An intriguing press release from comScore.com, provides some excellent insight into local search use, and its rapid growth...

Here's another newer article, about "The Emergence of Local Search".

Can local searchers find your business website, through the major search engines, using local business searches?

You can check this right now, using the search options provided below.

Here's Google's regular websearch:

Type in the name of your city, and your main business description or occupation above, for websearch results (results will open in a new window)

Then check the difference with local searches - people can search for local businesses, in specific geographic locations:

Google Local, for the U.S. or Google Local, for Canada

As you'll see, there is a difference, for searchers using the local options, compared to the regular websearch.

Is your local business listed in those search results?

If not, your business won't be found by local searchers in your area...
so those prospective customers will just find your competitors' websites instead!

To get more visibility in the search engines, you'll need a good website service -- one that will guide you through the essential site-building processes and search engine submissions.

With your website, you can provide the type of information about your local business that searchers in that comScore Search Study, were looking for -- publish specific details about your business, like:

• business phone numbers and addresses
• store or office location/s
• days and hours of operation
• specific directions to your business premises, and
• perhaps even special arrangements (like parking arrangements) you may have, for your customers.

You can also:

• Diversify your marketing strategies, and advertising channels
• PREsell and sell products and services
• Build trust and credibility with online searchers (prospective customers?), through your website, and online newsletters
• Encourage online searchers to either visit your premises, and/or make contact online

By taking your local business online, you can benefit from online search as well!

If you don't have a website yet (or your existing site doesn't get much traffic), I recommend that you use Site Build It! (SBI!), for your site. It's an integrated web hosting and marketing service.

The essential tools you'll need to market your local business online are already built into the SBI! system, so you can concentrate on growing your business.

Here are some excellent resources to help you build and market your website:

• Make Your Content PREsell
• Make Your Site Sell (It has 7 volumes!)

They are now free to download. Enjoy!

Another strong benefit of marketing with a website, is that you'll "do the work once".

Once a page is built on your site, it will work for you many, many times in explaining your products and services to prospective clients, and educating them.

So you will have more time to focus on other tasks to generate more business -– following up with business leads, prospecting for new customers, etc.

Your SBI! website would be a powerful marketing tool, to enhance your marketing campaigns, both online and offline.

Once it’s built, your site also becomes your online representative, open 24/7/365, & continues to work while you're on vacation!

A well-positioned, informative website built with SBI! will:

• educate and inform your customers and online searchers (prospective customers!)
• increase your advertising options
• broaden your marketing reach
• and will help you to...

Lyn Huet
SBI! Certified Webmaster

P.S.: Have questions about SBI!? Contact Us!.

**Disclaimer: Sites built by SBI! Certified Webmasters use the SBI! system. SiteSell does not guarantee or have direct influence over the service that is provided.**