Local listings are becoming a major factor the search engine world. In the past few months, I have noticed a dramatic shift in the types of websites that are now being displayed on the coveted first page of Google when a local service is typed into the search box. In the 15 years that I have been providing Internet marketing services, I have never seen blended results such as this that often contain more directory and review type sites than actual business websites. In previous years, the top 10 organic search results that comprised Google’s first page were almost exclusively the actual businesses’ websites. This reinforces the need to be locally optimized for these third-party sites.
Try It For Yourself
Go ahead and search for some local services in your area and see what comes up on the first page. It is very common to see sites like Merchant Circle, Yelp, Facebook, YouTube, Yellow Book, Meetup, Yellow Pages, Super Pages, and many others. That means your business must not only be listed in all of these types of directories, but properly optimized as well so your business will appear as it should.
What Is Local Buzz?
Local buzz can be defined as the optimization of local business listings and maps in the search engines, as well as local and niche directory sites. Some examples of these sites would be Google Plus Local, Facebook Places, Yahoo Local, Bing Local, Foursquare, as well as many of the directories I have listed above.
The Power Of Local Buzz
Without a doubt, the most significant aspect regarding many of these local directories is that they contain reviews from individuals who have done business with the companies that are listed there. Your reputation is now naked to the whole online world. Myles Anderson, Founder & CEO of BrightLocal.com recently reported that “72% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.”
Why Local Buzz Is Great For Your Business
Getting a constant supply of good reviews for your business is critical for your growth and continued credibility online. Cone Communications, a well-respected Boston marketing agency, recently released a survey that says “80% of people have changed a purchase decision due to a bad review they saw.” If that doesn’t reinforce the importance of reviews and online reputation, I don’t know what will.
Your Competitors Are Optimizing Their Local Listings, Are You?
Research has shown that 82% of businesses are developing local content on their webpages, blog posts, and page titles to optimize and improve their local search results. It was also noted that 41% considered local search a critical factor for achieving their overall search marketing objectives.
Want To Stand Apart From Your Competition?
The Internet, and especially the local business listings, have become more competitive than ever. One of the ways you can stand out from your competitors is to do things that they are not doing, or at least do what they’re doing better. MarketingSherpa recently performed a survey that analyzed how small businesses are improving their local listings. It was discovered that only 58% of the businesses prominently display their local business address on their website. It was also noted that 22% thought that mobile search was very important or even critical. So the bottom line is, if you are using local buzz as part of your online marketing strategies, you already have an advantage over your competitors.
Can A Small Business Owner Perform The Local Buzz Task Themselves?
The short answer is absolutely yes. There is nothing mystical or magical about it, however most small business owners either do not have the time, expertise, or desire to keep up with all the growing trends related to Internet Marketing. Many would prefer to focus on products and services that have already made them successful, and leave marketing tasks to the professionals at Your Marketing Crew. We invite you to call us today at 727-210-5046 to schedule a no-cost consultation where we can learn more about you and your business, what you would like to accomplish, and make some recommendations to see if we are good fit. We look forward to the opportunity of working with you to help you grow your business.
