Getting your Business Listed for Local Search is Just the First Step

The Public has Embraced Local Search and Want to do More Although Local Search only caught on in the last year, such queries already account for over 36% of all search engine queries. When a person adds a geographic term (like city, town, or zip code) to their search query, the results only show them the small pool of businesses located within that area - and not necessarily all of them. Entering the search terms: "garden supply" + Denver only returns gardening stores in Denver - rather than the many thousands listed in the Google database. They're even shown clustered on a map, to help the searcher easily spot the closest ones. That's significant since people prefer to shop on the basis of convenience. Research shows that over 50% of Yellow Page directory users scan for location first, before deciding which ads to read or consider. Local Search simplifies that preference further. Too Many Small and Mid-sized Businesses are Missing the Boat Their widespread mistake comes from assuming that the Internet is not crucial for their brick and mortar operations. The main reason for people going online is not to buy online. They find it more convenient (that word again) and faster than the traditional methods like Yellow Pages or newspaper ads. A study by ComScore Networks in December, 2004 showed that most people who research products online purchase them from stores in their own community. That study found that 25% of those searching for electronics or computers made purchases. But 92% of those purchases occurred offline. Nearly 40% of searches resulted in sales as much as five to 12 weeks after the initial search. Getting Listed in Key Data Bases Give You a Shot at Being Found You need to make it easy for buyers to find you and choose you when they search online. There's not a single place to "sign up" because there are numerous search engines, Internet Yellow Pages (IYP), and industry-related data bases. Check our whether your business appears on various prominent sites,