One of the main problems with stale websites is that the owner didn't realize that websites need to be updated regularly. If you want to stay competitive on the Internet then you have to plan to spend time with your site on a regular basis. If you do not have the time to spend with your site then hire someone who knows what they are doing.

Many people claim to be SEO experts and try to sell you on some plan to boost your search engine rankings. Most of the time those companies intentionally or not don't do a very good job for your site. Yes everyone wants their site to do business worldwide after all that is why they call it the World Wide Web.

That is a great strategy; however, I must ask. Have you exhausted all your local markets already? SEO should start at the local level as well as on the global level. Depending on your business SEO Localization can make a serious difference.

There are 6 strategies that you "MUST BE DOING" to optimize your site locally while optimizing your site globally.

1. SEO Simple Strategy #1 : Local Link Campaign: All search engines give you credit for links that are coming into your site from other relevant sites. This is done with reciprocal linking as well as linking with other local sites even if they don't link back. The important thing is to create a well organized set of resources for your visitors. That is what pays off in the long run.
2. SEO Simple Strategy #2 : Get a Blog : Get a real blog for your website. Not some free plug in service where they host it on their site. Get a real blog installed on your server. A blog is a great way to entice your user about learning more about you without having to contact you just yet. You can blog about personal or business matters. You can blog about local events in your area or whatever interests you. No matter what you blog about the hard part is to make regular posts.
3. SEO Simple Strategy #3 : Add Local Content : It is a good idea to have content on your website about your local area. Not just a reference in your About Us page but some relevant content that describes your local market. Surely there is some local story or place that you can write a page about that relates to your website.
4. SEO Simple Strategy #4 : Optimize your Keywords for Local Search : If you haven't already you should make additions to your keywords, keyword phrases and descriptions on your site. Changes to your content will also impact your effect on local searching. Put in your city, county or state where applicable. Put local terms in title tags, heading tags and in your copy.
5. SEO Simple Strategy #5 : Put Google Map on your site : Google has made it very easy to include a map on your website. First you will want to list your business with Google Maps so people searching locally can see your business.  Once your site is listed you will have the option to copy HTML code that will link that map with your website.
6. SEO Simple Strategy #6 : Register with Local Search Engines / Directories : Too many web owners spend all their time worrying about the big 3 search engines. There are many search engines and directories that your site should be submitted to. Start searching for industry engines, local engines and directories that have the same keywords you want to focus on. Submit your site to these directories manually. Do not trust some SEO company or software to handle automatic submissions as some search engines frown upon that.

Hopefully this information has been helpful. Just remember that a website is never finished. It takes a ton or work, time and patience to develop and maintain a great website.

If you need help with any of the strategies in this article please feel free to contact me. Just click the Contact link in the left navigation and you will see an image with my email address. Let me know your url and what you have done so far and I will be happy to see if there are any areas for optimization.

 Phillip