Even the best Internet marketing companywill tell you that going global is not always the indicator of growth and progress. Sometimes, going grassroots can also mean success.
Take the case of Google social media platform, Google+. According to an Internet Retailer report, Google+ launched a new service called Google+ Local which “automatically extends businesses’ Google+ profile pages to its local business listings”. The extension includes an area map and other pertinent details about the store. Past customer reviews and scores from Zagat (which Google acquired last year) will also be incorporated.
For example, a Los Angeles-based search for Macy’s will include results for Macy’s outlets near Los Angeles, CA.
According to Greg Sterling, who is founder of Sterling Market Intelligence, whenever an e-commerce merchant changes something on the “national” Google+ page, it does not automatically change in the local listings so retailers should check their local listings to see how their consumers are acting or reacting in each area. His stern warning to those who may choose to overlook this Google+ movement: “Ignore them at your own peril.”
The article further notes that this should motivate retailers to pay more attention to their local pages since consumers do tend to talk about trends or issues that are available in their immediate surroundings. Being local and going back to the community is a great way to humanize a brand, especially a national one. For smaller and start-up online companies, this is a good way to even out the playing field and focus on a niche market.
Not surprisingly, the local information will also be available on Google Maps.
What do you think? Is this good news for your business? Or does this mean that Google+ is opening the doors for bigger companies to penetrate the local market? Let us know what you think!