Google Places – Your Key to Success

Google knows that a majority of online searches are for local goods and services. In response  to this overwhelming demand, they created Google Places to highlight the local businesses that best match these searches.

A Google Places listing is a mini-website created by Google. They are highlighted  with a little red marker and corresponding point on a map beside the search results. Sometimes the Places listings are displayed in a separate group. Sometimes the marker is displayed next to a regular website, indicating that a Places listing is available for that business  as well.

So What’s the Big Deal?

Google Places listings are vital for businesses looking for local customers.

• They are displayed at the top of the search results.

• They target  local customers  looking for your products and services.
• With the new Instant search results, Google Places listings are displayed based on the searcher’s location – even before they type in a city name!

• They work perfectly with smart phones & tablet computers

• Google Places listings can be customized to offer visitors the information they need to become customers.

• Your Name, Phone & Address prominently displayed.
• Reviews
• Photos and Videos
• Coupons & Special Offers
• Hours of Operation
• Maps & Directions
• Your custom marketing message

Why You Must Get A Google Places Listing

You can literally bypass years of SEO work by having your site displayed in the “7 Pack” of Google Places results at the top of the first page.

With a Google Places listing you don’t even need your own website, although the most powerful results are obtained by cross promoting your website with your Google Places listing.  Google provides a space in the listing to add full details of your business, location through Google Maps, add photos, videos and much more.

The secret to reaching the customer-grabbing “A” position depends on carefully setting up your listing from the very start and getting lots of links, citations and reviews from appropriate sites who have links back to you.

Optimizing your listing is as complex as it is vital. Attention to detail can make the difference between top listings and pushing your site so far down the list that it becomes invisible. Every step must be carried out perfectly and in the right order.

Fortunately the folks at estonishing can create and optimize your Google Places listing. We will do everything needed to hit the top positions. The time it takes to reach the first page depends on the level of competition and other factors, and our first steps will be to do competitor analysis prior to commencement, along with checking for existing listings.

Do we already have a Google Places Listing?

Google has already created millions of listings for existing businesses, so yours may be there ready for a little optimization magic. But before you take the step of claiming your listing (which will initiate a review), it’s best to lay the groundwork for success.  For example, you’ll need:

• Keyword research to see what phrases your customers use to look for your products and services
• Competition analysis to discovers your competition’s strengths and weaknesses
• A plan of attack
• Citations for your business on various authority sites that match the information you will put into Google Places
• Images & Videos posted on authority sites with properly constructed citations and geo-tags to support your Google Places listing.

Contact estonishing today to learn how easy an affordable it can be to start showering your business with new customers and leads.