For local type businesses, those that just want business from around town, the Internet is becoming more and more important. As the search engines move to implement their local search strategies, local businesses will need to understand the playing field

Here’s a tip: The Internet Is The New Phone Book and you better make sure you get listed.

Today, Google announced the Google Local Business Center, a free tool for businesses to easily add or update their business listings that appear in Google Local. The Google Local Business Center is available for all businesses in the United States regardless of whether or not their listing already exists in Google Local.

To access this new feature, businesses must visit the Google Local Business Center and request that their Google Local business listing be added or edited. After completing the listing information, businesses will receive a mailer from Google with a PIN. The PIN is used to confirm their addition or requested changes to the Google Local business listing. Various information about a business can be added or edited including address, phone number, hours of operation, type of cuisine, payment accepted, website and email.

This one is a no brainer – get listed! – They have even integrated their very cool mapping system into the listings and hint that they may use the data when someone executes a “local looking search” like – Accountant Kansas City. This kind of search is already starting to include some directory type listings.