text: ​Last week Google pushed out a new and major algo update for local search dubbed the "Pigeon": update by Search Engine land. There aren't many details disclosed about the so-called Pigeon yet, but webmasters report considerable changes in their local rankings over the past few days.
  We've put up this short compilation to explain what "Pigeon" is, how the update affects your rankings and how to adapt your SEO strategy for the changes.
  1. The Good News
  According to the first post-update research, Yelp and other local directory sites have seen a considerable boost in rankings. For some queries, the entire SERP (search engine results page) is built from well-known local directories only.
  What should you do? Even if less of your potential clients now see your website in search results, they may be able to find you via local directory sites. This makes it crucial to build a solid business presence on leading local directories in your industry. And yes of course, we have listed the best for your convenience:
  Personal Trainer Directory at the Institute of Personal Trainers
  www.UKpersonaltrainers.com
  http://matesratesforfitness.com/freeprofile/
  www.freeindex.co.uk
  www.personaltrainerworldwide.co.uk
  http://www.instructors-directory.co.uk/register.php
  http://www.findmytrainer.com/personal-trainer-network.php​
  http://www.pthub.com/profile/register/
  2. Local Listings
  If over the past few days your website has encountered a traffic drop, this may well be due to the disappearance of your local listings on the first page of Google. If that is the case, in the short run you may need to cover the traffic losses with a PPC campaign, and in the long run — focus on getting Web search listings for those keywords.
  What local listings look like on Google.
  3. Website Authority
  Google is going back to the more traditional ranking signals such as domain authority, backlinks and all kinds of other SEO rankings factors. Simply speaking, this may mean that local rankings will now be more determined by how well your meta data is structured, the age of your site and how you use your header tags.
  What should you do? If your local rankings have suddenly dropped over the past few days, this may mean your site's general SEO characteristics lack behind those of your competition.
  Run a thorough competition research to see how your backlinks, content and other SEO characteristics stand to those of other high ranking personal trainer websites.
  We hope it helps you stay up to date. And if you found this guide useful, please send your thanks to SEO PowerSuite team. They're the guys who built the software we use to get personal trainer websites to the top of search results!
  Have you noticed any changes in local rankings? What are your thoughts on the update? DO you have any questions with regards to maximising the potential of your personal trainer website?
  Did you find this information useful?
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