Local Ad Advice » Tutorials http://www.localadadvice.com Learn how the secrets to locally advertising online. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:07:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 How to Make Your Local Business Stand Out On Google’s Local Search http://www.localadadvice.com/articles/tutorials/how-to-make-your-local-business-stand-out-on-googles-local-search/ http://www.localadadvice.com/articles/tutorials/how-to-make-your-local-business-stand-out-on-googles-local-search/#comments Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:38:39 +0000 skhot http://www.localadadvice.com/wordpress/?p=30 Getting your site to rank highly on Google’s Local Search is only half of the battle. You also need to convince users to click on your business rather than your competitors.

Below you will find some helpful suggestions to make your listing stand out.

Chances are if you go to maps.google.com and type in your business name and home town your business will show up.

The listing will look very similar to what you see to your left.

What do you notice about the listings?

Which one would you be more likely to click on?

My top 5 suggestions for making your business stand out on Google’s Local Search

1. Make sure that you upload a photo. This makes the listing more eye catching. Ideally place your business name and website URL in the photo. This can be difficult given the size constraints, but can be done. For example

2. Ask your customers to write reviews. This will not only make your business appear more credible it will also help you to get closer to the top of the results. Google does not ever divulge their formula for how the results are displayed, but the number of positive reviews seems to have a strong impact.

3. Make sure that you add a coupon. Make your coupon sell. Borrow material from other advertisements that you have used in the past.

4. Take your time writing your business description and make sure that all of the information is correct.

5. Upload a video if you have one.  It does not have to be made by you.  It could just be informational video you found on YouTube.

]]> http://www.localadadvice.com/articles/tutorials/how-to-make-your-local-business-stand-out-on-googles-local-search/feed/ 0 Local Search Engine Quick Start Submission Guide http://www.localadadvice.com/articles/tutorials/local-search-engine-quick-start-submission-guide/ http://www.localadadvice.com/articles/tutorials/local-search-engine-quick-start-submission-guide/#comments Tue, 03 Mar 2009 08:27:12 +0000 skhot http://www.localadadvice.com/wordpress/?p=24 If You Do Nothing Else Submit to These 5 Sites

  1. Google Local
  2. Yahoo Local
  3. Local.com
  4. Yellowpages.com
  5. Superpages.com

For more detailed information about submitting visit the Free Local Online Advertising section.

Before you start you may want to make a spreadsheet of the following information.

  1. Business name
  2. Address
  3. Phone
  4. Website URL
  5. Business Description: This is usually only around 200 characters. Take some time with this part. Try to put yourself in your customer’s shoes and enter his/her inner conversation. Is your description good enough to make a customer click through or pick up the phone?
  6. Image: Many of the local search sites let you upload an image.  This is one are where you can really stand out.  I recommend using a logo that is attractive as well as one that has your website URL in it.
  7. Business Categories you fit under.
  8. Coupon ideas: Many sites including Google allow you to upload a coupon.  Preferably use an Ad that you already know works.  If you do not have anything already written write the best ad copy you can. Offer a special or discount of some kind.

See “How to Make Your Local Business Stand Out on Google’s Local Search” for more ideas“

Preparing this information ahead of time will help avoid having to reinvent the wheel as many of these sites ask for the same information.  It will also enable you to spell check and proofread.  Take your time writing these.

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