I recently had a series of conversations with representatives from Yell.com regarding our web site and their guarantees to improve it's visibility on Google. I listened to what they had to say and I think it sounded like a decent enough service, but I couldn't help but think they were referring to success based upon a particular search term exclusively and at a premium rate.

Yell.com "What's you area of business?'

Me "Graphic Design and Artworking" (Hence the name 49th Floor Graphic Design and Artworking).

Yell.com "And where are you based"
Me "Luton, we are designers based in Luton"
"So if we put Graphic designers Luton into Google, where will you be"

I could see what she was getting at and admittedly, this would be a good search term to be boosted in - but I don't think the general public is that predictable. Surely there's other areas to be listed in than just Graphic Designer in Luton or some-such derivative, like Luton Artworker, Photoshop experts in Luton, Brochure designer in Luton, Luton illustrator, Logo designer Luton, Website designer Luton. Would I have to pay the going rate to advertise each one of these specific terms?

Me "Have you tried Googling Dominos Pizza Offers Luton? We get listed on page 1"
Yell.com "You're mad"

I think that this out of the box thinking could be the way forward, after all - are people in Luton more likely to buy pizzas or commission websites? But people who eat pizza might commission websites. It's not deliberately misleading either, because the content in that blog post was relevant.

But being called mad really got to me and as a Lutonian, a graphic designer in Luton and perhaps a Luton artworker I thought I'd try and boost our profile to Google under these terms in case they ring back.