Local SEO

[casper434]

thanks Roberto. A great resource and it also answered an unrelated question on google place pages

[casper434]

thanks Gyi

[MarieHaynes]

Linda Buquet who is well know in the Local SEO field just started a thriving new forum: http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/

[casper434]

thanks Marie. An interesting forum and lots of changes at the local search level

[Intergen]

Andrew Shotland is my local info go-to guy - http://www.localseoguide.com

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Brett,

You've gotten some excellent replies here. Let me give you a list of my go-to sources for excellent reportage on this topic, some of which have already been mentioned. Put these in your feedreader and you will have a blow by blow account of the constant changes going on daily in Local:

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Mike Blumenthal's Blog

http://blumenthals.com/blog

Mike is considered by most Local SEOs to be the godfather of the industry. He is also a Google Top Contributor (in the Google and Your Business Forum). If you read nothing else, read Mike's blog religiously.

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Nyagoslav Zhekov's Blog

http://www.ngsmarketing.com/blog/

Also a Google Top Contributor. Extremely smart guy with very important, factual blog posts.

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Linda Buquet's Blog

http://marketing-blog.catalystemarketing.com/

Another Google TC. Linda's blog is very active and she is also now running her Local Search Forum. Expect lots of breaking news here.

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David Mihm's Blog

http://www.davidmihm.com/blog/

David doesn't blog as often as the above 3 bloggers, but when he does, his stuff is must-read. Also, as the founder of GetListed.org and the annual Local Search Ranking Factors report, David is definitely and industry leader...as well as being a really nice guy!

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Greg Sterling's Blog

http://www.screenwerk.com/

An extremely intellectual man who gives best-in-industry commentary on industry news in Local (who just bought who, what is this new technology, etc.). Greg brings a unique perspective to Local.

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Matt McGee's Blog

http://www.smallbusinesssem.com/

Matt is a marketing veteran and is the Executive News Editor at Search Engine Land and Marketing Land. He often blogs about local issues and I always really enjoy his commentary on the review aspect of Local. Matt's writing style is truly lay-person-friendly and I value his voice.

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Andrew Shotland's Blog

http://www.localseoguide.com/

Andrew is a no-nonsense local blogger with a gift for irony and a ton of experience. He's very respected in Local and while his blog isn't updated daily, what he writes is well worth reading. Another very smart fellow.

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Search Engine Land

http://www.searchengineland.com

Regularly publishes good local news, often from some of the bloggers listed above.

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Google and Your Business Blog

http://googleandyourbusiness.blogspot.com/

This is where Google tends to make most of their announcements about Local issues, so definitely be aware of this.

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We also publish some great Local articles here at SEOmoz from time to time, and in our YouMoz section as well. You're welcome to check out my blog at http://www.solaswebdesign.net/wordpress/ but I confess that, of late, being busy has kept me from blogging half as much as I'd like to. There are many other talented bloggers in Local, but what I've listed here are my most-visited sources.

I hope these resources will be just what you're looking for, Brett!

Miriam

[casper434]

thanks Miriam, a great list

[MiriamEllis]

My pleasure, Brett. Happy reading!

[warcom]

We're looking a Local SEO expert who can assist us.

Please feel free to get in touch.

[GregoryTK]

Hi Brett,

To be honest I think I learned most by really taking the time to read through David Mihm's "Local Search Ranking Factors" for 2011 and 2012.
This information compiles the industry's expertise, resulting in quite a good hypothesis as to what one should do in order to rank with guidelines as to your website, Google+ Local page (even though introduced after the 2012 survey), citations, link-building, etc.

Lock yourself away for an hour or two... an open plan office is not ideal to chew through all the info

http://www.davidmihm.com/local-search-ranking-factors.shtml

http://www.davidmihm.com/local-search-ranking-factors-2011.shtml

Hope this helps?

Cheers

Greg