What the Latest Developments in Local Search Technology Could Mean for Your Small Business Website
In the All Out War Taking Place Between the Top Search Engines to Gain the Priority Spot at the Top of the Search Engine Ranks, Small Businesses Have Added Incentives to Get Online.
New York, NY (PRWEB) February 4, 2005 -- Soon after Internet retail giant, Amazon launched its local search service, A9.coms Block View -- a local business search with street-level photographs from 10 major U.S. cities -- search engine giant, Yahoo, announced its launch of a new search service which allows users to send text message listings of businesses and restaurants straight to cell phones. Additionally, MSN, which had previously had to rely on Yahoos technology to run its search engine, just Tuesday launched its newly revamped search engine run completely on its own technology. So, what does this seemingly endless competition between the search engines mean for you, the small business owner? In a word -- profits.
Search engines have come to play an integral role in our lives. From finding a boyfriend to finding a local repair service, we rely on search engines, and the Internet as a whole, to get us to the information, services, and products we need quickly and easily. As a result, the Internet advertising industry has grown to over $9 billion, with the search engine advertising segment jumping more than 55 percent last year alone. And theres evidence that online businesses are reaping the benefits with reports showing holiday online sales for 2004 up 25 percent from the previous year to $23 billion. These are obvious incentives for getting online. With recent developments in search technology, and more on the horizon, online profits promise even more growth.
So, exactly how do Yahoos and Amazons newest offerings work to impact your small businesses? While Yahoo has said the service would be available in the U.S. through Cingular/AT&T Wireless, Verizon, Sprint/Nextel and T-Mobile wireless companies, the carriers may charge extra for SMS (Short Message Service), the technology needed to use text-messaging services. Many wireless providers currently offer text messaging within their monthly calling plans or charge customers per message fees. And while text messaging is popular among teenagers, who in large part have cell phones and use them to chat" during class without raising their teachers suspicion, with the new Yahoo service now coming into play, wireless providers may start to more aggressively market their text messaging services to other segments of the consumer base. Imagine that youre a working soccer mom with barely minutes to spare in your hectic day. Having the listing for the nearest sporting goods store right at your fingertips when you most need it would be a great benefit, convenience, and most-importantly, time saver. And not only would you have the ability to view this store's contact information and location, but you could visit the website and online store to get more information on products, services, and store hours before ever entering the store. That is the power of the Internet and the power of what the Internet has to offer online businesses.
Chris Winfield, SEO expert and President of New York-based website design and Internet marketing firm, 10e20, LLC, says, Search engines, especially Yahoo, are now really paying attention to users needs; they know that users want to find what they want easily and efficiently -- and this has dramatic implications for small businesses." The recent developments only go to show that search engine competition is good for the consumer, bringing them added benefits, and functionalities while the search engines attempt to outdo each other. Winfield, who recently responded to the latest developments in an InternetNews.com article advises that small businesses should try to take advantage of the current developments in search engine technology by ensuring that when a consumer sees a particular listing on the screen of his cell phone, a website address is also present and the consumer can go to the website, find further information on that businesss products or services, and eventually make a purchase. According to Winfield, While these new services dont promise small businesses sales, they do offer small businesses that are aggressively marketing themselves online the opportunity to gain a lot of traffic and thus sales."
For more information on how your small business can gain the online advantage, please log-on to www.10e20webdesign.com">www.10e20webdesign.com, or call 866-921-4330 for a free consultation and plan of action report for small business website strategy.
About 10e20, LLC
10e20 Website Design is THE global search marketing and web development company. Clients include Virgin, Ford, SoftwareCEO, and 350+ others. As seen in the New York Times, USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, the LA Times, CNET, Boston Globe and many more. 10e20 is headquarted in Brooklyn, NY and has a second office located in West Palm Beach, FL. Effective and affordable - 10e20!
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10e20, LLC Contact:
Checkey-Ann Beckford
info@10e20.com
561-282-6738
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