Local Search For Your Business

What is local search?

Local search is the ability of potential customers to find your business in the location where it is. Let's say you have a hardware business in Austin Texas. Customers who need the services of a hardware business might start to search online for hardware store. (75% of Americans are online and 60% of buyers search online before any purchase online or off line.) The will find thousands of pages on hardware stores around the world. So they will then do a local search such as hardware store Austin TX. Now will your store or your competition be found?

Why is local search important to my business?

As the print directories and ads, TV and Radio ads decrease in effectiveness, local Internet search becomes increasingly important to all business. You want and need to be found by local customers doing a local search. Remember they will find your competition if they don't find you.

OK. Now what should I do?

Your business needs to be found on local search. So you need to start using local search keywords on your site. Think of local search keywords just being the usual keywords you use plus the location. The location can be before or after the usual keyword. Think of how you would search for your business if you didn't know it's name. Those search terms are the keywords you need to use.

Next you need to add your business to the basic search engine's local business. Yahoo, Google and Bing each have a local business centers. And you can add you business ad for free.

In addition you will want to add your business to Google Maps. But before you add your business check to see if it is already listed. Don't be surprised if it is listed. In that case you need to claim the listing as yours (it's your business).

When you are adding your listing be sure it is complete and up to date. It will take some time to ad and get it approved. But updates are easier. And it is worth your time and effort.

There are many other sites to add your business for local search but the above ones are an excellent start. The sooner your business is listed the sooner you will be found on local search. So get listed today!

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