Is your business listed and verified on Google Map?

Recently, I was asked to help a local computer repair shop to get their Google map listing back, because their competitor took over their unverified business listing and reviews. They lost all the phone calls and customers. That’s how important Google map can impact a local business.

Now the company got their listing back and the phone starts ringing again. With some optimization and clean up done, the company are currently the #1 computer repair shop on Google Map in the regular search result and Google Map search in their City. How wonderful that is!

I also helped a local nail salon claim and optimize their Google places listing. In matter of few months, they are on top of Google search result as well. Now there is a “We’re a Favorite Place on Google” window sticker on their front door window.

Would you like to have one for your company?

If you look around, there are not million but thousands web sites using Google map to display address, business, restaurants and in many unbelievable awesome application. Now Google is even offering Google AdWords in the Google Map. Local business can now also pay a flat fee to advertise their business on the Google map with a little icon. I am not sure what the click through rate is, but Google will try everything to use all the possible space on landscape in the Google map.

So local search marketing becomes a new trend!

Other than the above two examples. Google Places listing can definitely help local business out perform their competitors. I gave one of my neighborhood business friend a helping hand to claim their business listing on Google and helped them optimize their information. The result is great! They are on top 7 spot with almost every service they offer. For a small local businesses like this one, it’s a huge improvement!

Here are the improvement in the past 60 days.

To be honest, optimize your Google Places Listing is not very difficult. You just need to do it right. I got my own listing flagged twice, because some keywords was used in the information, which automatically raise the warning.

From Google’s eyes, there are certain words that will raise the flag and get your listing banned. Especially for those companies doing nothing but SEO, link building and PPC.

Is your local business verified on Google Map? How dose your listing ranked on the search result?

Just to give you few truly honest advices when optimizing your listing on Google Places.

• Follow the Google quality content guideline.
• Don’t Spam!
• Don’t Manipulate Keywords

Still need help? Contact me!