LOCAL BUSINESS - LOCAL SEARCHES

Specifying a unique geographic location in your search to find local resources for the things you want and need in your neighborhood is what “Local search” is all about.  For example, if I want to find a new Sushi restaurant in my neighborhood I would simply go to my favorite search engine and enter “Sushi restaurant, Grayslake, IL” into the search field.

Here are the results using Google.  On the left side, Google displays a map with your search results marking locations in or very near Grayslake, Illinois - your geotag.  To the right of the map are the business listings for the map pins with links to the businesses website (if available) and their local Google listing.  Links to customer reviews are there too – a great perk.

Costs in advertising in the traditional paper media continue to become more expensive, while return and effectiveness on your investment declines.  The ease of looking for what you need electronically has become the norm for most people.

So, you want to bring more business in, let the public know you’re here!  Here’s how to make the most of your advertising dollar.

Invest in local search advertising:  A low-cost medium that makes sure you are found online by the only consumers that matter – the local ones in your neighborhood.  When a potential customer clicks on the small map to access the Google Maps listing page, they find a ton of detail about your business – location, hours, reviews, pictures, video, pricing.   And, since they are already in Google Maps they can get precise driving, walking or public transportation directions to your location.

Google is the dominant local search resource, but Yahoo! and Bing also provide similar local search capabilities with some differences that depend on their sources of basic business listing data.

 Local search matters because consumers are using the internet to find local products and services exclusively.  This means  that Google, Yahoo!, Bing and other local-focused search engines are the way Internet-connected-consumers find goods and services close to home.