Local keyword optimization... HELP!!!

[DangerKatt]

ok if i put keywords on my site that have lots to do with my location... austin tx... will i be flagged as spam?? such as changing phrases of my html words to things that say austin web design instead of web design... and doing that kinda stuff????

[David Wallace]

I think it is more of an issue that you don't want your copy to look dumb than being labled as a spammer.

If you have something like:

Welcome to our Austin TX web site design company web site. we offer quality Austin TX web site design for a variety of Austin TX clients. Our Austin TX web site design services are affordable and the best you'll find in Austin TX.

I think you get the point.

Some things to help with local targeting...

Make sure you have a business number listed in local Yellow Pages

List your company name and complete address in the footer of site such as by copyright info

Use geographical terms in title tags

Make sure your geographical location is mentioned in copy but do not overdo it such as in the example above

Get listed in Google Local (https://www.google.com/local/add/login) and Yahoo Local (http://login.yahoo.com/config/login)

[DangerKatt]

thanks a lot! any other suggestions for geo targeting seo? - Josiah

[strategicrankings]

Found this interesting article about Geotagging Web Pages (http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8025) . Hope that it helps you.

[risk]

i found the following article to be a useful read, since it gives you a few ideas for using your location specific keywords without rendering your copy unreadable to humans you're trying to attract in the first place:

http://www.marketingwords.com/articles/articles_localkeyphrases.html

-rsk

[webslinger422]

Just try to write naturally while throwing a couple of local words in there.