Small Business And Mobile Search

There are three ways potential customers can find a small business using the web: Internet search, Local search and Mobile search. Mobile search is one that’s often left out of small business marketing strategies.

And Mobile search is the one that’s growing by leaps and bounds. According to a Nielsen report Mobile use is up 34% year-over-year from July 2008 to July 2009. And it’s not just teens fueling the increase. Seniors make up a big part of the growth.

Overall, year-over-year growth among the 13-17 and 65+ age groups outpaced the growth of the total mobile Web audience, with a youth increase of 45 percent and seniors surging upwards 67 percent in July. While men continue to make up a larger portion of mobile Web users versus women, comprising 53 percent of the audience in July, the growth of female visitors outpaced the growth of male visitors during the month, with women increasing 43 percent YOY as compared to a 26 percent growth among men.

So what can you do about it?

Neilsen’s report shows that women use AT&T search (run by Yahoo! Mobile) and AOL Search (run by Google) with their mobile phones.

So in addition to claiming your small business on Google and Yahoo! local search, consider signing up for mobile search.

Yahoo! Mobile Sponsored Search

Google Adwords has a special Mobile Search advertising area for your ad campaigns.