Hmmm… How to decide what tools to recommend?

It's a puzzle to decide what to include that's most helpful for you. Local Search is quite new, so there aren't many products related specifically to it. And developments are happening so fast, today's information is soon-to-be dated.

We're pleased to recommend the Local Search Videos and Yellow Page Smarts (both, right column, this page). Also, we're busy writing a series of short, helpful books geared for specific types of businesses—florists, plumbers, retail stores, etc. But they're not available quite yet.

In the meantime, a variety of products are being evaluated, to find any that deserve to be called "resources." The last thing we intend to do is to stick up a hodge-podge of unrelated offerings that won't do the job you need.

Is Local Search just another flavor of search engine optimization (SEO)? I don't think so. A primary difference is the mindset of the business community. They have very differentpriorities and skills than the technology-driven ecommerce SEO adept. And it doesn't make sense for business owners to invest massive time and energy to develop those skills. But some overlap is required.

The website and Local Search exposure should support the primary business purpose—serving customers. Owners are correct to be most interested in the offline traffic and results.

But they don't want to get bogged down in the frustrations that computers can bring. Anything recommended on this website needs to simplify the process for them. And products will be evaluated in that light.

The Plan of the Moment…

We will proceed with caution. Offer fewer products, but make sure each lives up to its promise. We're determined to build the trust of our visitors. And the only way to do that is by delivering consistent and trustworthy information. Like your business, people won't come back if they're not treated right.

There's little doubt that Local Search is a significant trend of the future. And it can have a potent impact on small business's growth. We want to make it easy to climb aboard and gain all the traffic it can bring you. All Aboard!