Hike Up Your Bootstraps and Come On…We are Going Local!
13.11.2008
POSTED IN Marketing | NO COMMENTS
We love (I mean, really LOVE) those fun little tips and tidbits that help move our business in the right direction. Plus you know we believe it’s all about sharing so here’s an easy marketing task.
The kicker? It’s free. F-R-E-E!
Yep.
Every online business needs to be found in the search engines but we often forget that one of the easiest most obvious places to promote ourselves and our businesses is locally. Google, Yahoo and MSN have local searches and your odds of being found there are pretty darn good so come on and let’s get to it.
Here’s what you need to do.
Step 1: Check to see if you/your business is already listed.
Follow each of these links. Look for your business name or general category in your zip code. This will also give you an idea of what the local search listings look like.
- Google Local link: http://local.google.com
- Yahoo Local link: http://local.yahoo.com
- MSN Live Local: https://llc.local.live.com/BusinessSearch.aspx
***Note – Your business may already be in there (even if you didn’t actually put a listing in) and if that’s the case, click the “edit” link or the “add it” link in Yahoo to update the listing with the information you are compiling in step 2.
Step 2. Get your info ready
This just makes it easy because you have all the pertinent information at your fingertips when it comes time to fill in the blanks to get your business listed via local search. We recommend using a simple text file to store your information so you can easily copy and paste.
- Your business name
- Address
- Phone number
- Web site address (URL)
- A brief description of your business – always include your keywords (the search phrases you want to be found for in the search engines).
- Gather together your logo and photos (Google allows you to upload 10 photos)
- Think about categories where you’re business fits…For example, do you sell services or tangible items? Do you maybe own a pub, a laundromat or an online retail store that sells eco friendly items?
Step 3: Create Your Listing
Create an account for each search engine. If you have one, you can just use your current account. No need to make a new one. And, remember, if you get stuck, you can always come back later to edit your listing.
- Google Local https://www.google.com/accounts/ManageAccount
Once you've created an account, go to "Local Business Center" and just follow the instructions to add a new listing. Yeah, we know, we know….easy!
- Yahoo Local http://listings.local.yahoo.com
After you create your account with Yahoo, just enter your details Yahoo keeps it all pretty straight forward and doesn't require confirmation which saves a little time and is a nice perk.
- MSN Live Local - With MSN you first have to check to see if your business is listed. https://llc.local.live.com/BusinessSearch.aspx
If your business isn’t listed you’ll be prompted to enter your information. From here, just follow the instructions…again, easy!
That's it - three steps, three F-R-E-E- and easy steps to move you along.
Now, here’s a little trick for you. 
Use local reviews to get yourself some added exposure. You’ll notice (if you are even only a bit observant) that some of the Local listings contain ratings via stars and customer reviews.
You want reviews.
Wait.
Let’s say that one more time to make sure you will remember….YOU WANT REVIEWS…preferably good ones.
Here’s why.
The reviews make your listing stand out and the search engines love reviews – they are content that is easily indexed and listed so the more reviews the better. Plus it helps in the decision making process that is happening in the potential customer’s head. You’ll go for a business that has rave reviews over one that has no reviews any day of the week and so will your customers. Word of mouth referrals give you a slight advantage over your competitors because word of mouth is the strongest type of business referral you can get especially if it’s from a trusted source.
Now, here’s a little hot tidbit to get you some reviews. 
Contact (oh, let’s say) 10 of your best customers just for starters and ask for a review.
Yes, that’s it. ASK. Most people will be flattered you want their opinion.
But do make it easy.
Give them the link to go do a review. And give them a demo question to answer like…did Our Company help you with X, Y or Z?
Um…in the off chance you are wondering, X, Y or Z would be some kind of benefit to the customer like saving time or bargain pricing or fast customer service or a high quality product.
You are probably getting the picture by now.
But, when you ask, be sure to give something back to the customer. Give them some tangible thing be it a free service or discount or maybe offer to review their business for them and always, always, (did I say always?) remember to say THANKS!
Oh and one last (but very important) thing.
Do not write your own reviews. Fake endorsements have a really bad odor. People can smell them from a mile away.
