Local Search options

Recent research has showed that over 37% of internet searches made through traditional search engines contain an area within the keywords, for example "solicitors in Birmingham".

Such local searches tend to be mainly by consumers looking for products or services. However they can also be highly relevant to the B2B market where the proximity of a supplier may be thought an extra point in their favour.  Let me use my own example of selling web marketing services.  Sometimes I have had clients the other side of the world; but there is no doubt that others have chosen me because we can meet personally and discuss.  I know that makes for an easier working relationship.

As a result the major search engines have been trying to improve their services to attack a market that has previously been dominated by Yellow Pages and Thomson Local hard copy directories. 

Google.co.uk has made an agreement with Yell.com.  A listing with Yell therefore means you can be found in the Google local search. This facility now normally appears above the natural results listing when a place name is specified in the search box.  Google seems also to have just started a new free service for account holders to include them in the local directory free of charge.

Yahoo now has an agreement with Thomsonlocal.co.uk to provide a similar service.

Listings in hard copy Yellow Page directories sometimes have the disadvantage of leading to a surfeit of time-wasting sales calls rather than new customers.  I think this is less likely to be a problem for online listings because the method of search means you have to choose a category or product; you cannot just turn the page.

The main options are shown below:

I suggest you sign up in order of importance from left to right to as many as you can afford. But so not go beyond the first level advert - despite your likely sales calls - until you know that they are producing sufficient leads.

Regards

Stephen Orr