Local Search and Your Business

By next year, local paid searches are estimated to reach $1.8 billion dollars. By 2010, geo-targeted advertising in local markets is expected to reach 50 percent of total online advertising, according to MediaPost's SearchInsider. This allows local restaurants, car dealerships and other businesses to spend advertising dollars more wisely and receive a larger return.

Many firms already have search engines in place, such as LocalLaunch, Angie’s List and Yokel. These sites allow the business as well as the consumer to target searches in the most practical way. Local residents are being given the opportunity to see more geographically- practical businesses to meet their needs, which in the end will benefit consumers as well as businesses.

Microsoft is getting in on the explosion, too, creating a local search function that will allow users to partake in an overhead view of local surrounding areas.

Have you used local search to boost your business?