Forum Moderators: martinibuster
I have experienced successful local search rankings by obtaining links from local niche directories,or the local section of a larger directory, preferably something with authority.
By "success" I mean that the site in question shows up in the top level indented section for local searches in Google.
I discussed this issue with someone earlier this year and he suggested obtaining links from locally branded sites will help as well, i.e. [your city] shoe store, etc. I'm not sure if that still holds, though.
This is a great topic. Anyone else wants to share their experience of what kinds of links are beneficial for ranking a site locally?
I would suggest that you link to local sites, no matter what their topic (not just any site, but quality sites that can add value for your local users), and then link to topic related sites no matter their location (same degree of quality).
it might help even more if you could get incoming links from these same type sites.
This was my first post and I am realy excited about these forums.
You can become a local hub by linking to a lot of local sites.
True, but on its own it doesn't mean that you will rank any better. You will be helping other sites, though - something that I've seen on one of my sites when it became a hub before an authority.
My advice would be to define local authority sites (martinibuster mentioned local directories, but I would add "real life" authorities in the case of local search - such as the local newspaper, chamber of commerce, tourist office) and do things that attract them - such as pay them money (text links or memberships); or act in a newsworthy or noteworthy way; or interest them by acting in manner which they would approve of.
(Interesting that I've posted on the sandbox, Jagger and local search in the last few days and, IMO, all of the posts are different facets of the same thing. Or else I'm just a boring old fool repeating myself!)
