I have had several people ask me what it takes get my business listed online, especially for local businesses. Each and every time I try and tell them that they need to do local SEO marketing. I always get blank stares. I saw this post from Todd Mintz over at Search Engine Journal (http://www.searchenginejournal.com/get-listed-so-you-can-get-found/28398/)

HE gives a list of three things and I would recommend that you follow these items when starting with your local SEO.

The three super duper local listing strategies:

1. Claim your Google Places Page
2. Optimize the heck out of it (without spamming)
3. Get people to leave reviews (on the Google places page and also on other sites such as Yelp).

There it is 3 simple items….. In my next 3 blog posts, I will give suggestions and instructions on how to do each of them.

Google are currently testing a beta offering that would allow a PPC ad in the top position to contain a contact lead form. This looks like a cool idea. There is a downfall that I don’t like.  According to PPC Hero Google will keep the contact data. I can see this stopping a few companies from wanting to do this.

I would definitely like to test it on my clients.

Are you currently using this? Would you feel comfortable with Google keeping some of the data?

I am shocked how long it has been since I have last written something for Strategicality.com. I really need to start looking after my own blogs for a little bit. But don’t worry; while I have been gone, I have been writing content for other blogs. Most notably I wrote a guest post for Jason Baer’s Convince and Convert Blog. In addition to this, I was writing prolifically for Sitewire (www.sitewire.net/blog).

Personally, I have also been doing a lot of research for a few other items, which I don’t want to go into quite yet. But I thought it would be good if I said hello again and gave you a list of links to the blog posts that I have written while I have been gone. Please enjoy the links below and come back in 2010 for an updated blog design and lots more content.

Happy New Years everyone.

Convince and Convert

Is Social Media Now Anti-Social? (I didn’t choose the accompanying image)

http://www.convinceandconvert.com/social-media-marketing/is-social-media-now-anti-social/

Sitewire

Yahoo! Combines Display Advertising and PPC Search.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/11/18/yahoo-combines-display-advertising-and-ppc-search/

Google Launches Local Extensions.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/08/19/google-launches-local-extensions/

Click the Vid: YouTube PPC Overlay Ads.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/08/07/click-the-vid-youtube-ppc-overlay-ads/

Google’s Search Suggestion Tool.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/07/23/google’s-search-suggestion-tool/

Since When Are Dinosaurs Relevant?

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/07/22/since-when-are-dinosaurs-relevant/

The Paradox of Choice and How to Make a Better Landing Page.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/07/17/the-paradox-of-choice-and-how-to-make-a-better-landing-page/

Google Blog Search Adds Hot Queries.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/07/13/google-blog-search-adds-hot-queries/

Retargeting, Databases & Washing Machines.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/07/07/retargeting-databases-washing-machines/

Using Phone Numbers to Stand Out From The Crowd.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/07/02/using-phone-numbers-to-stand-out-from-the-crowd/

Tweetboard: Creating a Twitter Conversation & Forum On Your Blog or Web Site.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/06/30/tweetboard-creating-a-twitter-conversation-forum-on-your-blog-or-web-site/

Twitter Trends : Do Hashtag Contests Work?

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/06/24/twitter-trends-do-hashtag-contests-work/

Want Free Google Adwords Money?

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/06/23/want-free-google-adwords-money/

Reclaiming the Abandoned Virtual Shopping Cart.

http://www.sitewire.net/blog/2009/06/22/reclaiming-abandoned-virtual-shopping-cart/