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Are You Using Google Maps & Local Search to Reach New Customers?

Posted: January 6th, 2010 | Author: | Filed under: Business | No Comments »
Are You Using Google Maps (and local search) to Reach New Design Customers? (if not, you should be)
Local customers are already searching online (bypassing the now dated Yellow Pages) for the design services you offer. Why not make it easy for them to find you on Google search and on Google Maps?
Online Local Search is now THE preferred way to find local businesses like yours so let’s make sure we have our business listed.
It just takes a few steps to set up in Google and best of all it’s FREE.
Whether you are a solo freelancer or oversee a large firm Google Maps works great and you can manage all your listings from a single account (even if you have multiple locations)
You just need to do a few simple steps to add your business(s) to Google Local Search.
1. Set up a Google account if you do not have one at:
www.google.com/local/add
2. Fill out the necessary sections (under the navigational tabs) including required information, category, hours & payment, add photo(s) if you prefer, add custom info.
3. Update your listing at any time
A new addition to your maps page is that you can add coupons to your page to attract even more customers. Clients can then print them out and reference your coupon code number or print them and bring them directly to your business.
Remember to create an enticing offer with a strong headline and firm deadline to elicit direct response from your potential customers.
Here are a few more interesting facts from Nielsen/NetRatings and WebVisible study:
• 70% of internet users reported using search engines to find a local service
• Nearly 90% are happy with the results they get when the search for a local service
• 68% use the phone number on the local listing to contact
• 54% of those who searched for a local service in the past 90 days had referred a friend to that business
• 59% of people verbally recommend the service to a friend (or family member) and 38% e-mailed a link
Local search is going to continue to become more and more important as more people “research online and buy offline” so make sure you and your company are listed online. It has really helped my business greatly by utilizing this tool.
Note: please check your listing(s) from time to time to make sure they (including coupons) are accurate and up-to-date.

Local customers are already searching online (bypassing the now dated Yellow Pages) for the design services you offer. Why not make it easy for them to find you on Google search and on Google Maps?

Online Local Search is now THE preferred way to find local businesses like yours so let’s make sure we have our business listed. It just takes a few steps to set up in Google and best of all it’s FREE.

Whether you are a solo freelancer or oversee a large firm Google Maps works great and you can manage all your listings from a single account (even if you have multiple locations)

You just need to do a few simple steps to add your business(s) to Google Local Search.

1. Set up a Google account if you do not have one at:

www.google.com/local/add

2. Fill out the necessary sections (under the navigational tabs) including required information, category, hours & payment, add photo(s) if you prefer, add custom info.

3. Update your listing at any time

A new addition to your maps page is that you can add coupons to your page to attract even more customers. Clients can then print them out and reference your coupon code number or print them and bring them directly to your business.

Remember to create an enticing offer with a strong headline and firm deadline to elicit direct response from your potential customers.

Here are a few more interesting facts from Nielsen/NetRatings and WebVisible study:

• 70% of internet users reported using search engines to find a local service

• Nearly 90% are happy with the results they get when the search for a local service

• 68% use the phone number on the local listing to contact

• 54% of those who searched for a local service in the past 90 days had referred
a friend to that business

• 59% of people verbally recommend the service to a friend (or family member)
and 38% e-mailed a link

Local search is going to continue to become more and more important as more people “research online and buy offline” so make sure you and your company are listed online. It has really helped my business greatly by utilizing this tool — www.artspacedesign.biz.

Note: please check your listing(s) from time to time to make sure they (including coupons) are accurate and up-to-date.

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