15 Sites for Promoting Your Local Business

The advertising of the future is going online -- and going local. This hot trend is growing rapidly and shows no signs of letting up.

In fact, according to a report by Borrell Associates, local online advertising is expected to grow by 31% this year, hitting $7.7 billion. The report also predicts local paid search will skyrocket by 86 percent this year, up to $1.8 billion. Local email marketing will grow by about 54 percent, reaching $233 million.

There's no question that consumers are using the Internet to navigate their way to local bricks-and-mortar retailers. A recent study by ROI Research and Performics shows that online searches influence 20% to 30% of purchases made at retail locations -- and that number is only increasing.

More and more sites, like Local.com, are making their presence known by competing against major search engines like Google and Yahoo!. So study up, plan your budget and get in on the online advertising game.

1. Google AdWords
AdWords helps you target local online customers by setting your pay-per-click ads to appear only when people search a particular city, state or region. There's no minimum spending requirement -- your daily budget is up to you.

2. Yahoo! Local Listings
Local Listings will promote your business to customers looking for information in Yahoo! Local. Choose from three different plans (one is free) to meet your company's needs.

3. Citysearch
Citysearch offers online advertising tools to easily open your account, manage your daily results and receive ad placement on MSN, Yahoo!, Google and Ask.com. Similar to the idea of pay-per-click advertising, Citysearch offers two paid plans, "Web Connect" and "Call Connect."