Attempting to fully grasp the process by which search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing provide results to search inquiries is like opening up a hefty can of mangled worms- or in this case "spiders". For most, learning how the magic machine (that we call Google) can find you the dimensions of the sun in half a second is confusing to say the least. However, as search engine optimization has become a key component in new age marketing, it is important to understand how these major search engines operate. Here are answers to a few common questions about where your search results come from:

- 97% of consumers use online media to research products and services in their local area

- 83% of U.S. households now use the Internet as an information source when shopping locally

- 83% of local searchers will follow up with a phone call or visit to the listing that stands out best

- 90% of searchers won't look past page one of the results page (According to Google)

Apple sold 37 million iPhones in the fourth quarter of 2011 alone, an intimidating number that propelled the iPhone back to its number one ranking in the league of smartphones. The iPhone 4S' new feature, Siri, can be accredited for this sudden craving for the desirable smartphone...but why?

What are search portals and why are they so important to your business?

The online landscape has changed to a local focus. There are really only two primary search engines in 2012: Google and Bing as Yahoo is powered by Bing. (I'm going to give honorable mention to DuckDuckGo, (pure results minus ads), Blekko (a slashtag and trusted site-based search engine) and WolframAlpha (a wicked computational answer engine) to be fair here as these are awesome search resources too). Because there are only two majors and there are so many second tier directories, aggregators, databases, social networks and Internet Yellow Pages (IYPs), it all becomes one big jumble for our local search optimization efforts.  So this term is something we coined to simplify it for you. Let's just define it this way. Search portals are the best places "you want your business to be on the internet."