Understanding the Difference Between Local Search and Company Search
When it comes to finding businesses online, it’s important to understand the distinction between local search and company search. These two tools serve different purposes and can help you target the right audience or business type depending on your needs.
Local Search: Pinpointing Businesses in Specific Areas
Local search operates using Google Maps as its starting point. It’s highly geographic and focuses on helping you find businesses in a specific area. For example, if you search for “Starbucks” using local search, it will show you all the Starbucks branches in the selected location. This is ideal for finding nearby businesses or services, such as plumbers or restaurants, in a particular area.
Company Search: A Broader, More Comprehensive Tool
On the other hand, company search offers a much broader approach. Instead of focusing on local branches, it helps you locate head offices and larger organizations. Think of it this way: while local search finds individual Starbucks branches, company search will direct you to Starbucks’ corporate headquarters.
Company search pulls data from platforms like LinkedIn, making it a powerful tool for finding businesses that may not have a Google My Business listing. For instance, White Label Suite doesn’t have a Google My Business location, but it does have a business presence on LinkedIn. This makes company search an excellent resource for discovering businesses that operate on a larger scale or don’t rely on local visibility.
How to Use Company Search Effectively
To get the most out of company search, start with the description field. This is often the best place to begin your search. You can also apply filters such as industry, location, and revenue to refine your results.
For example, if you’re searching for “Starbucks” in the continental U.S., you can use filters to narrow down your results. By running a search, you’ll find the corporate details for Starbucks, including its head office location. Similarly, if you’re looking for “plumbing manufacturers” rather than individual plumbers, you can use the industry filter to focus on manufacturing companies within the plumbing sector.
Steps to Navigate the Search
Access the Search Tool: Log in to White Label Suite and navigate to the search feature in the dashboard.
Choose Search Type: Select either “Local Search” or “Company Search” based on your needs.
Enter Keywords: Input relevant keywords in the search bar, such as the business name or industry.
Apply Filters: Use available filters like location, industry, or revenue to refine your search results.
Run the Search: Click the search button to generate results.
Review Results: Browse through the results to find the business or organization you’re looking for.
Save or Export Data: Save the results to your account or export them for further use.
Key Features of Company Search
Broader Scope: Unlike local search, company search isn’t limited to geographic areas. It’s designed to find head offices, larger brands, and businesses listed on platforms like LinkedIn.
Advanced Filtering: You can filter results by keywords, industry, revenue, and more, ensuring you get the most relevant results.
Versatility: Whether you’re looking for a specific industry or a large corporation, company search provides a different way to locate businesses.
By leveraging company search, you can expand your reach, target larger organizations, and uncover new opportunities for your business or your clients.