The public is embracing the convenience of searching on the Internet to find information about local businesses.
More and more people are using search engines to find local businesses. In fact, recent surveys indicate that more people are searching for local products and services on the web than in the “yellow” page books.The explosion of local search online has led to the creation of numerous local directories and the big 3 search engines (Google, Yahoo, and Bing) are working feverishly to make sure searchers find as many local choices as possible.
It has become very apparent that the World Wide Web is becoming the Local Web. According to Google local VP John Hanke… “One out of five searches on Google are related to location, and we want to make sure that businesses are able to be found and put their best foot forward”.
Here is some more on internet search trends:
• 82% of all searches are looking online for a local business.
• 43% of all searches on the Google network included a geographical identifier (city and state).
• 83% of those people followed-up: 46% making contacts over the phone and 37% visiting the businesses in person
• 63% of those searching expect their search results to reveal businesses within 15 miles of their homes or places of work
Mobile Local Search is exploding!
The explosion of smart phones is the best thing to ever happen to small 
business owners. People are now using these phones to do what is known as mobile searches. They are searching from anywhere and can get info about you while in their car.
When you combine GPS with mobile search you have a powerful way to find local businesses and products. A user can ask a simple question like, “Where’s the nearest Pizza place?” or “Where’s the closest Drug Store?”. These new mobile devices are completely changing the way people search and shop and it is only the beginning!
Social Media is also mobile. Of Twitter’s active users, 37 percent use their phone to tweet. There are more than 150 million active users currently accessing Facebook through their mobile devices.
Promote your web site to maximize the odds of being found not only through print and word of mouth, but through Internet Marketing.
Successful internet marketing requires more than just having a website. Search Engine Marketing (SEM) places your business in front of searchers that are willing to pay for the goods and services you offer. Without SEM, businesses generally only show up in search results when someone searches for their business name. That’s great for people who already know who you are and what you sell but that’s not enough for most businesses.
Local Search Engine Marketing is being able to have your business come up in the search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing when people search for your service or product in your local area. Being in the local search listings and local directories are so important if you want to reach these customers. If you want to gain an advantage on your competition, then you need to be found on the web and if your competition is already on the web, then you need to be also just to keep up.
If you want to have a presence online and in your community, then you must have internet marketing strategies working for you – and JerseyGirlWebs wants to help!
smart phone photo credit: Johan Larsson
