| Local search is the term used to describe a person | | | | money off is always a great incentive. If a group of |
| typing in their location to find a local business or service | | | | work colleagues decide to go out for the evening and |
| provider; for example "florist in Camden." | | | | they search for local restaurants offering a money off |
| If you are a local business there is a huge increase in | | | | coupon for a first visit could make the difference |
| the number of people using the internet to find their | | | | between them going to your restaurant and the one |
| local service provider or product and your business | | | | round the corner. |
| needs to have a presence on the web to make sure | | | | What are the advantages of adding your local |
| they find you. The biggest search engine in the world is | | | | business? |
| Google and it has a large presence in the UK too so | | | | Right now the local results in a search are all brought |
| you want to work your way towards getting found in | | | | up on the first page of the search engines and |
| Google but also the other major search engines | | | | towards the top of that first page too - you get seen |
| includes Yahoo and Bing (Microsoft). | | | | before the other organic search results as long as |
| Whether it is van hire or finding a local campsite in a | | | | your business is on the map. Who knows whether that |
| particular part of the country the internet has become | | | | changes in the future but for now take advantage of it |
| one of the easiest ways for people to find the local | | | | by ensuring your local business is included whether you |
| information they want and they do not have to be at | | | | have a website or not. |
| home to find you either. Mobile searches - whether | | | | A big advantage is the number of potential customers |
| done on a mobile phone or laptop on the train are also | | | | your business will benefit from using the internet |
| becoming popular ways for people to search for a | | | | because research has shown that when people are |
| local business. | | | | looking to buy something they search online for a local |
| If I am on my way from London to Manchester and | | | | business within 20 miles of their location. |
| want to find a local cab company to take me from the | | | | Plus research carried out by Infoserve showed that |
| station to my destination I can search while I am on the | | | | over 60% of people who find a local service provider |
| train and have the car waiting for me when I arrive. | | | | product go on to buy something from the business |
| So local search is being used by an increasing number | | | | they find. |
| of people and local search marketing research in | | | | If you do have a website then it is an opportunity for |
| America has predicted it is only going to increase - in | | | | you to attract more visitors to your website and once |
| fact the search engines are taking it very seriously and | | | | they arrive hopefully you have some great offers to |
| are doing more to help local businesses get found | | | | ensure they stick around! |
| online. | | | | Your local business has a unique opportunity to take |
| The great news is you do not have to wait until you | | | | advantage of free online advertising that will bring |
| have a website or blog to get yourself on the front | | | | potential customers searching for your local business |
| page of the search engines. The three major search | | | | online. Take the first step and complete your profile in |
| engines all provide an opportunity for you to add your | | | | the three major search engines and get a clear |
| local business listings in their local search centre and | | | | understanding of what it takes to get found. |
| include business details such as: | | | | As a local business owner you may be too busy to do |
| - Your business address | | | | this yourself and you may outsource it to a company |
| - A description of what your business does | | | | who can. Whether you choose to do the work to get |
| - Your opening hours | | | | yourself found on the internet yourself or not it is |
| - Photo and video information | | | | essential you are clear on what is happening online and |
| You want to make sure you get included on Googles | | | | some of the simple things you can do yourself to save |
| local map which will appear automatically once you | | | | you being charged inflated prices by companies who |
| type in your business address, that way the search | | | | want to take advantage of the fact that you do not |
| engines will bring up your business when someone | | | | know what to do. |
| types in your local area. | | | | Getting your local business found online really takes a |
| You are also given an option to add coupons that | | | | few simple things that your competition probably is not |
| people can download and use when they visit your | | | | doing right now so take advantage of it while it is still in |
| business. If providing coupons is an option for your local | | | | the growing stages of development. |
| business it can be worth including them because | | | | |