One of the best things about the inernet is the ability to reach a global audience. For companies who are looking to reach a global market the internet has become the #1 weapon in their marketing arsenal. But what about the small neighborhood business? How does the internet fit into their marketing strategy?
If you're one of these small neighborhood businesses there is good news. Google and other search engines have realized most businesses are looking for customers right in their own backyard and aren't concerned about attracting a global audience. So they've launched several services to help customers find neighborhood businesses right into their products with the advent of services like Google Local.
Here are 5 reasons if you're a neighborhood business you should be leveraging these products to drive more traffic to your business.
1. Your business will stand out.
With millions of websites and billions of pages online it's hard to stand out from the crowd. Without a Google Local your website will be lost in a sea of search results. Google tends to look at large global companies to be more relevant when it comes to search so when a customer does a search for a keyword related to your business it's likely they're going to see results for a large chain rather than your neighborhood business.
When you get a Google Local listing you'll separate yourself from the pack. When searching for a local business those with a local listing show on the top of the search results. This gives you maximum exposure to people in your area who are looking for a local service. Ultimately this drives more traffic to your website and puts more money in your pocket.
2. You'll be easier to find on mobile devices.
More and more people are accessing the internet from their mobile device. With a Google Local Listing you're more likely to show amongst search results when your potential customers are performing searches from their android and iPhone devices. Furthermore your business will show up when their using local search apps like Google Maps or Google Places.
3. You'll be targeting clients directly in your market.
People who are looking for products and services in your geographically area are 10 times more likely to buy from you. There remains something inside all of us who just feel better buying from someone when we can see them face to face. When you're getting found on local search you're reaching your best buyers - people who are right in your neighborhood. These same people are more likely to return to your business time and time again as well. Repeat customers are the key to increasing profits.
4. You'll increase your overall search ranking.
Even though you're targeting the local market it still helps to show up amongst regular search results. If someone types in their city name followed by a keyword that describes your product or service for example it's likely they won't see striclty local results. Having a local listing will help your basic search engine ranking be higher and generate more web traffic to your site.
5. You'll show up when someone searches Google Maps.
If you have a business you'll want to be on the map - literally. A lot of people search for local business while using applications like Google Maps. For example_ It's common for people to type in the name of the city their in on Google Maps. Once the map of the area their in is displayed you can type in a type of business you're looking for and then Google Maps will display those businesses and their locations. This is another great way for people to find out about your local business and it can be had with a Google Local Listing.