If you are not engaging in some form of Local Search these days you are missing out on a trick. Particularly with the event of Google Universal Search, having your company listed with vertical local search facilities could give you the edge over your competitors.

With a pretty low level of effort there are a number of places you could get a local listing that could drive increased levels of targeted visitors to your site.

Here are a few places you should look at being listed:

• Yell (http://www.yell.com/)
• Touch Local (http://www.touchlocal.com/)
• Yahoo Local (uk.local.yahoo.com)
• Google MapsLocal Business Centre (maps.google.co.uk)

Having your business listed on the local business search portals above will not only drive increased levels of targeted traffic to your site but will increase your visibility on other sites that utilise local search listings.

With the recent buzz about the features that Google Maps offers including its new Street Map view, adding your business to the Google Local Business Centre is absolutely key. There is talk that Google is moving towards Google Maps becoming an alternative virtual world where people can walk down virtual streets and be served ads as they pass particular shops or premises!! It is definitely a case of “Watch this Space” with local search advertising!!