Local websites 'could benefit from sports SEO'

22nd July 2008

Local sites could see significant revenue opportunities open up by ramping up their search engine optimisation (SEO) efforts to target sports fans, it has been claimed.

According to Bobby Tulsiani of JupiterResearch, a new study from the company suggests that sports fans are increasingly turning to local press sources for news updates.

Combined with the greater likelihood of sports fans making extensive use of the internet compared with other web users, this trend could bode well for local websites, he explained - but only if they deploy effective SEO techniques.

Meanwhile, JupiterResearch president David Schatsky highlighted other sales opportunities arising from the trends uncovered in the company's latest research report.

"Serious sports fans' heavy involvement with shopping and fantasy sports presents an opportunity for revenue streams outside of advertising, such as paid video, ticketing and merchandising," he said.

European sports website users spend more than 13 hours on the internet every week - ten per cent more than the average web user, according to a recent study conducted by the European Interactive Advertising Association.