Newsletter #30

Proximity to Searcher is Still the #1 Local Search Ranking Factor

September 28, 2017

Whitespark's Monthly Local Search Newsletter

Local InsiderSeptember 2017

Proximity to Searcher is Still the #1 Local Search Ranking Factor.The local search algorithm is unquestionably tri-modal, but Proximity is the KEY factor that Google is currently scoring higher than other factors.

The local search algorithm is complex. Relevance, prominence, and proximity are all strong factors that impact search results. Proximity, however, is still a force to be reckoned with. See why proximity to searcher is still the #1 local search ranking factor. Cheers,Team Whitespark

Whitespark on the Interwebs

If you’re spending money or energy on SEO, Adwords, Facebook, or any other kind of digital traffic stream and you’re not measuring how many leads you get from each source, stop what you’re doing right now and make setting up a solid tracking plan your next priority.

  • Google Analytics - Goals, Call & Form Tracking.

  • Google Search Console.

  • Google Adwords - Extensions, Importing Data, Linking Accounts.

  • Google Tag Manager.

  • UTM Tracking & Rank Tracking.

  • GMB Insights.

  • Reporting. 

LocalU Advanced in Santa Monica

  Early Bird Special - Save $275 on Your Ticket 

Geek out with the industry's best for this full day workshop on November 16, 2017, and dive deep into all things local search.Attend LocalU advanced for only $674 (when you enter promotional code whitespark). Save $275 on your ticket! There are a limited number of tickets, so don't miss your chance to attend. Early Bird pricing ends on October 7, 2017 at 11:30 PM.

Around The Web

 

David Mihm has created a FREE guide to local search. Use this manual as a roadmap to success in Google's local search results - covering GMB, website optimization, reviews, and more. 

Are you seeing a shift in Google's local search results? There's a predator appearing in the local algorithm, and it's killing some of those pesky Possum's. Joy Hawkins covers everything you need to know about this update for Search Engine Land. 

Get Mike Blumenthal and David Mihm's take on Google's "Micro-Moments" and how this oversimplified approach to understanding your customer's journey is not helpful to marketers and business owners. 

This piece by John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing (referenced in the above recommended article) encourages taking a more holistic approach when looking at your customer's journey, rather than using a traditional marketing funnel that assumes a straightforward journey. Use his tips to construct your own hourglass for your small business. 

Manage your GMB listing without leaving Google Search. Tim Capper runs through the how-to of this latest update to Google My Business. 

The Merkle team has launched this awesome and free Schema Markup Generator tool that gives you JSON-LD or Microdata markups. It's easy to use and so far our favourite generator out there. No more excuses for not marking up your website now. 

In this study, Eric Enge will show you data on why links are still powerful, why Google still uses them, and the likelihood that the power of links is not going anywhere anytime soon.

Upcoming Conferences

SWIVEL MARKETING CONFERENCEOctober 9-10, 2017Bend, ORSEARCHLOVE LONDONOctober 16-17, 2017London, ENGSMX EAST - NYCOctober 24-26, 2017New York, NYPUBCONNovember 6-9, 2017Las Vegas, NVASSEMBLEDNovember 1, 2017Portland, OR