LOCAL SEARCH OPTIMIZATION: Study Guide & Exercises

Vocabulary:
After completing this module, you should be comfortable with the following terms.
If you do not know them, look them up.

Google local business listings

Yahoo local
Off-page/off-listing criteria
Citations
Reviews
Check-ins
Foursquare mayor

Questions:
After watching the training videos, here are the questions you should be
comfortable answering.

 Which pieces of company information are options for you to make

available to your visitors in Google local search?
 What are the options for Google local search verification?
 What data is available to you through Google’s local business center’s
user data?
 Which Google local listings options require an additional fee?
 What are the top five ranking factors for local search optimization?
 What is the importance of customer reviews with regards to local search
rankings?
 How does Bing verify your local business listing?
 What is the optimal manner to display your phone number on your
website?
 What may be the more optimal way to track leads—via email or web
form?
 What is the process for getting listed on Yelp?

Suggested Exercises:
1. Go into Google’s local business center and register your business.

2. Go to Yahoo local search and register your business.

3. Go to Bing and register your business.

4. Consider two ways in which Foursquare could possibly improve your

business by incenting return visits.