This holiday season, shoppers will walk through the door with their shopping decisions already made, one local expert on Internet marketing explained at a recent meeting of marketers. The marketing director for FindUsLocal.com, a nationwide local business directory, was discussing the recent changes to search engine algorithms, and how local businesses can use them to drive more customers through their doors this holiday shopping season.
Each year, the marketing experts proclaim that local retail is dying as more and more customers make their holiday purchases online," he said. But year after year, retail sales stay strong because people prefer to buy locally. They may search for products and prices online, but when it comes to actually making a purchase, most people still prefer to make their final selection and purchase in a physical store."
A whole host of local business search apps have sprung up around this new search-online-buy-local paradigm, he said. These mobile apps use a combination of results from local business directories, Google search results, business review sites and social media platforms to serve up all the information a customer needs to make a final decision about a purchase. Thanks to these apps, more customers walk through the door ready to buy.
These days, customers expect to find all the information they need in one place," he went on to say. Search and shopping apps cater to that expectation by beefing up search results with extra information, including business hours, phone numbers, photos and customer reviews. Some even allow a customer to call the business for more information without ever leaving the app."
FindUsLocal pioneered this type of all-in-one information services with its local directory and front page service. When visitors log onto FindUsLocal.com, they are greeted with a front page customized for their location. It features local business ads, local news and weather, reviews of local businesses and upcoming events and concerts for their area. This is all made possible by browser geolocation services, the expert explained, and businesses can take advantage of the [hyperlocal advertising](http://www.finduslocal.com/) opportunity by simply claiming and filling out their business directory listing on the FindUsLocal site.
[Local directory listings](http://www.finduslocal.com/) combined with geolocation services allow businesses to reach the customers they want most this holiday season," he said. Customers who walk through the door with their minds made up, ready to buy."
