Is the Internet the saviour of Local Businesses?

Meanwhile almost all new shop space given planning approval was going to major supermarkets like Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s and Morrisons [source: Daily Mail, 2^nd November 2010].

Most dangerous of all was the rise of the internet. Many pundits predicted that websites selling goods directly to consumers would mean nobody would need to leave their house to shop again. A global marketplace of goods would kill the notion of local.

But now the internet is turning out to be a hero of the story, not the villain. On the 20th July 2011 The Daily Mail ran an article with the headline:

How the High Street is being SAVED by the internet as people search online for their best local shops

The article explained how the internet has become instrumental in helping local shops find new customers.

More and more people are using Google, Twitter and Facebook to find local restaurants, bars, hotels, shops and services. By doing so they can instantly read reviews, get word of mouth recommendations from their trusted networks and instantly see maps, menus, photos and other detailed information.

These people are not out roaming the streets, hoping to find businesses and services. They’re using the internet. Just look at these statistics:

• 97% of consumers now look online when researching products or services in their local area, (according to BIA/Kelsey – www.bia.com and www.kelseygroup.com )

• 91% of all Internet users use a search engine to find information (source:
  Pew Internet & American Life Project)
• 51% of consumers search online before making an offline purchase _{(Verdict Research, 05/2009)}
• 82% of local searches result in offline actions _{(Study by Comscore Networks – Click Z 08/02/2007)}

What this means is that the internet is now instrumental in how many people decide whether to visit your business and find out about your services.

These New Villagers aren’t just on their home computers. Many now use their mobiles to search for business, products and services while they’re on the go.

Want to find a decent place to have lunch? Maybe you fancy going to an Italian deli? A quick glance at your smartphone and you could see almost immediately what’s available, along with photos, directions and even customer reviews.

This is why…

• 31% of the adult population in the UK now owns a smartphone – an
  increase from 13% in January 2010 (source: Ipsos MediaCT Technology Tracker, 2011)
• According to the Office of National Statistics in 2011, 45% of British adults have used a mobile to go online this year. That’s up from 31% in the previous year.
• 50% of smartphone owners have bought something on their mobile, an increase of 20% from nine months previously, with 11% of these smartphone shoppers making a purchase on a weekly basis (source: studies by eDigitalResearch and Portaltech, 2011)

  These are impressive statistics. No wonder that Stephen Robertson, director general of the British Retail Consortium, says:

  “The star performer is mobile, with the number of retail searches being carried out on smart phones and tablets more than trebling for this quarter compared with the same period last year.”

  Smartphones means that many people are constantly wired into their email and social media accounts – and using search engines to find offline businesses or research products and services before they buy.

  Because of this…

  Shops and business that are easily found on these networks are now seeing massively increased footfall.

  Some forward thinking local business owners have already realised the potential.

  As Janet Davies, a florist in Holborn, told the Daily Telegraph: “We are using Facebook, Twitter and our blog to engage with our regulars as well as the growing number of shoppers who are not necessarily on our doorstep but are looking to champion their community.”

  But she’s one of the few in the know.

  The truth is, the vast majority of small businesses don’t know the latest local marketing opportunities on the Internet. Or they don’t have the staff, time or resources to research and develop their online presence.

  The need help to be able to :

  Tap into hundreds of local customers actively seeking your products and services online every month Gain instant exposure to local Google and mobile phone searches Enjoy a customised page high up the Google rankings, with special offers, photographs and even customer reviews Enjoy increased sales and footfall without any extra effort, time or staff commitment on your part Become the number one choice in your local area and gain the edge over competitors who don’t use this service

  Exposure to customers who search for information online – the demographic of which is no longer ‘young people’, but a whole range of ages and social backgrounds who use smartphones, tablets, Google and social media websites.

  These people are not just seeking out online businesses, they’re looking for local offline services. 

   

  Let GOOGLE Drive Local, Targeted Customers to Your Business

   

  According to their own figures shopping searches on Google TREBLED in the first quarter of 2011.

   

  Perhaps you’ve tried traditional adveritising and found it didn’t bring in many new enquiries.

   

  Now there is a way you can advertise directly to people who are actively searching for exactly your products and services online. And the best part is -

  It’s provided, for free, by the biggest search engine in the world .... Google!

  Here are those amazing statistics again :-

       97% of consumers search for local businesses online.

       Over 82% of local searches result in offline action – i.e.  visiting a shop, phoning  in an  enquiry.

      Over 50% of all purchases are preceded by an internet search.

  
  You don’t need a website, or any existing internet presence, to ensure your business benefits from this opportunity. Although, if you do have a website, this will make it more attractive to search engines

   

  My name is Nick Reynolds, I’m a local business broker, and member of the Local Business Marketing Guild – www.LocalBusinessMarketingGuild.com
  
  I’m helping local businesses use the latest internet innovations to tap into a growing number of customers who search on the internet for offline products and services.

  On a totally risk-free, trial basis I can show you how to:-

  ·    Access hundreds of local customers actively searching for your products or services online every month.

  ·    Gain instant exposure to local Google and mobile phone searches.

  ·    Enjoy a customised page high up the Google rankings, with unique, easily updateable features such as offers, photographs and customer reviews.

  ·    Requires no extra effort, time or staff commitment on your part.

  ·    Become the number one choice in your local area and gain an edge over competitors who haven’t discovered this service yet.