| What's New about How People Search | | | | Search |
| Nielsen//NetRatings reports that online search rose 39 | | | | One of the up-and-coming internet marketing |
| percent between January 2005 and January 2006. | | | | techniques is "local search." Think of local search as an |
| The pace of online search use continues in the | | | | online replacement for the Yellow Pages. People type |
| double-digits. | | | | in a search phrase to find local service providers, local |
| In addition (and amazingly, to me), people are using | | | | retailers, and local restaurants. |
| search engines to find sites that they already know | | | | For example, a typical user might go to Google and |
| about and sites that have familiar URLs, such as using | | | | type in "painting contractor San Diego," and local |
| search engines to find "Google" or "eBay." Instead of | | | | contractors will show up at the top of the page. In |
| simply typing in the URL in the address bar (eBay.com) | | | | addition to listing the contractors, local search also tells |
| they're going to Google and typing "eBay" in the | | | | the user how many miles away they are, and provides |
| search box. More and more, people are using search | | | | a map to show the user where the contractor's |
| engines as the start page for all their online needs. | | | | location is. The best part is, if the contractor has a |
| According to WebProNews, three out of five | | | | website, local search will display that URL as well. |
| shoppers say that the internet is their primary source | | | | Bingo! |
| of information when evaluating products and services. | | | | Here are some tips for using local search as one of |
| The greater the household income, the more likely it is | | | | your marketing techniques: |
| that a person will use the internet to compare products | | | | * Make sure that all the branch locations of your |
| and services. | | | | company are listed. |
| Nielsen/NetRatings also reports that Google typically | | | | * Make sure your website is in the search engine's |
| getting 50 percent of all the searches performed; | | | | organic listings; most search engines won't include you |
| therefore, it is wise to start with Google when planning | | | | in their local search database unless you are in their |
| any of your search engine marketing techniques. For | | | | main database. |
| comparison purposes, Yahoo hovers around 23 | | | | * Be patient; getting listed in local search can |
| percent of all searches performed, and MSN slides in | | | | sometimes can 7-8 weeks. |
| third at 8 percent. Notes and News about Local | | | | |