I just had an eye opening Google experience… I did a quick Google Search for:

Dentist Richmond KY

Google displays the title *Local business results for dentist near Richmond, KY*

There, alongside a lovely little map of Richmond, KY are the first 10 results that are found, along with a link that says *More results near Richmond, KY »*. Among the listed results, I recognized my dentist, along with an orthodontist who happens to be the husband of a close friend.

OK… all of this seems straight forward.

However, it started to get interesting when I clicked on the links. The default link — for those businesses that don’t have web sites — is a Google Map page, with a map marked with the business location, the business name, address and phone number. Below this is a set of tabs offering the following choices: Overview, Details, Reviews, and Web Pages (with the number of referring pages beside it)

Of the 10 dentists lists, only 3 had their own web sites — and 2 of the three were committing online business suicide by making a brutal and common mistake. A fourth had a related web site listed, but no web site for his dental practice! YIKES

On a positive note, ALL of the first 10 were listed in multiple online directories…

… but most had only an address and phone number!

Now I do realize that I am passionalte about the importance of online marketing for small businesses (and I can be a bit volatile), but by this time I was bouncing up and down in my chair with frustration!

I had to take a deep breathe and figure out a way to channel my frustrations in a constructive way…

So, keep on the look out for a new Cheat Sheet about WHY local businesses need web sites… ;-)

Sharing the Road to Success,

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