Google is a main portal for persons seeing information about local businesses. Is your Google Places pages claimed and updated to provide current, useful information to those looking to find you? If you want to be successful in local search, start out by claiming and optimizing the local business listings offered by the search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo!. Then make sure your website is updated and optimized for search, you have customer reviews, case studies or testimonials available and social integrated with your site.
Because Google dominates the majority of local searches on the Internet, their Places Pages for business is a must to have updated and popluated with company information. If you have not set up your Places Page, keep in mind that the age of a Places Page carries search weight with Google, so get started. If you don't know how, contact someone who can help you.
The Google Places page can be the first impression someone gets of your company, so you want to make sure it is current. Sometimes basic info like address, phone number, etc. can be wrong, which can cause you to lose business. Also make sure you are listed in the correct industry categories to get the most visibility for your business. Use of location-specific keywords in the title or description can be helpful if not overdone. It also helps to add photos and videos, if available, to provide a better user experience.
Another huge factor are the reviews. Encourage customers to go to your page and give you a review. This not only helps with search but provides great information for a potential customer checking out your company.
Check back next week for a listing of the most prominent business portal listings and see where you should be listed online.
