There is no argument that the internet puts much needed information right at our fingertips.  We click a few buttons and we find what we need.  While you may think of the internet as a place for online retailers and internet marketing as a method of promoting those businesses, the truth is you can easily promote your local business on the web.  When internet users do a local search for the products or services that they need, you want your business to be at the top of the list.  In fact, local search marketing can be very effective and it can extend beyond the traditional methods of promotion.

When a person does a local search online, they enter a several words that describe what they are looking for, including the city name, state name or zip code.  These words are known as keywords and they tell the search engines what to look for and where to find it.  When the results are returned to the user after a local search, the listings are focused on that particular area that the user indicated.  It sounds simple, and it is.  What's more, the numbers of people who go online to find local businesses is rapidly growing.

People are Looking Online for the Stuff they Need
No doubt about it, more and more people are going online to find the things that they need.  In a recent survey a whopping 86% of the people polled said that they had used the internet to conduct a local search to find businesses in their area.  78% of those people said that they conduct more local business searches now more than they did two years ago.  The survey also revealed a surprising jump in use of local search engines over print yellow pages.  This means that right now people may be looking for your business online. 

It's Good to be Number One
Or on page one anyway.  Google is the most popular search engine and you want to be on page one of their search engine results.  This means that you need to optimize your promotion methods.  A good strategy is to create a webpage and promote it through local pay per click and other forms of local search engine marketing.  You want to promote your website and business in such a way that it ranks on the first page of Google search results.  When a person does a Google search, the first results are the ones that are accessed first.  If the person finds what they want in the first few results (that show up on the first page) then they very rarely move on to page 2.  This means that if your business is on page 2, you just lost a potential customer.

Local Directories can Pull your Traffic into Focus
Once you have a highly optimized site and you are ready to roll, list it with the local directories in your area.  List with the internet Yellow Pages, local search engines and other types of local directories.  This will drive targeted traffic directly to your site.  When someone is looking for your product or service in your area, they will be taken directly to your site.  Now, once they get to your site the rest is up to you though.

If you aren't a Pro, Hire One
Internet marketing is not a spectator sport.  You have to know what you are doing or you could lose a great deal of money.  If you are not a pro at marketing on the internet, strongly consider hiring a professional.  They can help you develop your website, optimize it for the search engines and target your audience.  They can help you get on page 1 of the search engine results and drive traffic to your site.

When you are promoting your business, don't rule out internet marketing.  A local search can direct customers to your site and bring your customers to you.

Teddy Garcia is the founder and President of Cybermedia Marketing, Inc. an Internet Marketing Consulting and Website Development firm from Raleigh, NC. He's been helping small business owners leverage the Internet to capture new customers and increase profitability since 1996.