What type of person do you want to visit your website?

A 2007 survey by comScore found that 60% of consumers use the web as their first-line tool to search for local business, and 60% of those searchers go on to make a purchase from a local business.

Traditionally advertisers would look for demographics such as age and male or female, do they own a car etc however times have changed, yes notice I say have changed rather than are changing. Now the person you want to visit your site is the person who has searched for the product that you offer. Traditionally many businesses have and still are paying for expensive listings in the yellow pages and other local directory’s such as the Thompson local directory but as I mentioned earlier, the times have changed. Ths is not to say that you should not be listed in such directories your competitors are there and so must you!

Many consumers now have access to smart phones (phones that are internet enabled) and home computers allowing them instead access to Google and other search engines rather than picking up the yellow pages.

Local Searches

So what can be better than a target audience that is already searching for you? Well if we can narrow that down to someone who is looking for your product in a particular area then we have an even stronger chance of converting this enquirer into a paying customer. A 2007 survey by comScore found that 60% of consumers use the web as their first-line tool to search for local business, and 60% of those searchers go on to make a purchase from a local business. In short you need to get your business on to these local listings if your competitor is listed then you have potentially (and most probably) lost business.

LocalMaps

Google Local Search Screen with map

Google Local Search Screen with map

You may have noticed when you search on Google or Bing especially if you add a location to your search (such as plumbers south wales) then in addition to standard listings you wll also see a map with local businesses listed. You may already have noticed your business has a listed on Google or Binge maps this is because  many sources of  data are used for the Google Maps listings so you could be on there, even if you don’t have a website yet. It is importnat that you claim this listing so if you haven’t claimed your Google or Bing listing you’re likely to be down near the bottom of the local search results.

Claim your company!

The first thing to do is create accounts for Google and Bing (Monico Web Design can help you through this) which will then allow you to add a company logo and other mages to catch the eye of the user. You will also want to add addtional nformaton that will make your local business listing stand out from the others. If you already have some testimonials from your customers, ask them if they could write them on your Google and Bing Maps listing this will give the searcher more confidence that your company can deliver the product or service they have searched for above your competitiors.

Local Directories

According to an industry press release online yellow pages usage is growing year on year. Many local companies will be listed in local paper directores such the yellow pages or the Thompson local directory and it is imperative that your company is included in the onlne versons of these directories.