Local search has got to be one of the best bargains out there! Here are some local search results I noticed this morning. 
Submitting to Google local search is free and ranking is easy.
A recent study by comScore found:
63 percent of U.S. Internet users (or approximately 109 million people) performed a local search online in July, a 43-percent increase versus July of 2005.
Not only is local search increasing fast, the people that perform local searches are highly attractive to web merchants:
During the second quarter of 2006, 47 percent of local searchers visited a local merchant as a result of their search behavior, while 41 percent made contact offline. More than one-third (37 percent) made contact online as a result of conducting a local area search.
During the second quarter of 2006, 47 percent of local searchers visited a local merchant as a result of their search behavior, while 41 percent made contact offline. More than one-third (37 percent) made contact online as a result of conducting a local area search.
Why local search?
Local Search has been growing for a while and the reasons behind it make sense. If I am looking for a local merchant, or service, a website gives me a much richer experience than a yellow pages ad.
In addition, the only option a yellow pages ad gives me is to call, which I may not be prepared to do because I want to browse and check out other merchants first.
Combined with a marketing campaign targeting location keywords, you can get twice the real estate on the front page!
