| Many local businesses have a hard time when it | | | | information that appears on your company website. |
| comes to Internet Marketing and Search Engine | | | | Try to avoid using 800 numbers, as they negatively |
| Optimization. These companies often have a website, | | | | impact the listing. 800 numbers may be added as an |
| but don't rank well in the search results because their | | | | additional phone number, but try to provide a regular |
| site becomes lost within the search engine | | | | number as your primary point of contact. |
| "Sandbox", with little hope of finding its way out. | | | | Google only allows its Places users to develop a single |
| Small businesses that are looking to drive more traffic | | | | listing for their business. If your company has multiple |
| to their website, have a tremendous opportunity to | | | | locations, you'll be able to add this information using |
| advance their listings and get first page results utilizing | | | | the "list of area's served" section of the Google |
| the Google Maps Platform. Google Maps (also known | | | | Places profile. Again, accuracy in this section will |
| as Google Places), provide small business owners the | | | | provide better results for your listing as it's served on |
| ability to get their company noticed online, through | | | | the Google Maps Platform. |
| Geo-targeted Search. | | | | When filling out your profile, ensure that you improve |
| By optimizing your local business listing, Google Places | | | | your local business listing by adding as many rich |
| will bring your company first page exposure by | | | | media options as possible. These include images and |
| displaying local results to search users based on | | | | video. You should also develop coupons and add |
| location. If your site is already receiving sufficient | | | | weekly specials to the profile as well. The more |
| listings on the search engine results pages, the local | | | | information you provide Google, the better they can |
| business listing will create increased exposure for | | | | list you, thus driving more traffic and more qualified |
| your company. Your Google Places Listing can provide | | | | visitors to your site. |
| driving directions, business information, operating | | | | Filling out your Google Places business profile is just |
| hours and many other unique features for your | | | | the start of your local campaign. If your industry is |
| potential customers. | | | | not very competitive, you may be lucky enough to |
| Once your listing is submitted and properly optimized, | | | | rank high in the search results for local business |
| Google Places will generate a map including your | | | | listings, just from filling out your profile information |
| business listing. These listings often appear toward | | | | alone. But more competitive industries will require |
| the top of the search results page, before any other | | | | additional effort and optimization. |
| organic listing. | | | | Encourage your customers and clients to write |
| Small businesses can build their company listing in | | | | testimonial style reviews for your business in the |
| Google Maps by searching for Google Places (formally | | | | "review section" of your listing. Google will also |
| Local Business Center) navigating to the site and | | | | populate your listing profile with reviews from review |
| creating a free account. | | | | sites such as Yelp and Kudzu as well. These reviews |
| Once you've signed up for Google Places, fill out all of | | | | provide useful information for your customers and |
| your business information, add a keyword rich | | | | enhance your listing in the search engine results |
| description, hours of operation, upload images/videos | | | | pages. Local and trade directories will promote your |
| and provide payment methods. Make sure to fill out | | | | listing within Google Maps, so filling out your business |
| all of the available categories in order to better | | | | information and submitting to directory sites will be |
| maximize your listings potential. The more accurate | | | | beneficial to your Google Places Campaign. |
| your information is, the more success you will see | | | | Utilizing these aforementioned tactics, integrated with |
| from your listing. Make sure to fill out all the | | | | a local SEO and Internet Marketing campaign is one |
| information you can. | | | | of the best methods to increase traffic to your site |
| Your Google Places listing should have the same | | | | and advance your small business' success. |
| business name, address and telephone number as the | | | | |