Knoxville small business owners need to read this. (If you know one, Email This Post to send it to them.) Here is a tidbit of information that could change the future of your company or organization. It is an excerpt from a post on local search.

“…86 percent of Internet users search for local products and services, up from 70% in 2006, and more than 90 percent of the transactions resulting from these searches are completed offline. Recognizing an opportunity, advertisers’ investment in local online advertising services are projected to grow from $8 billion in 2007 to nearly $20 billion in 2011 …“

We’ll wait for a second for you to go back and read that again. ……………….. Ready?

Now, 86% is A LOT of people, but that’s not the kicker. The real information is in the last part: National companies are doing local advertising to reach YOUR customers to buy THEIR products. “Oh, but they’ve been doing that for years on TV and in newspapers. What’s it matter?” Well, I’m glad you asked …

Newspapers, as we know them, are going away. Yep, you read it right. People aren’t reading them like they used to. Why? Well, for one, they can get most of what matters to them online. And, TV? Well, it’s changing too. Right before your eyes it’s changing. Digital programming means it can be delivered where? To the Internet. (Ahh….the lights go on.) Its all going to be online. Yes! The Internet is the playground now.

So, if the big boys are using the Internet to reach out locally to consumers, where does that put your company?

Get moving before it all catches up to you

Getting a website and building it right is not that hard. Scary, maybe at first. But, you really don’t have a choice if you want to compete in these changing times. They said that about papers and radio and TV. It just keeps moving, so you’ll have to as well.

Start small. Get a web developer to help you get a site up. Find someone who is knowledgeable and small business friendly. (And, by that I mean, “not looking to take advantage of the little guy because he doesn’t know a lot.”) Just be smart and plan well.

image by aftermark

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What are your thoughts? Post a comment and let’s talk.

Do you have questions about what how you can leverage the Internet to improve your customer experience and boost your company’s performance? Just ask.