Why is Local Search so Important?

Quite simply:-

The potential to attract new customers via Local Search is enormous.
And, you don't even need a website to do it!

Google, Yahoo, Bing and the other search engines have revolutionized how we learn, how we communicate, how we find the things we want to buy and in general have helped billions of people around the world harness the power of the internet.

Billions of searches every Day

Today there are well over 10 billion unique searches done each month, and that’s just in the US! Of those searches:-

• 40% of queries have local intent (and growing)
• 5% use the town/city and/or county name
• 2% use informal local terms
• 0.5% even use postcodes

Figures for the UK will not be too far behind.

More searches with local intent

On Yahoo alone, 100 million unique visitors per month search with "local intent". Google keeps most things close to their chest and don't share much but we can estimate that there are HALF A BILLION unique Local searches per month on Google, based on Yahoo’s ~15% market share.

Both Google and Yahoo have made dramatic shifts in how they return results, over the past few years and in recent months, and all the trends point to it going local based on Google Places.

Mobile Search is Local Search

And, respected industry experts around the world think the world of mobile search is ready to take off and during 2010 it has seen a continuing upward trend.

In some places around the world, like Japan, many of these technologies are already in place.

They’re growing in use even in the UK with the use of more sophisticated devices like the iPhone, iPad and internet enabled mobile phones.

Mobile searches are primarily going to pull their results from Local Search Engines.

What you need to do!

Quite simply:-

You need to ensure your business is ready, registered, optimised and able to be found in Google Places.

When a search is done, including a local reference or term, Google will display both organic and Google Places results.

Local results are now bigger than before and appear near the top of the page pushing other results further down and onto page 2 (not where you want to be)!

WebMedia can help you...

Ensure your business is listed in Google Places when someone is searching for the goods or services you have to offer!

WebMedia will help you

• Claim your listing
  If you don’t claim your own listing someone else might. They can and do!
• Craft your business description
  A good keyword rich description is good for Google and potential customer looking for you. Knowing what keywords are used is critical.
• Take and upload the best images
  Good images of your shop, business premises & products encourage searchers to visit and provide credibility.
• Setup Google Webmaster Tools (if you have a website)
  It’s important that Google knows what you want indexed and what not.
• Identify and register you with the most appropriate local directories
  Local links from other businesses and directories contribute to your Google Places ranking position.
• Encourage your customers to leave reviews
  Reviews are the final and ongoing activity to undertake. Reviews tell Google you are a real and active business in your local area.
  And, they tell potential customers what others think about your services. The more you have, the higher your rank is likely to be.

What will it cost?

Quite Simply, compared with other forms of local advertising, Not a lot and not as much as you might expect!

The internet is the most cost-effective form of advertising regardless of the size of your business.

You don’t have to find your customers, they are actively looking for you!

Now, with Google Places you have the opportunity of even more potential local new customers finding you.

And, that can only mean more business and higher profits.

Comparison costs * of local advertising:-

For a single, one-off payment equivalent to less than £0.50 per day WebMedia will help to setup and optimise your Google Places account. Once setup it will continue you to send you new, repeat & local profitable business for as long as you want, with no extra costs!

Contact WebMedia NOW on 01506 517037 and get Local with Google Places!

* from both published and researched data