traffic and popular website to the locals and its businesses? How can we be able to utilize search engine optimization?

    Take a look at the site, and please give your info. Much appreciated thank you!

    http://www.viva505.com

  30. I am looking for good advice about SEO as I am new to it – a friend recommended Franchising Matters, has anyone else found this site useful please? Thanks

  31. Hi…. Everyone. I want to promote my business through internet. So I am looking for the seo Company in Delhi. Please suggest me best seo company for my business promotion.
    Thanks…..

  32. Okay so I’m planning to open a net cafe in CT, USA
    The business would allow people to use the Computer for anything they want and charge them $2 hourly. There will be a section for drinks like water, Soda,…etc. It also would have a section for games like Play-station, X-box, Wii that would charge them $3 per game. So my question is;
    1-Is it a good idea to open that business in Connecticut USA?
    2-Would I have up to 24 costumers daily?
    3-What things do I have to pay for to set up the Internet Cafe?

    Correct me please.
    Regards,
    Aseer

  33. I am interested in purchasing my first handgun, but I am not sure where to start. I have done some research on the internet and I have decided to get a revolver. I am going to use it for home defense and target pratice for fun. I want a gun that is going to be reliable and not jam that is why I think a revolver will be my best choose. Any advice or tips I would greatly appreciated it. Thank you!

  34. Hi, I would like to know what the best seo company is on the internet. What company can get my website to or near the first page of search engines,specifically Google, in the fastest time possible? Thank you very much.

  35. I’m looking for an internet marketing company with websites for local communitys in KS like Manhattan, Lawrence, Topeka, and Kansas City. I’m not having much luck with searching around, I want to find a company that controls multiple websites with traffic for the cities I mentioned.

  36. Hi – even though I try to do seo work myself I was wondering if anyone could recommend a seo company to me. Its to help one of my websites which has big competition

    cheers

  37. hi there I was just wondering to know who is the best and cheap SEO out there I am a newbie and need a help with this because I called google and they went by keyword of $1.25 each and I don’t know why but they were too expensive for me. not enough clicks. so please help.

  38. myself vimal verma from zigroup web development company in kanpur. i want to know best planing for capturing local market

  39. which is the best seo company in kerala ?….is there any company which doing both seo and web designing works?

  40. What’s the easiest way to know and understand what a ethical SEO company is?
    Is there a website with good references?

  41. Please only respond if you have experience in this matter.

    I own a small computer repair business in a Dallas area suburb. I have seen fast, noticeable results with my Google rankings from my new SEO campaign. But so far, I have not seen any results in call volume. We are, for now, only using key words that correspond to my suburb. Soon, we will spread to other neighboring suburbs and then eventually to Dallas.

    My company is already among the top two results in the first page for computer repair, virus removal, and laptop removal for my suburb. But still no phone calls. Should I be patient and wait for the SEO campaign to spread? Or should I back out now? It’s costing me 800. a month. About to begin the third month.

  42. I found SEO Horn to be offering Search engine optimization packages at an affordable rate. And the staff of the SEO Horn is quite professional, I am about to purchase the Pro SEO package! has anyone heared about SEO Horn earlier?

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