Optimizing for Local Search

Nate Elliott | September 20, 2007, 03:45 PM

We'll be publishing a new report soon on local search in Europe -- analyzing how many Europeans search for local businesses online, how many European search marketers use local search targeting, and how well engines support both the users and the marketers. But in the meantime, I've just seen a couple good articles on local search that I wanted to share:

1. Search Engine Watch reports on an SES San Jose panel about how to optimize your site for local search
   
2. MediaPost's Search Insider reports on some problems [free registration required] occurring when advertisers use local targeting on Google, but then activate broad matching as well

And finally, in case you haven't seen Yahoo's fantastic new US local search site, have a look (and read Greg Sterling's overview). Then compare it to the boring, spartan UK version. C'mon, Yahoo -- give Europe some local search love!