Are consumers using the Internet to search for local goods and services?
Conservatively, 17% of Web searches are considered to be local (defined as a search term with a local modifier such as city/state or ZIP code). Based on recent Web-search statistics from comScore, this represents over 1 billion local queries each month.
How do consumers find local merchants?
Traditionally, consumers have used word-of-mouth and print Yellow Pages to find local providers of goods and services. Increasingly, they are turning to the Internet by way of search engines or specialized portals to locate merchants. A recent study by Piper Jaffray suggests that 50% of these consumers are searching with an intent to purchase.
How can Localeze help consumers find my listings?
Localeze helps national brands and local merchants to structure, enhance and distribute data that will make them prominent to consumers searching for local goods and services online. Merchants subscribe to the service and interact though an intuitive Web service that prompts them to enter content relevant to their business category, including common search terms. A specialized taxonomy ensures merchants are including all relevant content in their listing profiles.
Where does the information that I enter into the Merchant Profile Manager (MPM) appear?
The information contained within the Merchant Profile Manager repository gets very wide exposure. Our data repository is distributed to more than 45 of the Web's top search engines and portals. These search engines account for 85% of all local search engines.
Will I be charged for entering my data into the MPM?
No. Entering data into our existing repository is completely free. In fact, we encourage businesses to provide listing information, as we pride ourselves on providing the freshest, most accurate business data available anywhere. However, we will soon be offering you the opportunity to give your business even greater visibility through enhanced business listings.
If I need to change my listing, how do I do that? Will there be a fee for making these updates?
If you need to update your business name, address or contact information, all you have to do is visit this page. There will never be a fee to maintain your basic business information.
How long will it take for my new or updated business information to become widely available around the Web?
It usually takes between 30 to 60 days for search engines to pick up your new or updated business listing.
Can't I just enter my data directly into the major search engines, portals and Internet Yellow Pages sites?
Most properties offer the ability to enter local listing information, with standard base information such as names and addresses typically being free to enter. But if you want even a minimum of accurate information to be distributed across the Web, you'll have to enter it numerous times and update it continually. Localeze, however, offers the ability to enter your information once and have it distributed to many search engines. With over 45 properties in the Localeze distribution network, our service reaches properties that serve over 85% of all local-search results.
What if other people try to alter my business data?
Altering data other than your own within the Localeze data repository is strictly prohibited. If you're aware of this happening, please contact us immediately at Localeze customer support at 800.935.9644 or support@localeze.com and we'll take prompt action.
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