The majority of us are familiar with LinkedIn as a business networking tool, but not so many are aware of the great content resource it can be. Submitted by business leaders around the world, you can follow a wide range of articles authored by the likes of Richard Branson, Richard Edelman and Bill Gates, as well as highly respected industry experts and writers. Very often, if you’re seeking knowledge on a subject, or looking for a dose of inspiration, LinkedIn can be a useful place to start. The topic of local and localisation is one that many are bringing themselves up to speed on, while they decide on the best course of action for their business. In this scenario it can be helpful to seek out a range of opinions on the subject, and LinkedIn offers just that.
While we strongly suggest you set up a personalised LinkedIn news feed based on the news topics and insights which interest you the most, we’ve pulled together 10 posts we’ve discovered on the topic of local and localisation, which we hope you will find useful.
Here is an early lesson in localisation (from 1994 in fact), as shared by business guru Dame Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop. This quick, snappy read, highlights the importance of working with native speakers when rolling out new product lines and associated marketing content, to brand new territories.
Are you struggling to get localisation prioritised on your business agenda? If so, this post may be a helpful read and arm you with the stats and research you need, to make your case. It builds out a strong argument for why translation and localisation may be your company’s best bet for success on the global stage.
This post offers a first lesson in what you need to know to create a website or software solution in multiple languages, or to localise an existing platform into additional languages. It’s easy to follow and offers a useful starting point for anyone who is new to the issue of localisation.
This post is written by LinkedIn Influencer, Sramana Mitra, and offers a great compilation of the top 10 trends driving the vertical and local web. Mitra believes “there will be a few large, global players. But there will be millions of smaller, niche, localised and/or verticalised businesses that will continue to open up entrepreneurial opportunities around the world”. This is a substantial article with useful business examples and industry statistics. 
I find it hard to believe this headline was written by the digital publishing director at Trinity Mirror, but it grabbed me all the same. This is a very subjective piece, but it builds a strong argument for why the BBC (and journalism in general), should be shifting greater focus and attention to local news, in order to connect with and grab the attention of people and local communities. It is a very thought provoking read.
If you weren’t already aware, LinkedIn also owns the presentation sharing community SlideShare. Here’s a light-hearted presentation, delivered at Brighton SEO this month, which walks you through everything you need to know about local SEO. It’s packed with great hints and tips, and if you’re a movie buff, you’re likely to love the style!
If for some reason you remain unconvinced about the importance of local search, this infographic will quickly spell it out! It’s a useful piece of content which you could easily share internally, to help build up the case for local search.
If you’re a small to medium-sized business, and have dabbled with local SEO but are looking to learn more, then this is a useful post to enhance your knowledge. It shares some helpful hints and tips for getting ahead with local search, and the ‘how to’ approach will be very appealing to some people.
The post begins, “of all the social networks your average digital marketer cares about, you’d be hard pressed to find Google+ at the top of anyone’s list.” But Google cares! If you haven’t been sold on the importance of Google+ to date, this post offers a refreshing read, and carefully spells out why businesses can’t ignore it. Furthermore, the writer offers clear instructions on the things you should do to optimise your page and make sure your G+ game is on point.
If you’re a fairly new business, and looking to establish your local marketing programme, this post offers a helpful starting point. It covers a range of tactics, from having a mobile responsive website through to link monitoring and Google keyword research.
