Are You a Local Business Owner?
ByReading this post could be the most important 5 minutes a local business owner has spent in a very long time. I’m not the “dramatic type”, but I feel strongly that is a true statement.
For years, decades in fact, Yellow Page advertising has played a key role in a local business’ success. But all good things come to an end as they say.
We are seeing that end happening right now. Yellow Page usage goes down each year as more and more people rely on Google. I for one have not touched the Yellow Pages for quite some time. Why would I? Google offers more instant and much better results than thumbing through a “book”.
If your local business sells pizzas in Boise, do a search for “pizza in boise”.
If your local business sells plumbing services in Denver, search for “plumbers in Denver”
If your local business sells….well, you get the point.
Do a search for your product or service in your city. That’s called a “local search”.
How does your business rank?
Are you right there on the first page by the Google map AND down the page below in the regular listings?
If so, CONGRATULATIONS…for now anyway.
Because if you ARE listed well now, and you don’t know how it happened and you are not doing anything in order to STAY there…your competition will eventually replace your first page listings!
If you are not on the first page now, those competitors you see there now are STEALING business away from you as your read this.
Your site at lcelectrical.com.au is attractive, but there is very little real content. Without plenty of page of written content well optimized for your chosen keywords, it won’t get much, if any, search engine traffic (unless you get some great quality backlinks)
Hi Steve,
Yes, that’s what I have heard from people when we hit the streets of Melbourne and did a random interview/survey regarding where people go if they are looking for information. Let me share a snippet of the results if you don’t mind:
The Survey Results
Q1. How often do you use the print version of the Yellow Pages?
7.69% use it regularly
23.08% once a month
15.38% once a year
53.85% never use it
Q2. How do you search for products and services you’re looking for?
92.86% use Google.com
7.14% use Yellow Pages
Respondent Quote: “I reckon the yellow pages is obsolete, why would you spend money on the yellow pages when they’ll just as easily find you on Google.”
Q3. How often do you use Google?
100% use Google.com everyday
Respondent Quote: “If I need information I go straight to Google.”
That’s another reason for online business owners to really think about SEO and yes, local search marketing today.
Cheers,
Dave
Thanks for sharing the info David….I saw a video a while back about that. I think it was shot in Australia….I wonder if it was yours?
But yes, local business owners who “rely” on the yellow pages had better get a Plan B!!
Hey Steve,
It is probably ours. 🙂 Here’s the video url if you don’t mind (and if you just want to confirm)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4cCZ0DHcBQ
As for having a plan B, I should say that is a must for local businesses, since most of their would be customers are really much into doing online search nowadays. 🙂
Have a great day!
Dave