Why a local search is better than a global search

When marketing your business, it’s important to rank well in conventional search, but it’s even more important and perhaps profitable to rank at the top of local search. A typical consumer who is ready to buy a product or service sooner rather than later will search for your business by concentrating on their local area. If your business appears in their search, you’ve made an appearance to your target audience and made the consumer even more likely to come to your business.

The cost of internet marketing
Local marketing is no more difficult than conventional marketing and you don’t need to break your business budget either. Traditional advertising is expensive and does not provide organic results either. By optimizing your local business listing, it is very possible to get exposure on the first page. The tremendous advantage a small business has over national brand competitors is having a local address. This helps the business appear in organic search results limited to a certain geographic area. Mega search engines like Google and Bing have their searches tied to map features. Yahoo offers a systematic and exhaustive list of local businesses that is not based on maps, but directly linked to their search engine. There are several new local options like Yelp, Judy’s Book, MojoPages, and Merchant Circle. These provide free and enhanced services, providing consumers with important information such as reviews and feedback on the products and services of their local merchants.

Smartphone Advantage
In today’s world, almost everyone has an iPhone, Droid or Blackberry user who has the world at their fingertips. If your business details appear in apps that link to map features, organic results will provide the consumer with exactly what they need, including driving directions.

Most search engines have some basic requirements which, if met, will give your website maximum exposure. Add the company name, address, phone number, website URL, categories, and a list of products and services. Having positive feedback about your website through testimonials and reviews encourages consumers to make a decision towards your business. It is also important to refrain from stuffing all kinds of keywords. This tactic works against your website’s ranking. Blogging is also an efficient way to boost local ranking. Create opportunities in your area using social media where like-minded people are easier to find in their local communities.

Begin with the end in mind
Being consistent with how your business is described, your address, and the specific business-related information listed is the most vital factor in your local SEO success.

Focus on hitting local search criteria and your ability to reach “real” leads will blow up your marketing efforts!