| It is vital for a local business to take | | | | Yahoo & MSN) as a local business. For Google |
| basic steps so that they are visible in the | | | | use Maps. This link will give you the full |
| search engines. Acquiring search engine | | | | scoop on how to do it. THESE ARE FREE |
| visibility is crucial because so many people | | | | LISTINGS. |
| will use the Internet as their first resource | | | | |
| to find a local business. | | | | 4. Register with other search engines that |
| | | | specialize in local listings: AOL City Guide, |
| You need to take actions so that the searcher | | | | Yellowpages.com, Superpages.com, |
| (your prospect) finds you. E.g. if the | | | | Citysearch.com, etc. THESE ARE FREE LISTINGS |
| searcher was looking for a chiropractor they | | | | |
| might do a search on the key word | | | | 5. Register with specialized online |
| "chiropractor". Then they realize that is not | | | | directories. E.g. for a Chiropractor register |
| very useful as they got every chiropractor in | | | | with Some of these directories are free and |
| the country. So next they add geography. e.g. | | | | some you pay for. You can start with the free |
| "chiropractor los angeles". They even might | | | | ones and work up to the paid ones. Your local |
| search for "Chiropractor Valley Village" (a | | | | paper might have listings for their online |
| suburb of LA) as people are not likely to | | | | version. Check out your local Chamber of |
| drive more than 5 miles for a service or | | | | Commerce. |
| product. That is local search in a nutshell. | | | | |
| | | | 6. Add content in an RSS (really simple |
| In order to achieve optimum search engine | | | | syndication) feed. This is a very effective |
| visibility, these are the actions to take: | | | | tool for only $89 per month. Just add your |
| | | | newsletter or get articles written about what |
| 1. Optimize your site--make it search engine | | | | you do including key words. To enroll go to |
| friendly. You first must get the search | | | | |
| engines to find you or the people looking | | | | 7. Local Internet advertising is also an |
| will find your competitor. This involves | | | | option. It is called Pay-Per-Click - you only |
| certain programming actions and ensuring that | | | | pay if your prospect clicks on the link to |
| your text has the key words that people are | | | | your website. The best ones are on Google and |
| looking for. | | | | Yahoo. |
| | | | |
| 2. Make sure that EVERY PAGE of your website | | | | 8. Watch your web traffic increase and the |
| has your business name, address and phone | | | | phone ring off the hook! |
| number. If you service more than your local | | | | |
| area, you could also add something like | | | | People doing a local search are quite likely |
| "serving Los Angles, Riverside and Orange | | | | ready to buy. Don't miss out on all this |
| counties". | | | | Internet business--optimize for local search |
| | | | and acquire search engine visibility! |
| 3. Sign up on the top search engines (Google, | | | | |