The question, “How do businesses get to the top of Google” is the most common question I am asked.

Nobody can guarantee top placement in the “FREE” sections (Google local business listings and natural search results) for ALL of your targeted keyword sets, but a professional search engine marketing consultant or agency that lives and breathes search engine marketing will make a pronounced impact on your online marketing initiatives and ensure an attractive return on investment.

Let’s take a look at what constitutes a high-impact search engine marketing campaign for businesses with a local business model–The Golden Triangle.

The Golden Triangle Of Search

The Golden Triangle is your goal–to rank #1 in the Google Local Business Listings, #1 in Google’s natural search engine results, and #1 in Google’s pay-per-click ads. For the Google search “tuxedo rental Houston TX,” Al’s Formal Wear blows away their competition in each section, taking the lion share of click-throughs and dominating the formal wear market in Houston.

1. Google Local Business Listings

Google Local Business Listings have made and broken small businesses in recent years.  Our clients report, on average and depending on the industry, a 20% to 40% increase in new business generated by Google business listings we have optimized for targeted keyword sets–considering we do not charge ongoing fees for this service it is an area of opportunity you do not want to miss out on.

Your ability to to get prominent search engine visibility, and ultimately, click-throughs in this section, is paramount to to a successful online marketing campaign.

Let’s say you run a Handyman Service in Tempe AZ.  Some of the top keyword sets you are targeting include:

• “handyman service”
• “handyman service 85281″
• “handyman service tempe”
• “handyman service tempe az”
• “home repair service”
• “home repair service 85281“
• “home repair service tempe az”
• “kitchen remodeling tempe az“
• “tile installation tempe az“
• “handyman coupons tempe az“

Let’s say you run a Handyman Service in Gilbert AZ.  Some of the top keyword sets you are targeting include:

• “handyman service”
• “handyman service 85297″
• “handyman service gilbert”
• “handyman service gilbert az”
• “home repair service”
• “home repair service 85297″
• “home repair service gilbert az“
• “kitchen remodeling gilbert az“
• “bathroom tile installation gilbert az“
• “handyman coupons gilbert az“

You get the point! 

Our experts will provide you with the most frequently searched keywords in your niche and cross-reference them with all of your local geo-modifiers, including cities, state, and zip codes.

We will use this research to optimize your local business listing(s) through a handful of techniques that will increase your rankings, click-throughs, and most importantly, generate additional customers/clients.

2. Google’s Natural Search Engine Results

Google’s natural search engine results have lost some steam in recent years due to the prominence of Google’s Local Business Listings, but still play a pivotal role in generating new business online.

Not only will our team of experts optimize all of the on-page and off-page elements to rank your web pages on the top of Google for targeted keywords sets, we also will provide you with marketing copy, calls-to-action, and conversion recommendations to make the most of the traffic you are generating.

Unlike Google’s Local Business Listings, natural search engine visibility may require an ongoing commitment to link building for those of you in highly competitive markets.

3. Google’s Pay-per-click (PPC) Ads

Widely admired for the ability to garner premium search engine visibility instantaneously, Google pay-per-click (PPC) campaigns offer you the unique ability to generate business in a flash.

The only downside to to pay-per-click is customer/client acquisition costs.  You can dramatically lower those costs by creating the Golden Triangle–optimizing your Google Local Business Listings and natural search listings to maximize your online marketing budget.

There are three (3) areas of opportunity in the search engine results–two of them are FREE, meaning search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing do not levy fees for your prominent placement, and the last opportunity assesses a small fee every time a search engine user clicks on your listing for targeted keyword searches. There are no marketing strategies as effective as search–SEARCH IS ON DEMAND ADVERTISING!

Whereas television, radio, and print advertising are known as “Push Marketing” vehicles because they broadcast a message to a passive audience, search engine advertising is rightly defined as a “Pull Marketing” strategy because the prospect is actively engaged in a real-time search for your products and services.  Will your message convert them into a sale?

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Download my white paper: Geotargeting: Local Seach Best Practices For Brands

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