Ben, Erik, Stephen, Andrew, and Walker discuss the ins and outs of Google Local and how to optimize a website for it. We give step by step instructions for getting listed and moving up in the local listings.

Links to resources and websites mentioned in this episode:

Search Engines Local Sites

• Google local: https://www.google.com/local/add/
• Yahoo local: http://listings.local.yahoo.com/csubmit/index.php
• MSN local: https://llc.local.live.com/ListingCenter.aspx
• Ask City: http://city.ask.com/city




Free online Yellow Pages directories

• Yellowpages: http://www.yellowpages.com/advertising/update_listing_form
• Superpages: http://www.superpages.com/about/new_chg_listing.html
• YellowBook:. http://corporate.yellowbook.com/faq/free-internet-advertising/
• Local.com: http://advertise.local.com/
• InfoUSA.com: http://list.infousa.com/dbupdate.htm
• Acxiom: http://www.acxiom.com (Must be in the local phonebook. Call the local phone company to verify.)




Local Review Directories

• Citysearch: http://austin.citysearch.com/corrections (Submit for a correction. Otherwise you have to pay for the listing.)
• Yelp: http://www.yelp.com/business/ (Get a review from a customer and then you can come in a "claim" your business.)
• Best of the Web Local: http://local.botw.org/helpcenter/jumpstartproduct.aspx
• kudzu: https://register.kudzu.com/packageSelect.do
• Mojopages: http://www.mojopages.com/user-registration
• Judy's Book: http://www.judysbook.com/
• Outside In: http://outside.in (Guest author a post.)
• Any other websites where you can be reviewed...

If you are a small business owner and your business has a web presence, you need to evaluate how you want your website to work for you. Do you want more business? Do you want to save money on advertising?

Recently Google Maps introduced the ability to perform searches by neighborhood. "It works like this: Say you want to find free wifi hotspots. Type in "free wifi" and the zip code, and the free hotspots appear at various locations on your map, with phone numbers for each location appearing on the left side of the page. Click on the link for a location and it gives you the name, address and phone number that goes with it, with links offering you directions to and from it." --Google Maps Tour

Now Local Search is even more local!