Local Search

We’ve already established that people turn to the Internet more often than they turn to phone books for local information. It’s often more convenient, generally more accurate, and almost always more complete. Did you realize that there are many local search features on search engines like Google and Bing that can help drive customers to your site – instead of your competition’s?

When someone googles (or “bings”) your city’s name along with a product or service, your business can appear on the map at the top of the search engine results page (SERP). But you’re often competing with others for those precious few listings next to the map, which may be easiest path to great search engine rankings. Local search listings (provided free on both Google and Bing) make it possible to provide search users with loads of good information about your business - even if you don’t have a website!

Just last month, Google demonstrated their new “Near me now” feature, which is currently available on Apple’s iPhone and phones that incorporate Google’s Android browser. “Near me now” is like local search on steroids. Standing outside a restaurant? Just load google.com in your browser and click “near me now”. If you’ve enabled the GPS location feature on your phone, you’ll see info and reviews on all of the businesses near you. If your phone tracks GPS precisely, you’ll see an “Explore right here” option that will tell you more about the specific business that you are standing outside.

Every day, we help companies that do business on local, national, and international levels to take advantage of search engine marketing opportunities. We’d love to sit down with you and have a discussion as well.