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Everybody by now knows just how important search engine advertising can be for a company. But for a very long time now local small businesses have asked themselves just what does the internet really mean for them? If you own a local auto repair shop, automobile dealer, or clothing store then you depend on local customers for sales. You don't deliver products to consumers half way around the world or even to the next state over. You're a local company and your consumers are nearby too.
But if you haven't observed in the last few years a change has happened in search engine marketing that even your company can easily benefit from. It used to be that folks searching for something on the internet were seeking something that they could not get in your area. Well the times have changed and now nearly 20 % of all internet searches are done by individuals seeking something nearby. In fact they may just be seeking something your company might offer. Gone are the days of dragging out that hefty phonebook to locate a plumber, florist, or a place to rent a tuxedo. Now people utilize their laptops, iPhones, Android phones or Touchpads and do a local search. The question is, can they locate you?
So just what exactly is a local search? A local search begins when somebody types a keyword into a search engine such as Google, Yahoo, or Bing. Now it used to be you could type in something like "Auto Repair Nashville" to get local business listings. However that's not the case anymore. Now search engines utilize your IP Address to determine your location. So if I type in "Auto Repair" and I reside in Nashville the search engine utilizes my IP Address, figures out my location and immediately displays outcomes for the Nashville area for me.
The catch right here is that if the major search engines do not know you exist or the information they have is inaccurate then they're going to display your competitors instead of you. You might not think this is such a big deal, however it can be. According to Google the keyword "auto repair Nashville" is searched approximately 1,600 times per month locally. That's 1600 people that require auto repair work every month that are probably going somewhere besides your business to get their automobile repaired because they can not locate you. That's why local search has actually become so important. It drives a lot more company.
Now you may point out that I do turn up in local searches currently. But numerous small companies that appear in local searches still don't have a web site. So you show up on a local search however your competitors have a website. If I want even more info so that I can easily make an even more informed choice of who to go to then the business with a web site has the advantage. A standard company site is both economical and an advertising essential in today's internet world.
Whether your company is already appearing in local search results or not there are a couple of key points to remember that can quickly improve your local search presence.
·Location, Location, Location. Make sure on your website you have your physical address. The search engines will definitely read every piece of info you have to offer. So ensure to add your company address and phone numbers in the footer of your website or on a contact us page.
Make sure your listings are complete. Local listings are important in validating info for search engines. For instance you might find that you have a similar business name to another person. So search engines make use of sources like SuperPages.com and Citysearch.com to validate information. If you have an old address or telephone number listed then you could confuse the search engine. Clear and accurate information is important for each listing. It's also necessary to be as complete as possible.
Get listed as much as possible. The even more listings you have the better. There are a number of locations online to detail your business. Use them since the more you do the far better off you are. Consider each listing that you create as being one more point in your favor. The major search engines like to see a whole lot of listings about you.
Reviews are essential. Not every review is a really good review however they are all necessary. Google for example draws from numerous sources and displays reviews for searchers to check out. Those positive reviews will certainly help drive more business your way. Bear in mind whether the experience was positive or negative people like to write reviews and other prospective customers will be reading them.
Local search is already enormous. Millions of searches are done each day now for local companies and if you're not in the results then you're missing a huge opportunity. So take the time and do a search. See where you place. And ask yourself is it truly sufficient?
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