A keyword as any word that someone will use when searching the internet.

Search engines like Google, YaHoo and Bing are like a giant index in the back of a book. When you search for something on the web, the search engine uses the words that you type to search through an index it has created. Search engines maintain an index of web pages on the Internet and display the results of your search ordered with what it believes to be the most relevant web pages on top.

Tyically when keywords are mentioned in terms of search engines it is because the owner of a website wants more visitors to their site. More visitors should arrive at a site if they are finding the page on a search engine.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is easier for local searches than it is for national searches because there are fewer competitors, but it still takes some work. Many of the basic SEO rules are still important. Thankfully improvements in search engines and the addition of social websites, it is much easier to optimize for local search than ever before.

1. Get onto local sites: Include your website in all the local website that you can. From Google Places to local directories, local links and user citations are the primary influencers of high rankings for local searches. Customers in your community go deep for information, so even small, seemingly low-volume destinations can result in quality links. These sites may not receive a lot of traffic individually, but a few links from relevant blogs can go a long way - on the search result pages and even in your local community.
2. Ask Customers for Reviews: If you are a local business and you are not collecting reviews, you won't be in business long. Remember, search engines now rely on content more than ever before. In the eyes of search engines today there is no more reliable signal of businesses' authority and relevance to an individual query than the presence of reviews. Asking for reviews should become a part of either your business processes or marketing campaigns. You don't need hundreds, but in order to remain fresh and relevant, your review assets do need to be constantly appended.
3. Be Consistant.  An active website with fresh content gets more attention. Setting up a schedule to add or update content, monitor your site's search position is now a neccessary function of business. Weekly updates are good, monthly updates are a minimum.

Google Places is the Place to Be

According to Google over 22% of all searches are related to a specific location. In other words, people are using Google to find local businesses and services. Recognizing that this percentage will likely increase, Google has made significant efforts to retain its existing lead in local searches with Google Places Pages (GPP).

You have already seen these pages if you have Googled something and one of the first results is a small map listing a business. By showing up here, you will receive more business. In fact, Google may have already created a GPP for your business, all you have to do is claim it. By claiming your listing, you now have the ability to edit the listing's content, contact info, offers and promotions, and respond to user reviews.

How to Claim your business's Google Place Page

First, you need to have a Gmail or Google account. This is easy. Just

1. Go to Google.com
2. In the top right corner of the page you'll see "sign in" click on it.
3. You are taken to the Google Accounts page. On the right you'll see a small box that reads "Create an Account Now".
4. Once you fill that out, and accept their terms, you will be able to go back to Google.com and login to Google.

Second, claim your GPP

1. Login to Google (top right corner) if you haven't already.
2. Click on your name and select Account Settings from the drop-down menu.
3. Click on Google Places. At the time of this writing it is located in the left column.
4. Once here, click on Add a Business and fill out the form.

Google loves data

The more data you can provide in your GPP the better--Google loves data. It also rewards freshness, so make sure that you update your data frequently and that it is accurate and relevant to the visitor.

Get an Easy Jump on your Competition

Google has created more than 49 million Place pages but only about 7% have been claimed. Of that 7% only a small percentage actually edit and update or manage their pages after the second month. This stale data actually lowers a page's rating.

I'll admit right now that I haven't been keeping my GPP frequently updated. I am not showing up in the little map that I mentioned. My listed basically read like a resume. I am in the process of changing it to use words that my potential customers are likely to use when looking for a web developer. Also, I was concerned about putting in my address since I work out of my home. I suspect Google knew that I gave a fictitious address that would've actually been between two houses. I have since changed this because I noticed one of my competitors has listed their home address.

Stay tuned, I'll let you know how it goes. In the mean time, go out and claim your GPP NOW.