Ireland is still a country where “local” is important. Whether it be buying local products from a grocery store or searching the web with localized keywords, we like to keep it local. It is this loyalty to local areas that you can use to expand your marketing potential. There are a number of Internet marketing techniques that I will discuss in this article that will help you, “keep it local”. It isn’t rocket science but by following these techniques you can increase your online marketing potential.

1.    Local Business Center - Every business should have a presence in the local business center in Google. You can include your business even if you don’t have a website. It is free and helps search engines find your business and website in local searches. In the example I have provided the search term is “SEO Specialists Dublin”. By adding our business to the local business center our business comes up top in a localized search term in Google.

2.    Optimise your profile on Local Business Center - There are many different sections where you can add your business information, photographs and videos in Local Business Center. In the example below we have uploaded our SEO tips in videos to Local Business Center so that visitors can get an idea of what services our company provides.

3.    Local directories - Often when we consider distributing our websites to directories we think of Yahoo, DMOZ and other large global directories. But local directories such as Hot Frog (www.hotfrog.ie) or Search Optimization (www.searchoptimization.ie) also provide backlinks that are a good way of promoting yourself locally. The picture below shows our directory listing in Hot Frog. Note that there is a good description of our company and the services that we provide.

4.    Encourage interaction with the natives – No, this does not mean we have to wear funny costumes and dance around a fire holding hands! What I am suggesting with this point is that you try to create a dialog between yourself and your local customers. This can be done through social media, commenting functionality on your website and reviews and testimonials.

With these simple techniques you can help increase your online presence at a local level and help local customer find you.