Effectiveness of Local Search 2008 vs 2009
A new chart out today by Marketing Sherpa shows that 39% of businesses find local search highly effective, while another 34% find it somewhat effective, so 73% of businesses are pretty much reporting that Local Search is working for them. (Click images for larger view.)
For those that are not really aware of what Local Search is here is a quick look:
- Local Search is any search made with the goal of finding something within a geographic location. This is known as searching with local intent.
- Local Search is searching for something (what) in some place (where).
- Local Expert, Greg Sterling, defines Local Search as seeking information online with the intention of making a transaction off line.
- Essentially, anything that you would traditionally look for in the print Yellow Pages becomes a Local Search which it is conducted offline.
Local Search in Google shows up in the map when you search for something in an area.
Other search engines have a similar results and need to be submitted individually. If you are on Google Local Search you will still need to make sure you are on Bing and Yahoo.
The client in the example above, Swim Otters, had claimed her listing on Google Local but was still not showing up in the results for Swim Lessons Denver, CO. We worked on her listing to help her come up for various swimming searches in her area and removed duplicate entries for data integrity. Simply claiming your listing does not mean you will show in the results. Working with a search professional can make a difference.
Learn about Local Search in an upcoming class I am presenting at Colorado Free University on April 10th, 2009 from 9am – noon. Cost is $57 for non-members of CFU and $45 for members with a $10 materials fee.
here’s a 2010 update:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4cCZ0DHcBQ