According to The Kelsey Group * "70% of U.S. households now use the Internet as an information source when shopping locally for products and services... Findings also suggest the Internet is poised to surpass newspapers as a local shopping information resource."

Think about the last time you were searching for information about a product or service, where did you look first? The Yellow Pages or the Internet? Today more consumers are going online to search for information rather than turning to the yellow pages.

In the past there wasn’t really a need for businesses with local client bases to have a web site. Now things are changing. Recently there has been a change in the way search engines return the results for searches. Some of the high-ranking search engines, such as Google and Yahoo, are now gearing towards local search results allowing more precise and accurate listings.

The result is that now, as a local business owner, there is a greater chance than ever to get your business listed at the top of the search engines for searches in your local area and for the keywords that you want. That means that the local customers that are looking for what you offer, will now find you! (That is, if you have a web site!)

In addition to the fact that your site will now be found easier on the search engines, there are plenty of additional reasons to have a web site for your local business.

Even if you own a small business (1-20 employees) and most or all of your customers or clients are based locally, you can still benefit. For example:

Get An Edge Over Your Competition

- Allow your customers/clients to learn more about you at a time that is convenient for them. Your expanded online business is open 24/7.

- Build relationships with them via e-mail newsletters, articles and interactive tools on your site.

Gain and Build Credibility

- List testimonials of satisfied clients or customers to enhance your credibility in the eyes of potential customers.

- Show reviews of your products or services.

- Show pictures of you, your location, staff, etc. – Show them that you are a real person that they can trust.

- Provide essential background information about you and your business.

- By posting articles that you have written, you help prove to your potential customer/client that you are qualified to help them solve their problem.

Save Money on Operational/Marketing Costs

- Expand your hours without the additional operational costs. Your site is open 24 hours a day/7 days a week. Customers/clients can learn about you and your business when it is convent for them.

- Free up time answering repeated information such as hours, directions, rates, FAQ’s, etc. List all that information on your site and you’ll save money on customer service questions.

- Save money on printing costs. Brochures about your business are expensive and are only good until you need to change something, such as hours or product information. Then you have to spend all that money over again to reprint! (Not to mention, re-mailing!) Your web site is a full color, updateable, expandable, limitless brochure. You have the flexibility and the availability to add or update it instantly; change content, colors, add a new picture, etc.

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