Sadly, I can’t tell you exactly what was said (I’d have to kill you apparently according to the organizers) but Matt McGee of SmallBusinessSEM.com gave a fantastically detailed presentation on all facets of local search.
I strongly recommend this conference for small businesses interested in internet marketing and those who might help them (like us).
Matt’s presentation was absolutely worth the price of admission.
So, like I said, we’re not supposed to recap too tightly but I want to give mega kudos to Matt for such a comprehensive piece of work. Matt’s both a good presenter and a fantastic slide preparer.
I want to recap a couple areas which I think could be easily done by any small business:
- The basics of Local Search
- Address on every page
- Submit to Google Local Business Center
http://www.google.com/local/add/businessCenter - Submit to Yahoo! Local Listings Center
http://listings.local.yahoo.com/ - Submit to MSN Local
https://llc.local.live.com/ListingCenter.aspx - Add & Fix listings at the major business databases
Andrew Shotland has a great post on this over at the Local SEO Guide - And some more advanced stuff
- Add your physical address and local phone number on each page
- More than one location? Make location pages
- Make sure you have a “Location / Directions” page
- Use location modifiers whenever you can in
and important on-page areas - And finally, one I love which wasn’t mentioned
- If the business has a multi-city reach make “Directions from [City Name]” pages — this way you can attract searchers looking for [search phrase] [nearby city] as well
I can’t overstate how much I got from this conference. I’m a big fan of Search Engine Guide and we’ll continue to support them as much as we can.
We got to meet with quite a few small businesses which is always good for us as we learn how to help better.
And of course, we got to network with lots of other search marketers. There’s a TON of folks targeting this market and we wish them well. The great news is there are many, many more small businesses than search marketing firms.
Finally, and perhaps most personally gratifying, was the time spent with the Search Engine Guide bloggers and forum moderators and participants.
- Diane Aull
- Mack Collier
- Stoney deGeyter
- Liana Evans
- Jennifer Laycock
- Sage Lewis
- Debra Mastaler
Don’t tell my wife, but I have a big intellectual crush on Debra. I may need a poster for my office
Her workshop on link-building both affirmed and added to (significantly) our techniques. - David Wallace
- Wendy Piersall
- Matt Bailey
- Heather Lloyd-Martin
- Matt McGee
- Chris Logan
One of my first contacts at the Search Engine Guide Forum and a wealth of great ideas.
These are all some great, smart people from whom I’m happy to have had the opportunity to learn over the last few days and with whom I intend to grow friendships into the future.
So, if you have a chance, do get out for the next Small Business Marketing Unleashed — we’ll be there too!
Update:
David Wallace has a MUCH more thorough review on the SearchRank blog.
7 responses so far ↓
David Mihm // Apr 23, 2008 at 8:11 am
Phenomenal wrap-up, Will. Glad the conference was worthwhile for you. I think I’ll probably go next year & replace SMX West on my itinerary…
Matt McGee // Apr 23, 2008 at 11:10 am
Wow, Will — I don’t know what to say! Thanks so much for the high praise. If someone such as yourself, with your knowledge and experience, got something out of that presentation, I feel like it was a success. Very, very cool.
It was GREAT to meet you. (And Jennifer, too.) You’re good people, and I hope we get to hang out again soon.
David - I think you should.
Will Scott // Apr 23, 2008 at 3:01 pm
@David,
Thanks for dropping in! You were definitely missed. Without you, I had no choice but to buy the drinks.
@Matt,
It was my pleasure sir, right back at ya!
Aside from all the other stuff you’ll further goad me to step up my PowerPoint clarity.
Stoney deGeyter // Apr 24, 2008 at 7:50 am
Will, it was great meeting you. Glad you had a blast. I think I met and engaged in real conversation with more people at Unleashed than all the other conferences combined. I had a fantastic time and it was all because of you. Well, OK, partly because of you… but don’t let that minimize your contribution!!!!
Will Scott // Apr 24, 2008 at 9:09 am
@Stoney,
Thanks for your support. My great interaction with you and Diana and everybody go a long way to validating our choice of SBMU as a coming-out party.
Hopefully we can keep it going off-line as well.
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