I'm always looking for new avenues to market my business, what solo entrepreneur do you know who doesn't? And lately looking around have found online marketers shouting the virtues of 'local search' directories.
Here's my problem with local search for part of your business: What if your local market isn't the market for your product or service? You may be a virtual assistant with clients in the global marketplace who understand outsourcing and use the tools needed for you to be effective at what you do.
How much time are you going to spend explaining to Joe Jones downtown that you have no intentions of working in his office nor that you want him 'dropping in' on you? What I'm finding locally is that since I'm 'right around the corner', many times the prospective client wants to have some 'face time'. Excuse me?! I don't think so!
I've decided to work virtual because I also like to travel. For serious Road Warrior entrepreneurs, 'local' is where they can get an internet connection, which likely will not be the same location next week.
Can local marketing work? Sure for those of you who provide services or products to a specific local market, have developed a network that recognizes you locally and there is a known market for what you sell. It's affordable, good source for direct you-to-customer contact and belly-to-belly selling.
There are those of us who do not fit that mold and that's something you need to consider before you jump on the 'Go Local' bandwagon.
HOT UPDATE: Those of you still sitting on the fence about getting a SBI site, the deadline for the $100 off special Valentine's sale is coming to a close today! So if saving money is high on your list, now is the time to get your site up before the offer ends.
SBI! removes the technical barriers allowing you to keep your attention on building your business. Many functions are completely automated. You don't need to know anything upfront about building a Web site in order to succeed. The tedious, "under-the-hood" stuff is handled automatically so you can focus on other important business-building activities.
