Why You NEED to be Online

With Michigans economy being what it is, if you want your business to remain alive today, you need to be taking advantage of what online marketing can offer you. Studies have found it to be more effective than traditional paper advertising, the costs are less, and you can actually “see” and “track” the results of these online marketing efforts.

Just take a look at these facts:

Did you know that almost 40% of all searches on the web are made by local people looking for local products and services.

According to the recent Nielsen consumer survey:

* 86.3% of people indicated the Internet is now vital to their lifestyle
* 74% of people determine who to do business with locally using online computerized search engines such as Google and Yahoo
* 50% use some type of Internet yellow pages (online directories) to find new and existing products and services
* 65% still use printed yellow pages

The Internet is now the most popular way your existing and potential new customers use to find you. The survey also found:

* 67% prefer online yellow pages to traditional printed books
* 84% say using the Internet is a much faster way to find local businesses
* 63% say the business listings on the Internet are more current
* 86% had already used the Internet to find a local business
* 78% use the Internet more today than they did last year (Internet usage is still growing at a rapid pace)
* 52% use the printed yellow pages LESS than they did two years ago
* Of those who indicated Internet use is vital, 90% had used the Internet to search for local businesses
* 80% of Internet users research their purchases online and 70% then buy within 20 minutes from home (could be from YOUR business!)

Did you know that your existing clients and neighbors are using online directories instead of the yellow pages telephone book to look up phone numbers and find new businesses? Is YOUR business listed in these? (if not, click here: online directory business listings). These directories include, but are not limited to: Yahoo Local, Google Maps, MSN Maps, YellowPages, SuperPages and many more.

Your local city portals in Michigan are a great place for you to advertise YOUR local business. What better way for residents in YOUR own area to see what they can get from YOUR local business! Shoppers want the convenience of the near businesses – no driving miles and miles away to get what they want.

Be sure your customers can find you quickly and easily!

Local Search For Information Is Growing More Rapidly Than Regular Online Searches

Research from comScore indicates that growth in local search is outpacing overall online search. In 2008, the practice of using online search tools to find local businesses, products or services grew by 58%, reaching a total of 15.7 billion searches for the year.

While total online searches for the year reached 137 billion, the growth rate there was only 21% on a year-over-year basis. Local searches make up 12% of core searches on the top 5 online portals, comScore reports.

“Even if the searcher doesn’t know the company or brand they will ultimately give their business to, the decision to actually make a purchase has often already been made,” says Neg Norton, President of the Yellow Pages Association. “That is a strong argument for local merchants to develop and maintain an online profile, if they haven’t already done so.”

And speaking of Yellow Pages, the study found that 75% of the top 100 keywords searched on Internet Yellow Pages sites were non-branded, indicating that a majority of consumers haven’t decided on a specific company or product brand when they begin their search. This is good news for local businesses looking to compete with larger brands.

Another interesting statistic is that nearly half (45%) of Internet Yellow Pages and local online directory searchers made an online purchase in the fourth quarter of 2008. If you are one of the businesses that have yet to be convinced of having an online presence, perhaps that will sway you in the right direction.

Not only do you need to have an online presence (a website), but you need that presence to be found in the search engines in the top results (like on the first page).

If your site is missing from the top search results, then you may not be maximizing your ability to generate new business and add revenue to your bottom line. Take a look at these stats:

* 1.3 billion Internet users
* Over 85% start at a search engine
* Less than 25% will go beyond the top 10 (first page) search engine results
* The Top 10 results (the first page) get 80% more traffic than those ranked in the 11-30 spots

If you are starting to realize that you really NEED to be online, your assumptions are correct! Find out how we can help you achieve those realizations, effectively & inexpensively.

Browse around this website right NOW! We offer many solutions to getting your Michigan business started online, or if you are already online, making your current website or online presence more useful, beneficial & profitable to you!

Advertising doesn’t cost – it pays.

Remain alive in Michigan. Remain competitive in Michigan. Get your business online in Michigan today!