SBM Unleashed: Local Search Workshop With Matt McGee

The days of flipping through a big fat yellow book to find a local business are quickly coming to a close. After all, why settle for a simple phone number when an online search can also net you menus, pricing, hours and consumer reviews? In this workshop, Matt McGee, SEO Manager at Marchex will walk attendees through the most popular local search engines and will show you the best ways to leverage them to promote your business online.

Matt divides this workshop up into four areas - who are the local search players, the local search algorithm, SEO and PPC techniques to help local search optimization and finally shows some practical ways of how to actually obtain local customers. I have provided a complete summary of this workshop which was presented at the Small Business Unleashed conference in Houston, Texas at Search Engine Guide.

One juicy thing that Matt provided was a list of all the major local search providers that you should make sure you are listed on. That list is below but also be sure to check my notes on the entire workshop. Business Database Providers:

Yellow Pages:

Local Directories:

CitySearch
Search for your business. If listed, click "Own this business?" link to claim free listing. If not listed, only way to be added is paid advertising.
InsiderPages
Kudzu
This site began in Atlanta and has its deepest coverage there, but is working to expand to cover other major cities. Free submission is available through 2008.
Local.com
OpenList
WCities.com
This site provides city guides and other (mostly travel) related business information. Use the Contact Us link and choose "Add a Listing" from the drop-down menu.
Yelp
To add a new business to yelp, you must write a review at the same time you add the business listing.