With the release of the iPhone5 today, comes a new challenge for those of us trying to get local businesses found by the search engines…will your business show up in a search on the iPhone5? Why could this be a challenge?
With the release of iOS6, their mobile operating system for the iPhone, iPad and iTouch, Apple has severed their ties with Google Maps. Millions of iPhone users search for local goods and services while away from their computers. Will they be able to find your business when they search for pizza or a hair salon or a dentist, holden, ma.
One way to find out is to find someone with the latest operating system(all iPhone and iPads will be able to upgrade to this), and do a search. Use your geographic area and your goods or services…not your business name. Your second search should be to make sure you also show up when you type in your business name. Lastly, make sure you do a search using Siri (only applicable for iPhone 4s and iPhone 5 users)to search for your business name and your goods/services.
Before we all panic let’s keep this in perspective. While I believe he number of iPhone and iPad users will continue to increase, roughly only 20% of searches are done on a mobile device. And of those, about 33% are mobile searches are done on an iPhone or iPad.
So what can you, as a business owner, do to try and get found with the new Apple Maps system? First, be sure you claim your business listing on Yelp. Siri uses Yelp to direct users to the right business/location. The second business listing you want to claim is Localeze.com. Make sure the information listed is accurate, consistent, and lists all of the goods and services you need to be found with.
Most importantly, let’s all see how this plays out. Word is already out that users are not happy about the new Apple Maps and we should all sit back and see what changes are made over the next few months. In the meantime, business owners need to make sure their business is listed properly online and keep checking mobile devices to be sure the information is being transferred properly to mobile marketing for your business.
For more quick tips on marketing your business online and in mobile search, click here