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How does Google local and SEO work with zip codes (postal codes) for local search?
Question: -
Q: Do you find searches by zip code as important as a geographic area (i.e., Mira Mesa, 92126)?
Answer: -
To Google a Zip Code is just another keyword. It all depends on how your customers actually search. If they tend to use ZIP or Postal codes, then by all means use them as your keywords. If not, then use the geographics such as the names of cities or towns that they search for. For example, I put 'Union City' into the Google keyword tool and got a monthly search volume of 1,220,220 vs. only 49,500 for the zip code '94587.'
That said, 'pizza 94587' was one of the searches. So people do use Zip codes. It isn't either or - you can use both. So, first, compare using the Google tools to look at search volumes of the various zip codes that interest you vs. the cities / towns. Second, place them strategically on your website in your appropriate page tags, recognizing that some pages tags are critically important and limited, such as the Home Page TITLE tag. Finally, remember that for geographics, it is a great idea to place the cities and towns served at the bottom of your home page. Here is an example - http://www.sfflowershop.com/. Scroll to the bottom of the page and see the Zip Code list, optimized for zip code searches with terms like 'flower delivery.'
Hope this helps!
- Jason
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