subject: Local Search Marketing - Are you missing out? [print this page] According to the most recent marketing tests and surveys there are increasing numbers of anxious buyers that are using search engines to research and find local merchant web sites before starting out on their shopping sprees. Stop for a moment and ask yourself - can your customers and potential customer's find your business on-line? Or are they instead finding your competitors on-line? If you've been asking yourself if having a visible and effective on-line presence and marketing strategy is important, then let me answer this for you now in one word. YES! If you have an effective presence on-line it is important way to get in front of your customers. Statistics on local searching trends have shown that more and more people are looking for local information by the use of search engines. Studies have shown that search engines such as Yahoo, MSN and Google were the major source of information and data for local customers. The TMP Directional Marketing study in July, 2008, revealed that significant numbers of local seekers had taken some type of action. Action such as, calling, in store visits and they often send email to the businesses that they feel will be able to help them. The largest indicator of this growing momentum towards local searches is Google's disclosure of up to ten local searches within their natural listings. Regional and local directory sites have become extremely more viewable. This is because of the simple fact that the large major search engines such as, Yahoo, MSN, and Google are giving a much greater ranking in their search engine results. This is in no way a short term craze trend. Each day that passes larger numbers of your customers and potential clients are searching on-line. Do not make the mistake of overlooking these trends or your customers needs.
