When targeting a local search audience, it is important to understand the geographic impacts on SEO Manchester clients may be subject to.

Data from Google Insights for Search shows the relative search audiences in different parts of England for queries including the word ‘Manchester’ in 2011.

The city itself ranks most highly, but many of its suburbs and nearest neighbours also score highly.

Sale ranks in second place with 70% as many searches for ‘Manchester’ as the city of Manchester itself, making it a core target in the SEO Manchester clients apply to their sites.

Salford and Stockport are joint third, with 61% as many searches for ‘Manchester’ each in 2011 as the city itself recorded.

Further down the list, however, areas beyond the Greater Manchester region and its nearest neighbours begin to make an appearance.

Oldham, Bolton and Preston may come as no surprise in fifth, sixth and seventh places, but Liverpool may seem less predictable, scoring nearly 20% as many searches for ‘Manchester’ as Manchester itself in 2011.

The top ten is completed by Leeds and London at 14% and 13% of Manchester’s total number of queries respectively – proving that when it comes to local SEO, Manchester clients can still reach a national audience despite using geographically specific keywords.