Internet World Stats> Internet Coaching> Local Search
Coaching
Local Search Marketing
by Enrique De
Argaez
Local Search is gaining
importance for very obvious reasons. It is also getting more
sofisticated with special features. This article is intended as a
coaching guide to provide you with information on the different
types of local search resources available in the Internet and how
to use them, either for shopping or for marketing (aka selling).
To be successful using Local Search you need to know how it
works, both from the buyers point of view as well as from the
sellers or marketers point of view. We cover both themes
here.
The idea behind Local Search Marketing is to satisfy the needs
of the people that go online and use the search engines (SE) to
find products and services, guiding them to the nearest place to
their location where they can purchase it. From the marketing
point of view, it consists in precisely targeting customers who
search online but purchase locally.
The following Local Search systems will be covered in this
article: Yahoo Local Search, Google Local Search, AOL Local
Search, Ask Jeeves Local Search, and Yell (UK) Local Search.
Yahoo Local
Search
Yahoo, one of the main SE in
Internet, has set up Local Sponsored Search listings enable you
to drive customers from the Web to your door. Whether your
business has a Web site or not. You can precisely target
prospects searching online for products and services available in
your neighborhood, and connect with customers who are already
interested in what you sell.
Local Sponsored Search features a Locator page, which provides
prospects with information about your business, including
address, phone number, store hours and a map of your location. In
addition, if your business has a Web site, your main Web page
will be displayed along with the Locator page.
To get started, you write a description that accurately
describes the products and services you offer and bid on keywords
that apply to your business. You also determine the size of the
area (ranging from 0.5- to 100-mile radius around your location)
from which you want to draw customers.
For further details, go to Yahoo Local
Search.
Google Local Search
Google has stepped up its local
search game by providing local business listings and driving
directions to cell phone users.
Browser equipped mobile devices
will be able to use the Google Local search service. The user
will enter a search term and then choose a location. For example,
"Manhattan" and "Salon" will deliver spa results for the
city.
The Google SMS service can also
provide driving directions and maps for SMS-enabled devices.
Users will also be able to receive weather conditions and movie
times through text messages.
The move comes as a Google
effort to provide its information beyond the traditional PC and
in a manner which is most relevant and useful to the
user.
Google Local is available in
the United States and Canada and most wireless carriers in the
U.S. support Google SMS. For driving directions check Google Local
Beta. There is also
a Ride Finder
at Google Labs.
See more information at
Google Local Search.
AOL Local
Search
AOL Local Search allows you to
find businesses, restaurants, bars, events and movies near where
you live, work and travel. The AOL Local Search can be used for
planning an evening out, looking up the phone number of the
hardware store down the street or finding a plumber to fix that
leaky faucet.
Local Search includes ratings and reviews from AOL CityGuide
editors as well as other users. Not only can you find a
restaurant easily, you can find one that meets your exact
requirements, with helpful information such as hours of
operation, dress code and parking options. For many restaurants,
bars and performing arts venues you even get a picture.
For many restaurants, you can make reservation without picking
up the phone - just click the "Make a Reservation" link. You can
also use AOL Local Search to buy tickets to movies, concerts,
baseball games and more. You can even use Local Search to find
out what's on sale at Target this week. Links appear
automatically when these options are available.
Ask Jeeves Local
Search
These are the local search
engines in North America. They are the most advanced and better
known local rearch resources. We will add more content to this
article soon, according to future developments.
About the Author:
Enrique de Argaez is the webmaster of several
international Internet websites and author of four newsletters.
He is active in Internet World Marketing, and Internet Market
Research. Visit his main English website at http://www.internetworldstats.com
.
