4 Reasons To Start Local Search Engine Marketing Today

admin — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:31:20 +0000

Local Search is on the Rise

A recent survey by the Kelsey Group reported that 70% of Americans consult the web before making local buying decisions. Whether you own a restaurant or are a florist, users are using the web before they decide which business they are going to visit. Your web presence needs to dominate the search engines in order for you to expand your customer base and ensure that people can easily find your business. Local SEO and paid search will give you the exposure your business needs.

People Are Adopting Local Mobile Search

A report by Nielsen found that 46.1 million mobile data users in the U.S. used mobile search functions in the third quarter of 2007. Of those users 27.1 million searched for local listings. As handset technology continues to improve and become more affordable so will the number of searchers. The iPhone was a major improvement in mobile search technology and a number of competing devices are soon expected to hit the market with Google’s Android operating system. A 2008 study Harris Interactive study found that 57 percent of respondents planned on using their mobile phones for more than just phone calls in the next three years. What are they planning on using them for besides checking the score of the Sox vs Yankees game? To find local businesses! With more than four out of five U.S. adults (85 percent) owning a mobile phone there is a huge amount of opportunity. What better way to find the best Sushi bar when out on the town in NYC than to Google it on your iPhone. You are instantly given a variety of restaurants, reviews, a map, pictures and other relevant business information.

Search is Easier For Customers

In an age when 24 hours is never enough, people want to find information easily and quickly. Don’t make your customers sift through pages of search results to find your business. Besides inconveniencing your customers, they may also stumble upon your competitors in the process. People also understand that it is quicker to use a search engine to find a business than the phone book. Unlike a phone book local SEO and paid search allows you to always have up to date information about your business.

Reach The Right Customers For Less

As a business owner you are always looking for the best return on an investment. Local search engine marketing offers the lowest cost per lead of any form of advertising. According to a study by Piper, Jaffray & Company, the average cost per lead generated by local search is $0.29. How much was that last ad you took out in the local paper? Local Internet marketing also allows you to put your website in front of people that are actually looking for your particular product or service because a search page is relevant to a users search. Why would you want your Italian restaurant advertisement next to a used car dealership? There is no more playing the numbers when you are utilizing the precision targeting of local search engine marketing.

Schedule a Free Consultation to learn more about my Vermont SEO and paid search services by calling 860-335-5286.

What is Local SEO & Paid Search Engine Marketing?

admin — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:57:25 +0000

Why flip through the phone book when you can find a local business with a few keystrokes in your web browser? In recent years an ever increasing number of Americans have done just that, turning to Google to find the number of the best Chinese food in town before reaching for the static pages of that hefty Yellow Book buried in your desk drawer. In fact recent research by the Kelsey group has reported that 70% of Americans consult the web before making local buying decisions, while 36% of search engine queries now request local results. This number is expected to rapidly increase with the adaption of mobile search and increased use of media rich hand held devices like Apple’s iPhone.

The search engines have the ability to generate the most qualified leads of any advertising medium out there, which is why so many businesses have recognized the importance of having a web presence. While having a website is a great way to promote you business, its presence is simply not enough. In the same way that you use traditional advertising to promote your brick and mortar store, local search engine marketing is necessary for your online prescense. Traditional forms of local advertising including newspapers, radio and T.V. target a vast audience of consumers, many of whom are not interested in your business. On the other hand search engine marketing puts your business in front of consumers that are actively seeking out the specific service you provide, at a fraction of the cost.

Each day thousands of individuals use local search phrases to locate a particular product or service. And while some of your loyal customers might use your name in a search query, a large percentage of Internet users are looking for a variety of options. For example if you wanted some mouth watering General Tso’s chicken you might Google search “Chinese Food Burlington VT”. Then you are presented a variety of listing in three major areas: the local listing at the very top of the page, the organic results underneath and finally the paid ads on the right and sometimes top of the page. All three of these areas rely on various factors to determine a businesses position. Think about 10 phrases a potential customer might use to find your business and Google it. If your not showing up all over the first page chances are you are loosing valuable leads every day while your competitors are profiting from this constant flow of targeted traffic.

Vermont Local SEO

4 Reasons To Start Local Search Engine Marketing Today

What is Local SEO & Paid Search Engine Marketing?