Local Online Advertising Warning
At the moment, you'll find a handful of local online advertising companies trying hard to acquire new small business customers
. While a select few are legitimate and getting results for their clients, others just trying to extract as much money as they can from businesses providing very little in return.
This second group thrives off of the ignorance of the average local business owner. This article is going to help empower others to be able to make an educated decision about who to let market and promote them online.
As a Local Business, Should you be Doing your Marketing Yourself?
No. The internet marketing learning curve is much too large and time-consuming. You could literally spend years learning all there is to know about marketing your business online. There's just a lot of technical stuff that you have to know if you want to be successful.
It's important to understand just enough of what's going on so you can track the local search marketing then delegate the tasks to a company that can help grow your business fast
Should you be Listed in an Online Directory?
No. Look, it doesn't hurt you to be listed in the SuperPages, Yellow Pages, or any other online directory, however NEVER pay to be listed in directories like this.
Here's why.
The average consumer that searches the internet will not take the time to Google a professional (Atlanta cosmetic dentist... for example), then click on a directory link, then search through the directory through a vast sea of business owners.
I have what I call the 1:1 rule. That means that the average potential new client / customer won't go beyond one second and one click to find the information they're looking for. You know this and more than likely are the same way.
Need further proof?
Google just launched Google Instant a few weeks ago because people are so instant gratification oriented! The average person doesn't even want to wait one second for their search results to populate. Think about it. There's no way in hell they're going to go to a directory and then search and the statistics prove it.
People want their search information from Google yesterday!
Do not waste your money with local online advertising companies that talk about placing you in an internet directory(s) and "enhancing" your listing for a premium. This is a total scam and they are just trying to make money from local business owners due to their lack of knowledge. Don't fall for it!
Consumers hardly look at directories because they go straight to Google to search.
Ideally, you should have an overwhelming presence on the organic Google search (left side of the search engine). This is where the consumers are looking and sophisticated heat map studies prove this. You want to dominate the first page of Google for the keywords you're trying to rank for. Own as much internet real estate there as possible.
How do you Dominate the First Page of Google?
You do this by understanding that Google indexes many types of content on the first page like websites, blogs, videos, images, articles, local business listings, and press releases. Each one of those pieces of content is a way that you can sneak on the first page if you do it right.
Ideally, you want to find a company that handles all of these aspects like content creation, content distribution / online syndication, social media marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), back-link building, etc.. It's important to take a very comprehensive local search marketing approach if you want to build massive social proof and become the "go-to" expert in your city.
Here's the Harsh Reality
Consumers search the first page of Google. If you're not at the top and within one second and one click of their reach, you won't be getting new customers from the internet anytime soon. This is what the local online advertising companies NEVER tell you and why most of them are lacking and cannot deliver what they promise.
Hopefully this article opened your eyes to consumer search habits on the internet and why you want to be very careful when selecting and paying for a local online advertising company. Ask questions and make sure they also provide a money-back guarantee and detailed progress reports monthly so you know exactly what's being done on your behalf.
by: alfredcraig
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