SEO | Website Design | Internet Marketing | Adcuda Kansas City

411 calls add UP!  My cell phone service provider charges $1.25 per use.  I tend to need a phone number a few times a month and so did other members of my family.  It was not uncommon for us to spend between $10 and $20 a month on 411 (Information).

Most cell phone users also use mobile data plans with their smart phones.  Most providers now either offer a navigation add-on or provide it with the data plan as mine does.  My provider re-brands Telenav and includes it in my unlimited data plan.  Telenav turns my smart phone into a GPS device.  It gives me many of the features that a dedicated GPS device that mounts to your car would give.  It’s super handy for getting around, especially because it’s with me all the time.

So what’s this got to do with saving money and Local Search? When most of us think about “local search” our mind pictures a Google Map/Place, or maybe a Yelp review, an Insider Pages listing, a Yahoo Local business summary, etc.  But local search also includes directories and databases used by Telenav and other GPS devices.  Even the auto manufacturers have databases called Telematics that work to supply their proprietary GPS devices’ information. On the flip side, a lot of businesses will make sure their information is listed in these GPS databases along with the usual local search sites we all know.

Now for the cool thing, rather than calling 411 and getting dinged for the charge, fire up your navigator and ‘search’ for the business you want to call. Choose “call” rather than “drive to” and your phone will call that business for no additional charges.

Next time you want to order a pizza but don’t know the number to that place on the corner, or when you want to call ahead to make a reservation or check wait times at a fine restaurant, or call ahead to the hardware store to see if they carry the special filter that only your furnace uses…  Save your money and try using your navigator and LOCAL SEARCH!