LookLocally.com Frequently Asked Questions

Search Engine Marketing is a dynamic field in a constant state of flux. As a result there are new questions everyday. We have attempted to answer some of the more commonly asked questions about LookLocally.com but we always welcome your questions and feedback in order to insure we provide the highest level of service and best values in Search Engine Marketing. Please click here to e-mail your questions or comments and we will respond promptly.

1.What does LookLocally.com do?

2.What problem do we solve?

3.How does LookLocally.com make a search easier & much more accurate?

4.What kind of business information will I find in a search done on LookLocally.com?

5.Why advertise on LookLocally.com?

6.I already have a Web site. How will advertising on LookLocally.com help me?

7.Can you guarantee me Page 1 placement on "organic" search results (also called left side results)?

8.Please educate me about search engines and what a "search results page" means.

9.Our Company is already doing Pay per Click (PPC), how can you help us?

10.Do visitors have to pay or register to use LookLocally.com?

11.What advertising options does LookLocally.com offer?

12.How much does it cost to become a Member?

13.What do I get for my Annual Membership?

14.What is the guarantee?

15.How does LookLocally.com determine or monitor Member Success?

16.Can I give my customers a Web address that will directly take them to my Magnet Page™ on LookLocally.com?

17.If I want to have my own domain name, for example jakesjars.com, can I then use my domain and forward my customers directly to my Magnet Page™ on www.LookLocally.com?

18.How can I move my listing higher up on the Web site search results?

19.How important is the section titled "Long Description"?

20.What are the media file guidelines? I have a video I'd like to post on my Magnet Page™.

21.How long does it take for my page to show up on the Web site?

22.What is the difference between LookLocally.com and the "local yellow pages" and other similar directories on the Internet?

23.What is the difference between LookLocally.com and specialty or industry specific directory sites such as home improvement, art and music sites?

24.I already advertise in a local yellow pages or local newspaper "business service directory". Why would LookLocally.com benefit me?

25.How does LookLocally.com work for me?

26.What tips can help my site be found by search engines?

27.I made changes to my description but my page isn't showing up in Yahoo and Google yet. Why?

28.Can I pay for more photos but not attach them? (Move up the list just by paying?)

29.Will you return the photos I send in?

30.Can I change the photos on my site?

31.How important is it to have photos, music clips or other graphic media attached?

32.I notice I have a "Free Listing" on your site under the advertiser section. It is simply a "white page" listing of my business with a phone number? Can I make any changes to it?

LookLocally.com FAQ

1. What does LookLocally.com do?

LookLocally.com is a Search Engine Marketing Company specializing in "local" search (i.e. by geographic area) with a technology platform allowing buyers to find sellers of goods and services easily, quickly and most importantly - accurately.

Our services include:

LookLocally.com completely changes the landscape of the Internet in terms of searches by the way it drives new customers to local businesses.

LookLocally.com Online Business Directory:

With over 500,000 businesses organized by geography and business category roughly 150,000 visitors per month easily find what they're searching for on LookLocally.com's Web site. Similarly, our advertisers (Members) are able to display their services and products through a custom "Landing Page" called a Search Engine Magnet Page™ (Magnet Page™) that LookLocally.com creates and hosts on our site. Each Search Engine Magnet Page™ receives priority placement in our directory results and over 95% of our Members Magnet Pages™ rank on Page 1 of results in major search engines.

2. What problem do we solve?

Have you ever tried to search for something locally? Very often searches display Web pages that are in no way relevant to what we are searching for - or worse, searches result in Web sites that require us to answer many personal questions before providing the information we need. We make online searching for local businesses much easier, safer and more accurate.

3. How does LookLocally.com make a search easier & much more accurate?

LookLocally.com is a national Web directory with over 500,000 businesses listed by geographic area. Each state has hundreds of businesses listed by category, so when you search, you WILL find businesses in your local area. And, we don't ask you for ANY personal information. We simply give you what you are looking for.

4. What kind of business information will I find in a search done on LookLocally.com?

LookLocally.com has classified business listings (free listings) as well as paid advertisers across the entire United States and in Canada. Paid advertisers (Members) receive a highly optimized landing page, trademarked as a Search Engine Magnet Page&trrade;. This Magnet Page™ provides a comprehensive description of your business, a link to your Web site, 3 or more captioned photos and a contact form to request more information about your business. Free classified business listings on LookLocally.com are simply the business name, address and phone number.

5. Why advertise on LookLocally.com?

The vast majority of LookLocally.com Members already have a Web site but were unhappy with its search engine rankings and with the results it generated. Simply put, LookLocally.com makes your Web site work better, gets you more and better-qualified traffic and much higher search engine rankings. How? Through a proprietary custom landing page trademarked as a Search Engine Magnet Page™ that is highly optimized to attract search engines. Every Search Engine Magnet Page™ has many benefits including:

6. I already have a Web site. How will advertising on LookLocally.com help me?

Joining LookLocally.com significantly increases your chances of being found on the Web. Over 98% of our Members rank on Page 1 in an online search. LookLocally.com can also help your existing business Web site achieve higher search engine rankings through the inbound link from LookLocally.com. That means many prospects who do not know your company now, will find you in an online search. Finally, there are many ways your prospects can find you as a result of Membership on LookLocally.com:

7. Can you guarantee me Page 1 placement on "organic" search results (also called left side results)?

No. No one can guarantee you Page 1 ranking. Google™, Yahoo® and MSN account for over 93% of all searches. They don't even guarantee Page 1 rankings, rather, they use algorithms, (mathematical formulas based on a multitude of factors) designed to make the best possible decision as it relates to the user's search criteria. We can provide our statistics demonstrating that over 98% of our Members rank on Page 1 in Google, YAHOO!, MSN, AOL or Dogpile search results.

8. Please educate me about search engines and what a "search results page" means.

Search engines rank the estimated 30 Billion Web pages using different algorithms, or mathematical formulas. When you go to Google, Yahoo or MSN and conduct a search, you get results that include "Sponsored Results" at the top, bottom and on the right side of the page, often displayed with shading or bullets, and you also see Web page results on the left side of the page. Results that appear in the sponsored links areas represent paid advertisers. These advertisers pay their current bid amount each time someone clicks on their link. Thus they pay per click (PPC). The left side represents 'organic' results, or results that are determined by search engines to be the closest match to what the user was searching for. Research shows that approximately 80% of searchers prefer to click on these "organic" or "left side" results.

9. Our Company is already doing Pay per Click (PPC), how can you help us?

Experts agree with your company's decision to participate in PPC. We limit your risk of escalating "Pay Per Clicks" by getting your business ranked on the left side of search, and combined with your Pay per Click campaign, you get more Page 1 real estate. Page 1 is the most valuable real estate on the Internet. Membership on LookLocally.com provides you with more Page 1 Real Estate through our proprietary Search Engine Magnet Pages™ which are highly optimized landing pages that result in Page 1 rankings in major search engine results. We offer the most affordable Page 1 Real Estate in Search Engine Marketing and we guarantee your ads will work with our performance guarantee.

10. Do visitors have to pay or register to use LookLocally.com?

No, there is no fee nor any registration required for your potential clients to find your business on our Web site. That means their privacy is protected and they are far more likely to look for businesses on our site, unthreatened by a requirement to provide their personal data.

11. What advertising options does LookLocally.com offer?

LookLocally.com is a Search Engine Marketing Company specializing in Local Search. Our Search Engine Marketing services include:

12. How much does it cost to become a Member?

13. What do I get for my Annual Membership?

You will receive the following benefits:

One or more Search Engine Magnet Pages™
Each Magnet Page™ provides:

*additional cost varies. Call for a quote.

14. What is the guarantee?

Our Performance Guarantee

LookLocally.com offers annual Internet Advertising that´s Guaranteed to drive more customers to your business!

We are so confident in our ability to deliver top search engine rankings for our premium members that we offer the following simple, straightforward performance guarantee. If your Search Engine Magnet Page™ fails to achieve a minimum of 5 Page 1 or Page 2 rankings across multiple Search Engines per quarter, you'll receive an additional quarter of advertising FREE!

No fine print, no "ifs", "and", or "buts" - it's that simple.

Considering that hundreds of our members enjoy an average of 20 Page 1 Rankings per Search Engine Magnet Page™, it's a pretty low threshold for us to meet.

But how do we prove we've met our guarantee? With the aid of automated software we track the ranking of each and every one of our members' Search Engine Magnet Pages™ in major search engines including Google, Yahoo, MSN and others every month and archive the data. For members with 3 or more Search Engine Magnet Pages™ we provide quarterly reports. Our premium members are also welcome to request a copy of the report for their pages at any time.

15. How does LookLocally.com determine or monitor Member Success?

Members can track their visitor statistics including:

Ultimately you, our Members determine success.

16. Can I give my customers a Web address that will directly take them to my Magnet Page™ on LookLocally.com?

Yes you can. After your Magnet Page™ has been published on our site you will receive e-mail notification of the unique URL for each Search Engine Magnet Page™

17. If I want to have my own domain name, for example jakesjars.com, can I then use my domain and forward my customers directly to my Magnet Page™ on www.LookLocally.com?

Yes, we can help you get your own domain name and help you forward it to your Magnet Page™. Your Magnet Page™ can be your Web site, saving you the Web site fees such as hosting and maintenance.

18. How can I move my listing higher up on the Web site search results?

Adding captioned attachments or photos is one of the best ways to move up the list. Members are displayed in order by number of attachments. The reason for this is Web users like to be able to see or experience what it is that you offer. You give them greater value and a greater chance of getting their business if you can show them what you do.

19. How important is the section titled "Long Description"?

It's critical to the success of your Magnet Page™. This is the world's window directly to you. Take the time to completely fill in the description of your business. It can make a huge difference in how quickly your page is displayed by search engines. In addition, once we receive your content, we optimize it to ensure your business has the highest possible ranking on search engines. And we do it regularly. We are happy to help you with any questions or provide some guidance on filling out the online registration form. (Toll Free 866-587-0432)

20. What are the media file guidelines? I have a video I'd like to post on my Magnet Page™.

Attachments are limited to 3 images. Images should be 360 by 230 pixels in horizontal layout. You can email us your photos or logo in JPEG or GIF files or mail your photos to us ($30 processing fee applies). If you want to post a video or sound clip, call or email us and we can give you a quote based on the file size.

21. How long does it take for my page to show up on the Web site?

If you register online using our secure registration form, your page is sent to our system instantly as soon as you provide the information and log in. It will be published as soon as your content is approved, usually within 24 hours. Photos will be posted by our Operations Team within 5 business days of receiving them. If you register manually (i.e. mailing in your information), it will take approximately 5 business days from the time your payment is received to create and post your Magnet Page™ on the Internet.

22. What is the difference between LookLocally.com and the "local yellow pages" and other similar directories on the Internet?

Internet based "yellow page" ads offer similar products to the traditional book based yellow pages. Essentially advertising on one of the local yellow page-like sites gives you a directory or list based presence - in a local region. In contrast, LookLocally.com provides your business with a highly optimized Landing Page built to attract search engines. Providing your business it's own unique presence among the tope Search Engine results offers you much greater exposure to anyone browsing on the Web. In the yellow page-like listings, your listing will likely show up on a list along with many other businesses - including your competitors, typically in alphabetical order.

Also, most of these sites do not offer the ability to post photos or other attachments. Most yellow page-like sites also offer "up-sells" or the ability to get a higher ranking on their site. Many even offer a "featured" business listing. Average rates for a single city Internet based yellow page ads are approximately:

23. What is the difference between LookLocally.com and specialty or industry specific directory sites such as home improvement, art and music sites?

Most industry specific sites provide a small "footprint" listing, similar to a yellow page ad. And, often they require a potential customer to answer many questions before serving the information they requested. Most users simply abort their search and go to a different site. Some Web sites provide many additional Web sites to choose from and, again, users often abort their search in favor of a Web page displaying exactly what they are looking for.

Many sites do offer larger listings, featured listings, and a few even provide HTML based Web pages. However, they are priced according to cities and regions and Members pay more to gain exposure in multiple geographic regions. In contrast, a Search Engine Magnet Page™ on LookLocally.com can get you business in any of the following ways:

24. I already advertise in a local yellow pages or local newspaper "business service directory". Why would LookLocally.com benefit me?

In widely published research data, the vast majority of prospects (72%) begin a search for local products and services on the Internet; more specifically using a search engine. Your prospects are searching for services while at work and at home. At work, there isn't easy access to a yellow page directory or to a local newspaper. Further, local newspaper business classifieds last only as long as a reader keeps the paper, usually a day. Finally the fee for a monthly or annual rate for either type advertising typically exceeds the cost of an annual Membership with LookLocally.com almost ten-fold. This indicates a disturbing trend for advertisers spending a lot of money on print because subscribers are canceling home delivery newspapers simply because they are served well by the Internet - free. So, as you can see, your LookLocally.com Magnet Page™ provides the best value for Internet advertising - and it works for you 24/7. Finally, with your own Search Engine Magnet Page™ on LookLocally.com your business is always on!

25. How does LookLocally.com work for me?

In addition to creating an individual Landing Page for each business location, we also register our site and all our Member Magnet Pages™ with major search engines. That means when Web users go to Google, Yahoo or other search engines to conduct a search, your page can be one of the displayed search engine results. Where it shows up, or how high it ranks, is determined by a number of factors including our site ranking (high), how comprehensive your business description is, if you sent in pictures or media, how you choose your key words and several other factors.

26. What tips can help my site be found by search engines?

The most important thing you can do is put yourself in the user's eyes. If you were looking for a painter for your house, what would you type in for the search criteria? If you would type "house-painter, Bedford TX", then be sure you include "house-painter" and "Bedford, TX" a number of times in your description and as one of your key words. In addition, make sure you include photos and caption your photos with a description which includes these same words. Generally speaking, search engines value pages with photos more highly than those without them.

27. I made changes to my description but my page isn't showing up in Yahoo and Google yet. Why?

Search engines index, or take inventory of all Web pages approximately every 6 weeks to 12 weeks (generally). These Web pages are then stored, or "cached" so that potential customers can quickly see their search results. If you make changes to your Magnet Page™, it can take months for search engines to find your newly edited page, record the changes and display your new content. As the Internet becomes more crowded with more content, the time it takes to index web pages will increase and it will take longer for search engines to index all changes to available Web pages

28. Can I pay for more photos but not attach them? (Move up the list just by paying?)

No. If you want to move up the list using attachments or photos, you must mail them or email them ($30 per photo or attachment processing fee applies).

29. Will you return the photos I send in?

Yes, if you include a self addressed and stamped envelope. Please allow 2 weeks from the date you sent in the photos to receive them back.

30. Can I change the photos on my site?

Yes, once a year, when you renew your Membership, you may change any or all photos free of charge. If you want to change photos in the middle of the year, there is a $30 fee to change each photo.

31. How important is it to have photos, music clips or other graphic media attached?

Prospects that see or experience the products or services they are looking for, typically buy from those displaying pictures or samples of their work. A picture is worth a thousand words!

32. I notice I have a "Free Listing" on your site under the advertiser section. It is simply a "white page" listing of my business with a phone number? Can I make any changes to it?

Yes, you'll need to create an account with LookLocally.com first. Go to LookLocally.com and choose Advertiser Info. There is an option to create your account called "Sign Up Now".