Anytime Google makes a move into a new area, it tends to make the competition nervous. This is for the simple fact of what they bring to the table in talent, money and marketing power. Ignoring Google can be dangerous to your success.

I’m talking about Google and the need to be listed in Google local business center because your competition is listed there and Google is sending viewers to their website/store and not yours.

Google, the gorilla next door

Ever been in the car with your family trying to decided where to eat and somebody says, How about pizza"? And everybody goes, "ohhh, that sounds good", but nobody knows of a pizza place close by, so your teenager flips out his smart phone and types in "pizza" and informs you that there’s a pizza place two blocks to the right. The carload of hungry people turn right and get some pizza. Problem with that is, you own the pizza place that they would have found if they had kept driving straight.

Consider these statistics:

97% of American internet users use the internet to shop of which 57% characterize their behavior as "shop online, purchase offline" (NPD Group)

Accenture puts those number a little higher

80% of budgets are spent within 50 miles of the home (DMA/proprietary)

61% of local searches result in purchases (TMP/comScore)

54% of Americans have substituted the internet and local search for phone books (comScore networks)

Basically it comes down to the fact that the internet has become the primary source of information for most Americans. If you don't believe me, just pay attention to what you do online. If you are looking for a product/service, what is your first instinct? Are you going to look through the classifieds in the local paper? Get out the phone book (if you can even find it)? Or do you look it online through a search engine, or even ask your friends on Facebook and Twitter?

If you’re that pizza place located straight ahead, this is what you need to do:

First , list your business in Google local business center. It’s easy, free and you don't need a website. These entries are not edited by humans or even reviewed for the most part, so you should consider reading this guide Google/Bing/Yahoo local submission guide that I put together to help you create a better and more effective listing.

Second, create your business a "social profile" on Facebook and/or Twitter, the hot social properties at the moment. Because people regularly ask their friends and family for recommendations, it’s a good idea to have a presence here. And it’s free, which is even better. Remember, you are building a network of potential clientele, so put your best foot forward. Mashable has a how to use social networks section if you’re not familiar with how they work

Third, create a website blog or update the one you already have. It can cost some money, but keep in mind that this is your online store. Give this particular storefront some attention and time. It should pay dividends in the future.

So what’s your story? Write me and tell me all about your challenges listing your business.