If you ask any business owner today, they will tell you that local SEO is critical to the survival of any small business. Most small business marketing efforts have moved from print to online and many small business guys, especially the older guys, have a hard time keeping up with the big boys.

Search engine marketing is about bidding on keywords and optimization.  These both take money and most small businesses do not have much of this to spare.  This is why you see so many mom and papa businesses falling to the giants like Wal-Mart.

The key to search for small business owners is to pick search terms that are more obscure then your target keyword.  So if you were looking to optimize Colorado skiing vacations.  You might use terms like CO skiing vacations cheap.  This term would be considered more long tail but it will also be less competitive.

My other suggestion for search engine marketing is to hire help.  There are a number of firms out there that specialize in marketing online.  When it is time to paint your house do you call a plumber?  do you do it yourself?  NO – you call a painter.  Why then would you leave the most critical part of your business to someone other then an expert.

Finding an expert is pretty easy but finding one that you like it not.  Make sure that they understand your business and are willing to take the time to explain what they are doing to help with your search efforts.  You will be happy that you took the time to maximum your efforts, especially when the phone keeps ringing because your name is up top.  Good luck and happy googling!