Google Maps and Local Business Listings Cause Locksmiths Problems and Put Homeowners at Risk

Google Maps and Local Business Listings Cause Locksmiths Problems and Put Homeowners at Risk

When it comes to protecting your home and business security, you want to hire a lock company you can trust. Maybe it’s a local service or maybe it’s the one with the great reputation, either way, more and more consumers are turning towards the internet to find that business.

The trouble is that the information presented to the consumer during their locksmith search is often wrought with false claims, errors, or erroneous information. In fact, the problem has become so prevalent that the Better Business Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission have each released consumer warnings (you can read those reports on our websites Locksmith Knowledge Center).

Let’s look at an example in Phoenix taken on 04/29/09. The following picture illustrates the Local Business Listings results when searching for “Phoenix Locksmith”. Of particular note, consider the first listing under “A”.

At first glance, this looks like a local company and a good one to boot. They have a local number, with 70 customer reviews.  If you click on the name of the company, you will be taken to their website. If you dial the local number (the 480 extension) you will be taken to their call center. However, if you are really observant, you will have notice that the phone number listed far off to the right is an 888 number, and if you click on their reviews, you will see the following:

The reviews are for a local steak house! Please note that I have not used this company and cannot attest to their service. However, it is clear tht the company has exploited a problem in GoogleMaps that allowed them to hijack the steak house reviews.

How’d they do it?

Google maps combines listings with the same address into a single listing. Fraudulent locksmith and lock companies are grabbing the addresses for popular locations (such as hotels and restaurants). Then in Google they create a local listing using that address. Google combines these listings into one and the locksmith company has instant credibility by having a high number of reviews.

Why Does it Work?

1) Many people don’t click to read the reviews. They either follow the link which takes them directly to the company’s website or they call the number shown in the link (the first big bold number, not the little non-local number) without checking the company out.

2) People trust Google. They get a result for Phoenix Locksmith and they assume the “local listings” are really local companies in Phoenix. However, most of the time the address listed is a bogus address. Many companies go as far as to post a phony “physical” shop in hundreds of locations. This way, no matter what city is searched, their listing comes up first.

You may be asking yourself, what’s the harm? Sadly these companies go on to rip off the consumer by overcharging or charging for services that aren’t necessary. Consumers find themselves paying several hundred dollars for jobs that shouldn’t cost more than seventy or so. Furthermore, not only do these companies take current business from real local, mom and pop shops, but they take all of the repeat business too. Who is going to trust a locksmith company after they’ve been ripped off by one?

How to Protect Yourself

There are simple ways you can protect yourself when hiring companies found on Google Maps.

1) Ask the company if they are physically located at the address they list. If you get any answer other than, “yes,” walk away.

2) Check the reviews! These companies want you to click their weblink or call the number they list in big bold text. They don’t want you to check the details of their listing (the address and the reviews). Are the reviews for the actual company? Have they all been written on the same day?

3) Use companies registered with the Better Business Bureau. If they’re not there and they don’t have a good rating, look elsewhere.

4) Specifically for locksmiths, you can goto www.findalocksmith.com for a list of registered locksmiths in good standing with the Associated Locksmiths of America.

Local Business Website Promotion – How to Skyrocket Your Business with Area Specific Traffic

Local Business Website Promotion – How to Skyrocket Your
Business with Area Specific Traffic

If you are a local business that gets most of your business from
local traffic, it is obviously important to target in on those
visitors search for your product locally. This is a vital part
of your marketing campaign because you get your business from
those who live locally, this is your target market. Now that you
know who your target market is, you need to decide how you are
going to reach them. Fortunately, it is not too difficult and
should not take you too long to build up your local traffic
using the following website promotion techniques.

Tip #1 – Local Web Directory

A great suggestion to immediately boost your area specific
traffic is to get your website listed with as many local web
directories as possible. Of course you want to focus on those
industry specific web directories, however, if you put your
information in others you might get a small amount of traffic
from those as well. Submitting your information to local web
directories is as easy as going online and finding them, then
submitting your website’s information.

Tip #2 – Local Advertisements

Local advertisements, whether through television, radio,
billboards, magnets, or pencils, are great ways to attract local
traffic. This can generally be done on a shoestring budget and
is very effective. It is a lot easier to develop brand
recognition in a small local market than it is worldwide. Try it
out, you’ll be surprised with your success.

Tip #3 – ISP Providers and Advertisements

Many local businesses and individuals have the same ISP provider
if they use cable. Consider buying advertisements on your local
ISP’s homepage that automatically pops up when someone logs onto
their computer. Doing this will allow you to target individuals
who might be interested in your services and are also online and
can visit your website immediately. This is a great way to
market and should certainly be considered.

Tip #4 – Keywords

Also on your web page you should utilize keywords regarding your
services and your area. That way, when individuals are online
and searching for services or products similar to yours in your
particular area, your website will be returned as a result.
Don’t underestimate the importance of marketing to the entire
web though even if your focus is a small area.

Now that you know some tips for marketing to your local area and
building traffic, you’ll be able to make more people aware of
your products and services and generate more business as a
result. Start marketing your business in your area today and
realize the success you can experience through the Internet

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Local-Search Upgrades Affect Traditional Local Businesses

Local-Search Upgrades Affect Traditional Local Businesses

Have you used Yahoo!’s new local-search function? If you
haven’t, you owe it to yourself to check it out. They’ve
upgraded it with fantastic features geared to make searching for
local businesses and services a breeze. Some of these features
include user recommendations and reviews of businesses,
real-time updates on local event information, and the ability to
search for businesses, events, and more within specific
neighborhoods rather than forcing the user to wade through the
search results for an entire city. In addition, the search
engine company has also upgraded its mapping capabilities.

Users also have the option to receive updated search information
via RSS – Rich Site Summary, otherwise known as Really Simple
Syndication – feeds. This particular feature has, arguably,
impacted the scope of the heavy-hitting search engines in
Internet users’ lives the most. The race between Yahoo!, Google,
MSN, and AOL for market share is never-ending, and each has
added its own brand of improvements. The major search engines’
new local-search features are all fantastic for the end user,
but what do they mean for local businesses?

In the history of local search, there has been a lot invested in
the form of user-friendly improvements by search-engine
companies, but these improvements haven’t yielded a noticeable
return-on-investment (ROI) for the companies. You might recall
search trailblazers Citysearch and MSN Sidewalk – these two
engines were an early example of the race to improve search
functionality – then again, you might not remember them at all.
It wasn’t until Google’s explosion onto the search scene in
recent years that the general public really became aware of the
power of search on the web. Now “Googling” is a verb.

Much of the public awareness of Internet search comes from
Google’s innovations in technology, but until recently, local
search wasn’t really a consideration for most Internet users or
the businesses featured in search results. However, the
improvements that the major search engines are adding are
changing that, and if you’re an owner of a traditional local
business, you should be paying attention.

More functionality for users means more accountability for
business owners. Now that patrons can voice their opinions about
the establishments that they frequent, potential customers have
an all-access pass to virtually unlimited information about a
business before they ever step foot inside the door. The days of
businesses relying on a fancy façade and some good ol’ TV ads
are quickly fading. Now businesses have to be accountable for
just about every step they take, no matter how large or small
they are. If a patron of a restaurant or theatre or dentist or
landscaper has a bad experience, they have the ability to tell a
lot of people all about it quickly and easily.

The prospect of being scrutinized at every turn might seem like
a frightening one at best, but there is a definite upside. Just
as negative views can spread like wildfire, so can positive
perspectives. If you’re putting a concerted effort into your
customer service and integrity is integral to the way that you
conduct business, you’re bound to get good feedback. And, now
more than ever, good feedback with go further than it ever has
before.

Perhaps more importantly, though, it’s up to traditional local
businesses to make sure that they have online presences. I live
in a mid-sized community, and I was surprised to find as many
reviews about local eateries, mechanics, and events as I did.
It’s not just businesses located in large cities that need to
take heed. The proliferation of the Internet – and local search
capabilities – is affecting communities far and wide. Since more
and more people are utilizing the web to find the goods and
services that they want, it only stands to reason that you
should ensure your business is in front of them. These folks are
your potential customers, after all.

There are a lot of ways that you can improve your online
presence, but the first step of putting yourself in a position
to grow your traditional local business is being aware that the
Internet will affect your business one way or another,
negatively or positively. It’s up to you to take control of
which way you want things to go. Take some time to surf the web.
Use the new features that the search engines are rolling out.
Pay attention to what customers are saying about traditional
local businesses. Accessing that information now will be
invaluable to your success later.

© 2005 Low-Hanging Fruit

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Achieve Local Business Marketing Through the Internet

Achieve Local Business Marketing Through the Internet

When looking for revenue from an entire region, one should not lose sight of online business marketing. Internet marketing is important for building up a local business. Many customers are nearby but if companies are not targeting them or reaching out to them, such potential clients may not even know that the companies are there. Local businesses can look far, but at the same time they should not lose sight of what can be near. Business online marketing is a wonderful method to obtain valuable business, meet new customers, and build the opportunity for long term relationships.

Merchants who own stores and provide local services should try a website that offers various local business registration tools. The website should be set up in such a way that local consumers can quickly acquire valuable information. Interactive maps detailing local businesses can help local customers easily find the business. Perhaps such businesses are close by but customers are unaware that they even exist. Many potential clients use the internet to find local businesses, instead of printed business directories and phone books. If your business is not listed on any website, many potential clients nearby will not be reached. Websites are not only used to promote international businesses and attract potential clients worldwide, but should be targeted to those that are near and are more likely to become valuable long term clients.

A website is a key and invaluable part of the business world today. Think about it. Your website should indicate all important information including contact name, e-mail, physical addresses, telephone contacts, and provide methods to upload small business coupons. The website must be recognized by search engines and should also be customized to meet the requirements of local residents who are being targeted. Furthermore, with local Internet marketing strategy in mind, merchants should find services that focus on local search engine optimization (SEO). The more that a company can get its name out into the open, the better potential there is for business opportunities. Some customers may search directly for your company by name. Others search for the name of the location in combination with the product of service needed. In both cases you will want to have a website online so that they can get in touch with you.

The website should finally target traffic for local businesses and should be SEO friendly using the best

local advertising tips available. Professional experts are usually available in the market to place the link in appropriate spots such as local town websites, chambers of commerce, local radio, and television stations. These steps can increase local leads and profits. Once potential customers see your link, they will visit your web site. Once they realize that you are a local business right in their own community, they will be more apt to use your services. A business has a better chance of grabbing customers who are local than from clients who are far away. Use this opportunity to build your business and meet new local customers. Your revenues can grow now!

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Take Your Local Business to the Next Level

Take Your Local Business to the Next Level

A recent study by a leading marketing consultant reveals that most shoppers use the Internet to surf local business offers and opportunities. Local business marketing has grown significantly during the past few years. Many companies offer services such as local promotion, local advertising, local business directory, local ads, business profiling and merchant advertising at easily affordable rates.

People prefer to browse local businesses over the Internet to surf local businesses for their information and use. Many small business owners and professional practitioners have capitalized on this growing Internet trend and have maximized profits by leaps and bounds.

Most people are not aware of the fact that some large retailers also sell their goods and services online and some of them will even have a pick up service from a nearby location. Shopping online has its advantages as if you go to the store it can be possible that the product you want is sold out, whereas shopping online this is hardly ever the case as it will come directly from the warehouse.

Online marketing agencies offer the best services for local merchant success. They offer effective local advertising tips to help succeed locally – local business owners across the globe have started utilizing many of these search engine marketing technologies.

Online websites have local business potential. To withstand stiff competition, many local business owners have started issuing small business coupons. Companies offer coupons by zip code and printable coupons using automated coupon generators. Such modern marketing trends have helped local communities in getting information instantly. Try it.

The use of coupons can lend a hand to small businesses and companies in creating public awareness of their products and services and take advantage of the online environment.

Online coupons are simple, online retailers can offer them as a reward for their customers’ loyalty and they are also effective in drawing in new customers.

Online coupons give a discount to the purchaser that acts as an incentive to get them to try a product or a website vendor they might never generally buy from. Discounts from 5% – 50% can be given and the consumer will be happy to try the new product at this lower price.

Discounts can be had from retailers through the use of an online coupon sent by email after the customer has registered ion the local website offering a price reduction if a certain amount is spent at the store. Common now are coupons that can be printed off the computer and used at the high street retailers.

Local websites will issue coupons for businesses in local areas. If you are buying a certain product or buying from a particular store, you can often find coupons and special code offers from that product or store’s website.

Local Business Search 2.0

Local Business Search 2.0

The web-world of small business has a handful of very valuable solutions for businesses and consumers alike. The internet has provided many opportunities for local businesses of all types to enhance their business through use of the internet. Businesses of all types us the internet to find customers and make them happy. This article is designed to research some of the ways that small businesses may use existing applications on the internet to enhance their business.

Old fashioned local business directories, or Yellow Pages, were the first websites designed to utilize the internet to improve local business. The internet provided a platform for these local business directories to improve their local search with a keyword search feature, faster search times, and easier directions than traditional paper directories. Since the web has grown, a handful of new websites have emerged that improve the way that people and small businesses interact online.

This article will briefly explore some sites that provide a new-valuable way for local businesses and their customers to interact. Various yellow page websites are the most popular way to find local businesses online; however, this article is designed to explore other websites that people are using to find and support local business.

1. Craigslist – The general public has fallen in love with this free classifieds website. Craigslist provides a great medium for buying, selling, finding jobs, and even finding dates in a local geographic communities. Craigslist receives millions of visits every day and provides its service free of charge, other than posts for employer job openings. A section on Cragslist is dedicated to ‘Services’ and many small and home based businesses use this to promote their business. Users are allowed to post information promoting their business once every 48 hours, although many businesses find ways to repost within this timeframe. The postings will stay online for up to 7 days, but they get the most attention when they are at the top of the list or right after they are posted. The main benefit of Craigslist is how quickly people can reach a number of interested consumers in their area. Some shortcomings of Craigslist are that business listings expire, and to reach customers businesses must re-list several times a day to generate more sales leads. Also, there is no quality assurance with Craigslist. There is no easy way to check the legitimacy or quality of the businesses that are listed on Craigslist.

2. MoreWorld – MoreWorld takes great web 2.0 technology and delivers it to small businesses, home based businesses, and their customers in an attractive and easy to use package. Businesses enjoy free registration and highly customizable company accounts. This includes a free business website, a complete menu of products and services and free inclusion in MoreWorld’s local search. Businesses may even use MoreWorld to manage a list of their customers and employees and send out group emails. MoreWorld also provides a comprehensive local search for companies, products and services. Users can also browse companies by category. Search results provide pricing details and customer feedback information. The most exciting part is that when a user views more details on a company, they get far more information than is available in traditional yellow pages. They get a detailed description of the company by the company, including a detailed description of the company’s products, services and prices. The greatest drawback to MoreWorld is that they only have information on company’s who have registered with the site.

3. Yelp – Yelp has found success by integrating social networking with a site designed for rating local businesses. Yelp provides a fun, easy and addictive platform for users to create and submit reviews on many types of local businesses. Further, all of the services available on Yelp are free, other than the sponsored search results for businesses. Users interested in finding a product or service may search or browse listings by distance and star rating as well as several other search areas. The website also provides a forum for users to discuss local businesses, events and other things in their area. All of the information on this site is managed and updated by Yelp users. All reviews and information change requests require the approval of a moderator to avoid biased reviews and misinformation. Yelp provides a great way to find detailed reviews on local businesses. The main drawbacks on yelp are the reliability of reviews and the lack of any business side interface. Also check out insiderpages.com for another great site based on user reviews.

4. servicemagic.com – ServiceMagic delivers an interesting new approach to the local business front. ServiceMagic provides an attractive and easy to use platform that helps connect consumers to the contractor for their job. Service magic has a simple project description form for people to complete. Once the form is submitted, ServiceMagic matches them with a handful of qualified contractors, and the communications begin. Users may read ratings on different service providers as well as a detailed description provided by the company on themselves. Users seem very happy with the amount of time ServiceMagic saves them in finding the right business for their job. While ServiceMagic is great for finding a contractor it is limited to the types of businesses it can help you find. Another problem is that businesses must pay to be on service magic, so the best business for a job may not be available to the user because that company is not interested in paying. The final drawback is that there is no search feature for users, causing people to be limited to viewing only the companies that ServiceMagic allows.

5. angieslist.com – Angie’s List is another site that aggregates consumer reviews of local businesses, much like Yelp. Angie’s List separates itself from other similar sites in that they charge for membership. This includes charging both to see and write reviews. Angie’s List prides itself on their level of user participation and the credibility of their information. A major benefit to Angie’s list is that companies can’t pay to be on the list, they must be reviewed by a member in order to be listed. Major drawbacks to Angie’s list are that it is not free and that there is no interface for businesses.

There are many great tools available to small businesses and their customers. Weather you are a business owner trying to attract new customers or a consumer trying to find the a businesses, there are sites out there that can help. With the variety available sites there are options available to meet the varying needs and preferences of different businesses and individuals.

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