Because it can literally generate you customers almost immediately and for little to no cost…

Just in-case you don’t know, Google has allocated tremendous amounts of their assets to building a platform for helping your local customers find your business.

Google Places is, in my opinion, is what yellow pages was in the 80′s and 90′s. If not better…

Here is why:

Anybody with a cell phone, can hop onto Google and type in a local product or service. (According to Google, 20% of all searches have a local intent. Around 2.8 Billion a month, total.)

You can find out reviews, other customers experiences. Which will shed light on whether your product or service is something they should consider purchasing or if they should check out your competitors instead.

Lastly, Google Places provides a place for your businesses information. Hours you are open, specifics on your products, the area’s you service and your contact info.

This makes picking a local business very easy and transparent, for your potential customers.

… In other words, if you have exceptional service people will know. If you have horrible service or ripped someone off, everybody will know too.

I don’t say this to scare you, but to give you a solid idea, on how you as a small business owner, can create a strategy to bring in customers, long term, with Google Places.

The first step you need to take is to watch this video, from Google, on exactly what Google Places is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpZan96KHOM

Next, you can go here to claim your listing: http://www.google.com/places/

Lastly, you are going to have to optimize you listing to get it to the top of Google. Where you customers can find you. This can be a little complicated and take some time.

If you need help, don’t hesitate to email or call me (dwayne(at)gethotsauce(dot)com or 503-939-1569). I will give you a full hour and help you get it right the first time around.

Usually about 3min, and if I can’t identify with the person calling and exactly what they are calling about. I won’t give them anymore of my time.

Most of the time that marketers and sales people call, they have no clue about me, my company or product.

They start into a pitch before even winning me over. Making me feel like Im being sold a used car right on the spot.

My thought to this, is how do you know if your product or service is right for me or my company, if you haven’t even done even a little bit of research?

With the internet, you can find out everything about me and what I do. Before you make the call.

Here are some very important things you need to know before calling businesses:

1. Find out what my position, and my history with the company.
2. Research who my competition is, and how I compare to them.
3. Figure out the exact ways that your service helps me, and the exact ways to explain those benefits.
4. Lastly, make sure you understand what my company does, and what we stand for.

Knowing these 4 things before you make a phone call is vital, it’ll turn a cold call into a warm phone conversation.

Allowing the business owner to relax and actually listen to what you have to say.

Who knows, you might even make a big sale…

And that’s a good thing!

Most small business owners look at internet marketing in a completely wrong fashion.

Dooming themselves for failure, before they even begin.

Here are a few major mistakes to avoid in your local marketing efforts…

1. Not paying attention to Google Places

Google places is so powerful for local businesses, but so many owners look past it. And its really not their fault, they just don’t know how they will personally benefit from it or how to do it.

Google places, gives you almost automatic placement on the first page of the natural search results for your businesses most relevant local keyword phrases.

For example, if you are a local dentist in Portland Oregon. You can show up on the first page of Google’s results for the keyword dentists in Portland Oregon.

Sometimes, without any work or optimization…

All you have to do, is claim your companies listing and Google takes care of the rest.

Now, depending on popularity of your industry, you might have to do some optimization to get your listing showing on the first page.

This is going to depend on the number of quality reviews you have from previous customers and how often your company’s description appears through out the web.

2. Using Coupon Services Like GroupOn or LivingSocial

Now, don’t get me wrong. Im personally a member with each one of these services and I love them!

But one of the things that really rubs me wrong, is that most of the businesses are not known very well.

And Im just like every other consumer, just because Im offered a deal or discount doesn’t mean that Im going to buy there.

Im still going to Google the name of the business and look at their reviews.

This makes it vitally important for the small business owner to have that taken care of first, before investing in a Coupon service.

Doing this will insure that you keep the flow of customers going, after your coupon craze.

3. Lack of Facebook Presence

Many local businesses know that Facebook is a powerful tool in internet marketing. But most of them are confused on how to leverage it.

The average Facebook user has 130+ friends. Most of them personal friends and family that pay close attention to what each other are doing online.

A very simple way to leverage people’s personal networks is to develop a simple Facebook page.

Then give your customers the ability to “like” your page, in return you will offer them a special online deal.

When they “like” your page, it will post it on their wall. So all their friends will see that so-and-so liked your local business.

Free local marketing at its best!

A small business can be incredibly successful with their local internet marketing. Just make sure to always focus on giving value, and building a solid online presence first.

Click here to see how HotSauce can bring you local customers in the next 30 days.

First, just because you put up a website doesn’t mean that its going to get found by potential customers. Your site needs to get optimized for the search engines, not just once but over and over again, daily. This will push your website up in the natural search engine rankings. In turn, your website goes from a lost island in the ocean, to a well known and frequently visited state.

Second, once you’re website is completely optimized, you need to make sure you have a clear call to action.

Here are a few typical call to actions:

• Make a phone call to your business
• Request a quote via email
• Get on your newsletter

A clear call to action, will be the difference in you wasting money on internet marketing and web design services. To getting a 1000% return on investment.

Third, you have to establish credibility right away with your website. Especially if you are a local business. Put some of your customer testimonials on your home page. This will hook your visitor in and show them, that you are not just a fly by night operation.

Now, as simple as these aspects are of web designing for local small businesses. Most design firms will not bring them to your attention, much less actually take charge of your website and do them.

As the business owner, you need to take charge and do these simple steps. In turn, you will start attracting customers to you not just wasting your time and money. Click here to see a free video on how to attract customers to your small business using the internet.