Let’s say someone within your community is searching for a specific product or service. The best way to ensure your business shows up as a top prospect is to keep your online business listing accurate and up to date.
As search engines multiply and technology expands, this simple solution can become extensive but nevertheless important. With the help of Matt Reinan, Prime’s Digital Marketing Specialist, we will look at the importance of local search and reasons to keep your marketing finger on the pulse of this basic-yet-necessary concept.
WHAT IS LOCAL SEARCH?
Any online inquiry designed to locate an enterprise within a defined community or geographic area for the purpose of conducting business can be considered local search. The idea is to efficiently use the web to generate a connection between consumer and business, from nationally recognized brands and chains to smaller companies with one or two locations.
“The Prime Local Search Network includes a large system of maps, apps, search engines, and social media,” Reinan said before naming a few, such as Bing, Google My Business, Yelp, and DexKnows. “Hundreds of them exist, and the Prime Local Search Network makes sure all those systems have accurate, enhanced, and optimized business listings. Our job is to make it easy for people to do business with you with an updated online business listing.”
That information should be carefully monitored, managed, and updated as needed to make sure that customers who are looking will find you.
BE SEEN WITH LOCAL SEARCH
Susan must eat lunch on the run, so she looks up fast food eateries. Tom needs a last-minute skate adjustment on the way to his child’s hockey tournament and searches for sporting goods shops. If the information for your company’s listing isn’t correct and consistent across the board, you could miss out on their business.
In addition, details on some networks may be updated, but other profiles could have incorrect information or be completely blank. How do you know?
THE SCAN TOOL
“We have a tool that can scan all the networks to check the accuracy of your listings,” Reinan assured. The program currently assesses more than 75 networks, a constantly growing number according to Reinan.
“Our network makes sure the information is correct,” he continued. “So, when somebody tries to go to that location or call that location, the address is right, the phone number is right, the hours are right.”
The scan evaluates business information throughout the network, and that data helps owners see potential pitfalls. “We can hand that scan to a business owner and say, ‘Your profiles are 30 percent accurate. We can get that to 100 percent,’” Reinan added.
Profiles can be as simple or involved as you’d like. The business name, location, phone number, and hours are vital statistics. Adding a link to your website is also a good idea. Your listing, though, can include a catchphrase, photos of your building or team, staff bios, social media links, videos, menus, and images of products you sell or details about services you provide.
You can also track competitors and see how your company ranks in local search compared to others. From there, Reinan said, business owners can adjust what they’re doing from a marketing standpoint.
“For a business,” Reinan said, “I think it’s like breathing. You just need to have this.”
PRIME REVIEW NETWORK
Another important element to ranking in local search is how others rate their experiences with your business. That information adds even more weight to local search.
“Reviews really do impact your organic engagement,” Reinan said. “And our Prime Review Network will help businesses get reviews automatically.”
This type of automated response will help drive traffic to your business and give potential customers fresh insight through the experience of other patrons. You can monitor, share, and track reviews. Quarterly analytic reports allow you to see what’s working or make any necessary adjustments.
WE’LL HANDLE THIS FOR YOU
Local search is an intricate process that is important for success. Keep your online business listing up to date so it’s visible to potential customers. If you want to know how local search can work for you, contact us. We’ll demonstrate how Prime’s Local Search Network can help your business stay relevant, rank higher, and get recognized.
