Local Search Makes Your Business a Big Fish in Your Local Community
The Internet Contains Billions of Website Pages - All Clamoring for Attention
With so many competing websites, it's unlikely that yours could stand out among them. Until recently, you faced near-impossible odds. Search engine results lost the "little guys" in back pages, where no one ever looked.
But Local Search is changing that in a dramatic way. Small stores and service businesses are gaining additional revenue from being found by locals who went to the Internet before deciding where to buy (70% of buyers, according to research by The Kelsey Group).
Google and Yahoo are pushing hard to make their Local Search results as relevant as possible. (MSN is playing a catch-up game.) They're under pressure to work out the bugs, so this rapidly accelerating trend becomes more reliable.
The public wants to find information about products or services with the ease and speed they've come to expect from search engines. However, when people are ready to spend their money, they prefer to spend it close to home (where 80% of purchases are made). So the only suppliers they care about are those located nearby. A Google query for "plumber" that delivers 2.3 million pages does them no good at all.
Buyers are Driving the Popularity of Local Search
A person conducts a Local Search when they add a geographic term (like town, region, zip code) to their search engine query. The results (SERPS) only include businesses within that geographic area. For example, entering "Seattle + plumber" in Google only delivers a list of plumbing firms in Seattle. Those results are also displayed on a city map, so it's easy to spot the most convenient ones.
Unfortunately, not all of the plumbers who ought to be included appear in the results. Those businesses that are left out miss out. It's also a drawback for the searcher, when they can't find the information they're looking for. Unfortunately, too much of what they get isn't relevant to them. The quality of results are sure to improve as more businesses climb aboard.
Relevance indicates how well the information a person expects to find matches what they actually get from their search. There's still plenty of room for improvement. Even so, already Local Search queries make up almost 40% of all search queries.
The Stages of Business Local Search Savvy
You don't want your enterprise left out of consideration when customers are making up their minds. Many more buyers rely on online information than on traditional methods, like newspapers and Yellow Pages anymore. Make Local Search an integral part of how you connect with customers, old and new.
1. Get listed in appropriate data bases so your business shows up in search results. Find out whether your operation is already listed in key places.
http://www.localsearchresources.com/getlisted.html
2. A simple site supports the rest of your marketing efforts (but you don't need your own website to start with). Realize that it's not for making online sales, but to assist your being found - by the search engines, as well as customers. Even a small website builds credibility, and encourages additional traffic to your place of business.
3. Modify your website (if you have one) to rank high with Local Search. Learn how at http://www.localsearchresources.com Make your website useful, so it provides answers that your customers routinely ask about. Tell about your services, product brands and specifications, hours, payment methods, how to, etc.
4. Optimize your website for keywords and in-depth search terms. While a small business may show up in Local Search results, there's a marked advantage to being in the front of the list. For example, in search results showing 30 rug cleaners, those closest to the top/front are more likely to be chosen.
5. Build your website into your store activities and business policies. Make it an extension of how you conduct special promotions, develop customer loyalty, and announce new products.
Cause a Ripple in Your Community "Pond"
Brick and mortar operations are often delighted to discover that the Internet is sending a steady stream of new customers, with little effort on their part. Capitalize on the convenient ways to connect to customers online.
It's said that there are only three ways to boost business revenue.
1. Increase your number of customers
2. Sell more to customers each time they buy
3. Sell to them more frequently
Your Internet exposure can help you accomplish all three. It can also makes you a bigger fish in the pond where you live and conduct business. And that deserves your serious attention.
Copyright 2005 Off the Page
--Dr. Lynella Grant An expert in Yellow Page ads and Local Search. Stand out online and offline, so you capture more Internet-savvy buyers for your brick and mortar business. Free resources http://www.localsearchresources.com 719-395-9450
Latest News
Marica Lowery, Coastal Georgia Business Owner, Attributes Success ... 1888 Press Release (press release), TX - ... President, CEO of Rocan International and visionary creator of the infinitei income plan method of direct response internet marketing," has enabled her ... |
 Earthtimes (press release) | NY SEO Firm Ranks High With NY Businesses WebWire (press release), GA - New York businesses aren’t taking any chances when it comes to their internet marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies. ... IndiaBook Indian SEO Company Launches Search Marketing Outsourcing ... Cybertegic's Search Engine Optimization Services Puts ... Search Engine Optimization Inc. Announces New Addition to Senior ... |
 Best Syndication | A-1 Internet Design - Keeping Pace with the Global Internet marketing Best Syndication, CA - Their web programming services are wide ranging; A-1 Internet Design professional expertise also extends to providing Internet marketing and search engine ... |
Using online tools to market to the customer next door Meadow Free Press, ID - How do you choose the right internet marketing strategy that really works for you and your business? First you have to understand the need of your prospects ... |
 Search Engine Watch | Search Marketing Expo West, Offers Early Bird Rates TheHostingNews.com (press release), OR - Search Marketing Expo -- SMX West is produced by Third Door Media, Inc. Third Door Media's mission is to empower internet and search marketing professionals ... Going to Search Engine Strategies? In a New York Minute! |
Affordable Internet Marketing and Web Design Company Proves a ... PR.com (press release), NY - With the competitive nature of internet marketing companies, it can be difficult to find an affordable internet marketing and web design service. ... |
EEG research 'could aid internet marketing' Digital Response Media, UK - Paul Blunden, chief executive of brand consultancy Foviance, said that EEG could help businesses to measure "the emotional reaction" of consumers when ... |
 Direct Traffic Media | Online marketing and email pointers for small firms Direct Traffic Media, UK - She points out that "online marketing is about making money", therefore, a strong email drive is essential to "any well-rounded internet marketing campaign" ... |
 The Associated Press | New TV trends: Internet movies, 3-D, power saving The Associated Press - asked Scott Ramirez, vice president of marketing for TVs at Toshiba America Consumer Products. "I have yet to find a person who will say that their flat ... CES News: Samsung Intros LED TV With Internet Content Yahoo!® Brings the Cinematic Internet™ to Life and Revolutionizes ... Samsung's Plasma TVs also connect to the Web |
Hotelier’s 2009 Top Ten Internet Marketing Resolutions By Max ... Hospitality Net - By Max Starkov & Jason Price Here at HeBS we firmly believe that a comprehensive, ROI-centric Internet marketing strategy is the hotelier's perfect ... |
Resources
-
Power Profit Marketing
Empowering The Internet Marketing Community With Great Marketing Tools, Manuals & Software
-
35 Products For One LOW Price!
Get 35 Internet Marketing Products For The Price Of One!
-
Make money on the Internet
How to make money on the Internet through Internet Marketing and work from home
-
The Internet Marketing Master Plan!
How To Turn Your Passion or Hobby Into a $100,000 a Year Money Machine on the Internet.
-
The Truth About Internet Marketing.
Discover the astonishing whole truth and nothing but the truth about Internet Marketing!
-
NEW -- Marketing, Internet Marketing, email Marketing, Marketing plan, direct
Marketing, joint vent
Offers Marketing tools, tips, strategies and techniques for Internet, email, direct and joint venture Marketing.
-
The Esuccess Code - A Step By Step Guide.
Newest, Hottest, Most Cutting-Edge Internet Marketing Strategies You Can Use To Earn A Fortune With Little Or No Effort.
-
Internet Business Marketing - Sen Ze's Mini-Encyclopedia Of Low-Cost, High-Profit Internet Business
Discover 19 Top Internet Businesses as practised by Top Internet Marketers and Internet Entrepreneurs from around the world.
-
Internet Marketing - Pro Shop.
Internet Marketing.
-
Web Site Design and Development
Web site design, development, and promotion guide for business and Internet Marketing web sites.