If you do, or if you hire someone that does, you may reconsider after reading this post.
I’ve struggled with this for years. Deep down I tell myself that if I don’t build a site or web app from the ground up, then I’m probably going to regret it in the future.
However, as the internet develops and standard models emerge, there are some “tools” that are becoming the basis of almost every site I work on these days.
1-800-Goog-411 has recently graduated from Google Labs to become a full-fledged Google product. It’s a free service that allows anyone to call in and find local business information.
However, what becomes more important than the service itself, is how to make sure your business is listed.
If you have been wondering how other businesses appear on Google Maps or in the search results when you are searching for a specific location, then the Google Local Business Center is your answer.
Local listing is the next frontier for the search engines. They have the game down pat for web-wide searching, but when it comes to finding something in your area, they do not perform as well.
However, Google is trying to stay the leader of the pack by introducing new technologies and products that relate to local searching.
What this means is you have additional ways to be found, outside of natural and paid search advertising.
I can’t honestly remember the last time I used a phone book, before I looked something up online first. …And I can guess that I’m not the only one.
Here’s an example: Yesterday I needed to buy a mattress (true story), and I did a search for “mattress store san diego.” There were three local search results that came up with a Google Map at the top of the search listings. Guess which one I picked? That’s right. The one that was closest to me with enough information and pictures on their site to make me feel comfortable knowing that I would be happy shopping there.
Because that mattress store was listed on Google Local Listings, they made an additional $530 that would not have come in otherwise.
The point is that times are changing, and local search is coming to the web. Either you get there first or your competitors do. It’s free and easy to set up, so no matter which way you look at it, it’s a good idea.
A new trend is developing in the world of Social Media: Customer Clustering — A method of grouping your customers who have similar interests and adding the basics of social networking.
CNET put out an article explaining that even though server virtualization is becoming more popular and allows more power to be squeezed out of fewer machines, the demand social networking sites put on the servers is greater.
