Google Local

It's starting to look like the Yellow Pages are an advertising media of the past. Local search on the internet is becoming the way people find local businesses and services. But the problem has been that most local businesses do not have web sites, And most of those who do have web sites, have sites that do not show up well in local searches.

The problem search engines faced was how to get the information they need to present comprehensive, useful, local search results. The answer? Google local.

Even if your business does not have a web site, you can set up a listing in the Google Local directory, free. Now people can find you on the internet, even if you don't have a web site.

Go to Google Local For Businesses

Once you provide Google Local with information about your business, they will mail a confirmation letter (that's postal mail, not email) to your business address. This allows them to ensure you have entered information for a real business that exists, and to control spamming.

By the way, Google is spidering the web and adding local businesses on its own. If you have a web site your business may already have been added. If so, you'll be given the opportunity to correct and update the information for your business, instead of creating a listing from scratch.