Since local search is only about a year or two old across the web, chances are your business may not be listed.  Don't miss out on this important marketing opportunity.  Most search engines will take your information for free. 

The major players at this time include Google, Yahoo, MSN, and AOL.  To make sure you are listed, keep reading.

Location, location, location

Your customers are just a click away.  That's why search engines such as Google, Yahoo, MSN, and AOL have really stepped up lately, when it comes to delivering more personalized search results.  The traditional Internet search involved returning links to pages which contained all the keywords you typed on to the page, regardless of where the actual website or business behind it was located.  "Local search" works when a person adds a geographic term (like a city, town, or zip code) to their search terms, the results only show the pool of websites located within that area. 

The Kelsey Group, an Internet research firm, reports that the growth rates for traditional small business marketing tools (the Yellow Pages and print classified ads) are expected to remain stagnant or to decline over the next five years. Local search and positioning, on the other hand, is expected to grow since businesses are beginning to understand the potential impact local search marketing could have on their bottom line and are shifting their marketing budgets to the Internet.

How it works

For example, entering the search terms "marketing consultant" and "Powell, OH" in Google's local search brings up the top 10 results located closest to the center of the city, rather than the many thousands listed across the web. The results are also shown clustered on a map, to help you easily spot the closest ones.
Research shows that over 50 percent of Yellow Page directory users scan for location first, before deciding which ads to read or consider. Local Search on the web simplifies that preference further.

Today's free marketing tip

Businesses can use Local Search to promote their businesses and tap into the people looking on the web for local information.  Make sure your business is listed with all the major search engine players (listed at end of article). 

The Players

Since local search is only about a year or two old across the web, chances are your business may not be listed.  Don't miss out on this important marketing opportunity.  Most search engines will take your information for free.  A handful rely on your local yellow page listing or public filings with your county or state government (make sure that info is current).  The major players at this time include:

Google:
See: http://local.google.com/
Add your business listing: https://www.google.com/local/add/login?hl=en-US&gl=US

Yahoo:
See: http://local.yahoo.com/
Add: http://listings.local.yahoo.com/

MSN:
See: http://search.msn.com/local/
Add: http://webapp.localeze.com/bizreg/add.asp

Ask Jeeves:
See: http://www.ask.com/?tool=loc

AOL:
See: http://localsearch.aol.com

Local.com:
See: http://www.local.com/

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