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Let’s take a short diversion from SEO,

Mitchell asked about the best way to get targeted web traffic from a specific city or state:

Mitchell, I had many times in my Naval career where focusing on a specific target audience was very important.  We didn’t always want the whole world to participate.  Sometimes, we didn’t even want the whole Navy to participate in an event.  The words we chose and the message we sent became highly specific to the particular participants.

This happened mostly when we did a local training event, early in our training cycle.  We just weren’t ready to deal with a world audience.

I know from experience in local retail sales, that similar situations exist.  For instance, if you are a local barber shop, or hair salon in Antwerp, Belgium, you probably aren’t interested in massive targeted web traffic of visitors from New York (in fact, this wouldn’t be targeted).  They simply aren’t going to make you the real money in New York.

I personally set up a website for a local business.  The goal was not to attract people from all over the world.  There was no point.  Having thousands of visitors a day made no difference if they didn’t come from very nearby – or at least were going to be nearby sometime soon.  The store wanted people that were going to be within walking distance.

My secret to local targeted web traffic…

So, what did I do to get the local city traffic, or the attention of targeted traffic that would be traveling to stay within walking distance of the store?

This is so simple, I couldn’t believe how well it worked.  I researched the niche keyword phrases.  Since it was a franchise store, it had some very highly competitive keyword phrases.  Then I simply added the location name (your city, your state, or if your district is well enough known, use that) to the end of the long tail keyword phrase.

Now, look this version up in Google, or your keyword tool of choice.  You will find nearly ZERO competition.

Yet, how do you think someone looks for your niche product or service in your location?  They add the location name.  So if you do pet grooming, you would find pet grooming in Google to be highly competetive.

But if you do pet grooming in the Queens, NY, then make your primary keyword phrase “pet grooming queens ny.”  Google will likely have no data on this, yet you will get highly, highly targeted traffic you never had before.

This tactic was so successful for the retail store, that despite the recession, the store continues to increase business because it is so easily found by searches on the internet.  The stores competitors continue to try Adwords, paid online directories, and other paid media – they lose.   This store I tailored, has no paid online advertising and out performs all the competition online.  The highly targeted web traffic keeps coming.

Mitchell, I hope this answered your question.

Please leave a comment when you return.

- Wayne Sharer