WHY LOCAL SEARCH?

Did you know that local phone book listings have recently lost significant ground to internet local search? Consumers now use internet search engines, such as Google, Yahoo! and MSN, to find local businesses. According to The Kelsey Group, 43% of search engine users are seeking a local merchant to buy something offline and 54% of search users have substituted internet/search for the phone book.

Yet, many small and medium-sized businesses do not take advantage of internet search marketing. By using local search, you can gain a competitive advantage over other members of your industry.

EXAMPLE OF LOCAL SEARCH

Shark Local Search will feature your ad on this portion of the page among the “sponsored” links:

We can display your ad only when customers or clients in your geographic area are looking for your products or services, which is why our advertising solution is more cost-effective than the phone book.

BENEFITS OF LOCAL SEARCH

• Cost-Effective. Local search is cost-effective because you only pay for ads when consumers in your area that are already searching for your product or service click on your ad and visit your website.

• First Page Listing. You want your website to be listed on the first page of the search engines when a customer or client in your area searches for your product or service. Local search ads are “sponsored links” and appear next to or above the “natural” or organic results on search engine results pages.

• Reach More Local Customers. With local search, you reach potential customers or clients who rely on the internet to find local businesses. By relying on phone book listings alone, you are excluding this attractive customer base.