Want More Customer? Help them find you

I hear it all the time when I talk to my local business owners: "I know I should market my business on the Internet, but I don't quite see the reason why, after all I only sell locally".
If there ever was ever one compelling reason for a local business to market their business online, it would be the fact that your prospective customers are not relying on Yellow Pages or the Newspaper as much as the Internet to find what they need. If you don't believe me, let me ask you: When last have you opened up the Yellow Pages?

Let's Look at Some Facts
A report published by ComScore shows the overall search numbers and statements by both Google and Yahoo! Approximately 20% of all searches have local intent, which means that there are 3.28 billion local searches done each month! Most small business owners seem to think that if they don't have a website, they can't market online. The good news is, in the local search space you don't even need a website. Local (map) listings allow you to compete on an even playing field with large national and regional brands. Fact is, with so many competing websites in the market place no small business website is going to be the top result in Google, unless they spend a lot of money and time to do on-site and off-site search engine optimization. In the local search space though, a local business listing has just as much chance to be at the top of the page as the large brands.

Local Consumers Search Online but Buy Offline
Although the online channel is the primary source of local research, purchases are most often made offline. Following online local searches, consumers most often contact a business over the telephone (39%), visit the business in-person (32%) or contact the business online (12%). This stat alone should tell you that as a small business owner you not only need to be online, you also need to be found online by your prospective clients. Having a website on it's own is not good enough, you need to help your prospects find you online.
Whether people use a desktop, a laptop computer or their smart phone, most local searches for products or services now start online. It's just a fact of life now. A business either adapts or flounders.
I hope this is giving you food for thought for your marketing plan for 2012. Now is a good time to lay the groundwork and get off to a good start. If we can help you market your business online in any way, be sure to let us know.
Till next time,
Seasonal Greetings to All!
Birgit