Google displays local business listings with a map, the address, and the phone number of businesses and organizations in the user’s local area on the first page of search results.
Because there is no cost to be included in the Local Search directory, and because of the prominent placement of the display results, all law firm should take advantage of Local Search.
Law firms can claim and optimize their local listings on Google, Yahoo!, and Bing. Creating well-optimized “local directory” listings on these search engines are important because when a search engine (such as Google) receives a search for what it believes to be a “local” business (such as a search for a law firm), it often lists websites that are included in a separate “local” index before the “regular” or “organic” listings. With Google, this is called the Google+ Local Index (formerly called the Google “Places” index). These listings are usually shown together with a map, and often the phone numbers of the businesses are included.
Local listings can be optimized by including:
The better that Local Search listings are optimized, the more likely it is that they will be selected for inclusion on the first page of the search results.
Your firm’s local search page also can include client reviews, which will not only help in the process of the local listing being featured higher in the search results, but also in the process of new client development.
Fully optimizing local listings can lead to higher search engine rankings and new client development.
Call us today to get started.