According to to TMP Directional Marketing and comScore, almost 40% of people who did an online local business search ended up visiting the store in person.
Even more people, 46%, contacted the business on the phone. This is up from 2008 when only 39% of people contacted the business on the phone.
Contacting a business online went down one percent, from 12% in 2008 to 11% in 2009.
Also, general search engines were more likely to be used than local search sites or online yellow pages. The biggest searches on local search engines were for child care and hotels and for the yellow pages it was home services.
“The growing demand for local business information across interactive search platforms, especially online and mobile, is creating additional opportunities for national advertisers to reach consumers with more relevance,” said Gregg Stewart, president of TMPDM’s full-service interactive division 15miles. “In order to reach target audiences, marketers must think locally and focus their messages on local marketplaces where consumers shop.”
Without a presence on the internet, it is impossible to reach these internet users who are turning away from print advertisements. Without the basics of a website with your company’s information and its services and products, you will be losing valuable business and clients.
Want more information on increasing your market reach with a website? The experts at OneIMS will guide you through a variety of available options within your budget. For more information, contact OneIMS today at 1-888-ONE-IMS1, or send an e-mail to info@oneims.com.
