Real estate is very local. Over 70% of users search for real estate by city and most use search engines when performing their search. But, there is a growing number of users who are using local sites for searching businesses in their area. The popularity of mobile phone apps is one of the reasons that local sites are gaining ground.
Google Local
- You can put your business on Google Maps for free!
- List your business name, address, phone number and a description.
- Provides a link to your website.
- Display your photo (up to 10). You can even upload a videos.
- Place your business in more than one category.
- Reporting system: I think the real power of Google local is their reporting system. G oogle supplies reports so that you can see where your "hits" are coming from and what search terms were used.
- Validation required: Google will contact you by phone or snail mail (your choice) to validate the request. By the way, they call immediately, so keep the line clear. If you miss it, just click Validate by Phone and Google will call again.
- Your business will appear within one day.
Yahoo Local
- You can put your name on Yahoo Maps for free!
- List your business name, address, phone number and a description.
- Provides a link to your website.
- List your business in up to five categories - must match categories listed in Yahoo Local.
- User Reviews: Users may click on your business and submit a text review of your business, as well as a 1 - 5 star rating.
- You can upgrade your free business listing to a paid listing - Compare plans.
- Validate the request with the code provided by Yahoo upon submission.
- Yahoo will review the request before adding to Yahoo Local.
Yelp!
- More than a local search site, it also performs as a social network. You must participate in the Yelp community by posting reviews.
- List your business name, address, phone number and a description.
- Provides a link to your website.
- Place your business in more than one category.
- User Reviews: Users may click on your business and submit a text review of your business, as well as a 1 - 5 star rating.
- Reviews can become a conversation. Users are able to comment on other users' reviews.
- Negative reviews can be rebutted. The best rebuttal is to get more positive reviews and remember to keep your chin up.
- The Yelp community has doubled in the past year. Yelppers love yelppers, just as Twitters love Tweeters.
Other Local Search Sites
- CitySearch - many sites (Expedia, Ask.com) pull their data from here, so you definitely want to be listed in City Search.
- InfoUSA - Pulls business listings from various sources. You may be listed but, if not, just fill out the form - InfoUSA online form.
- Insider Pages -Insider Pages rate card.
- Local.com claims over 10,000 visitors a month. Features free and premium listings.
My Thoughts:
- Be sure to take advantage of multiple categories. I searched real estate in my city and got one group of matches. Then I searched homes for sale and got a different set of hits.
- Forms were easy to fill out and submission only took a few minutes.
- No keywords to manage.
- Edits are easy and available 24/7.
- Testimonials are good, but reviews are considered more trustworthy by users.
- Reviews cannot be spammed; there are safeguards.
- Reviews can be positive or negative. The good side of that is, it will keep you on your toes.
- Most sites are free, but some do charge a monthly fee.
- SEO advantage - links point to your site.
Become a Local Yokel and get your name out there for all the world to see. You will be all over the map and all over the web in your locale.
Pamela Cendejas - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!
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