The old saying "build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door" may have been true 100 years ago, but I doubt it. If customers can't find you on the Web today after one quick search, your better mousetraps will rot in your warehouse. That's the premise behind The Complete Idiot's Guide to Growing Your Business with Google by Dave Taylor (ISBN 1592573967). For many businesses today, success hinges on keywords, adwords, a good domain name, and whether your Web site appears on the first page of a Google search result.

Even strictly local retailers and service businesses need to hone their search quotients. Multiple studies have shown that a majority of customers for many products search on the Web before heading to a local store. If you provide information and develop some awareness in the customer's mind, they may take a drive over to see you rather than order online. Take a gander at how you rate on Google. If you rate poorly, Taylor's book will help.

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