Is Your Local Business Ready for Online Searchers from YOUR Local Area?

An intriguing press release from comScore.com, provides some excellent insight into local search use, and its rapid growth...

Here are some of the findings that a comScore Search Satisfaction Study revealed about local search statistics: 59 percent were searching for something in their home area 52 percent were searching specifically for a business phone number or address. Two out of five local searchers (41 percent) were looking for information on a local service in their home area, including car rental office, dry cleaner or lawyer. "The comScore study also found that performing a local search drives consumers to take action. During the second quarter of 2006, 47 percent of local searchers visited a local merchant as a result of their search behavior, while 41 percent made contact offline. More than one-third (37 percent) made contact online as a result of conducting a local area search." Source: "Local Search Continues to Gain Momentum, According to comScore", a Comscore.com press release, in October 2006.

Here's another article, about "The Emergence of Local Search".

Since 2006, local search use has grown even more rapidly, with social media marketing (through Facebook, Twitter and other local services) becoming much more significant.

So... Is Your Local Business "Internet-Ready"?

Can local searchers find your business website, through the major search engines, using local business searches?

You can check this right now, using the search options provided below.

Here's Google's regular websearch:

In the search box, type in the name of your city, and your main business description or occupation, for the current regular search results (results will open in a new window)

Then check the difference with local searches - people can search for local businesses, in specific geographic locations:

Use this link Google Maps, for the U.S. or for Canadian searches use Google Maps Canada

As you'll see, there is a difference, for searchers using the country specific local options, compared to the regular websearch.

More importantly, is your local business listed in those search results?

If not, your business won't be found by local searchers in your area...
so those prospective customers will just find your competitors' websites instead!

Position Your Business for Local Search

To get more visibility in the search engines, you'll need a good website and hosting service -- one that will guide you through the essential site development procedures, search engine submissions, and effective marketing strategies.

With your website, you can provide the type of information about your local business that searchers in that comScore Search Study, were looking for -- publish specific details about your business, like:

• business phone numbers and addresses
• store or office location/s
• days and hours of operation
• specific directions to your business premises, and
• perhaps even special services you offer for your customers (like parking arrangements if you're in a high density area, or web-only discount offers).

You can also:

• Diversify your marketing strategies, and advertising channels
• PREsell and sell products and services
• Build trust and credibility with online searchers (prospective customers?), through your website, and online newsletters
• Encourage online searchers to either visit your premises, and/or make contact online

By taking your local business online, you can benefit from online search as well!

Hosting and Marketing

If you don't have a website yet, or your existing site doesn't get much traffic, I recommend using SBI!, for your site. It's an integrated web hosting and marketing service. The essential tools you'll need to market your local business online are already built into the SBI! system, so you can concentrate on growing your business.

Free Site-building Resources

Here are some excellent resources to help you build and market your website:

• Make Your Content PREsell
• Make Your Site Sell (It has 7 volumes!)

They are now free to download. Enjoy!

" No matter what your product is, you are ultimately in the education business. Your customers need to be constantly educated about the many advantages of doing business with you, trained to use your products more effectively, and taught how to make never-ending improvement in their lives." Robert G. Allen

Other Benefits

Another strong benefit of marketing with a website, is that you'll "do the work once". Once a page is built on your site, it will work for you many, many times in explaining your products and services to prospective clients, and educating them. So you will have more time to focus on other tasks to generate more business... following up with business leads, prospecting for new customers, etc.

Your business website would be a powerful marketing tool, to enhance your marketing campaigns, both online and offline.

Once it's built, your site also becomes your online representative, open 24/7/365, & continues to work while you're on vacation!

A well-positioned, informative website built with SBI! will:

• educate and inform your customers and online searchers (prospective customers!)
• increase your advertising options
• broaden your marketing reach
• and will help you to...

P.S.: Have questions about SBI! or building your site? Contact Us!

**Disclaimer: Sites built by SBI! Certified Webmasters use the SBI! system. SiteSell does not guarantee or have direct influence over the service that is provided.**