Tightly targeted regional website

How best to do regional website search engine promotion

[aschrage]

I just put up a website as described: an information resource for people with a specific plumbing problem in a specific U.S. city. The advice on the site is from an expert in the field. The site objective is to produce jobs for a local contractor who will pay us a commission. I anticipate that it could be difficult to get relevant traffic via search engines. Are search engines even worth the trouble for me?

Outside of search engines, I had also planned to do the following:
1) track down regional directories and sites to exchange links with
2) find global sites about the plumbing problem and get a link
3) offline promtion through business cards, mailings, and personal contact

Has anyone out there tried promoting regional sites with search engines? Any tips?

[seokat]

Don't forget about online yellow pages/phone listings also. Consider all local Web presences...local paper, chamber, etc.

[The Contractor]

Regional targeting is much easier in my opinion. Simple reason is less competition. Make sure you list the “coverage/problem area” by name with no abbreviations in the locality (such as city, state or providence). Add content by showing a map of the problem area on another page with description/coverage etc.

I like regional sites and the site of my “real” business is regional in nature. It is pretty easy to get good rankings regionally. I would be interested in seeing this site and you are welcome to sticky mail me the URL.

[blakebrains]

Optimizing websites for a specific region is the easiest thing that you'll ever do. (Just make sure that your content is relevant) Something to look into would be Wordtracker and Overture Search Suggestion Tool. These tools will give you an idea of how many times a keyword has been searched (let's say, "florida web design"), and you will then be able to find whether or not Optimizing for region is worth the effort.

[paynt]

Hello aschrage, Welcome to Webmaster World. [webmasterworld.com]

I suggest you look to the regional directories and if possible regional directories within your industry for linking opportunities and exposure for traffic.

Think about your titles and description, making sure to get both your region and your industry keyword in both. I come up with 3-5 variations and rotate my use with them in submissions and in linking partnerships.

If there are other businesses in your community that you work with be sure to link up with those.

Emphasize the region and industry in your code, content, and tags.

Read Brett’s excellent Successful Site in 12 Months with Google Alone [webmasterworld.com].

<added> Please feel welcomed blakebrains.