New Google Places: Local Business Tips

As the new Google “Places” replaces the Google Maps/local business listings across the web, I thought I’d gather some of the most critical information for local businesses to consider.

Google listings and maps results are shown whenever Google detects a search with local internet. In the past, the results for a Hartford CT Plumber looked like this:

Listings were delivered next to the map via the “7 pack”, with PPC ads above or on right, and organic results (432,000 of them) below.

The new search results for the same query now looks like this:

They’re different variations, but here you’ll see the map is moved to the top right, with PPC ads below. PPC ads remain in center top position, and organic links (831,000 of them) are sprinkled above and below the more descriptive 7- pack listings. Links for all these business listings are now tied to Google Place pages. An interesting observation: organic results increased by almost 400,000? It appears as if the plumbing industry in Hartford is booming! Seriously, I can’t imagine why that is, but as always, the key is ranking as close to the first page as possible with your most important keywords.

So, how can the local business remain as visible as possible? Clearly, there is a heavier emphasis on organic relevancy. More information is being delivered on these new pages – and if your website is optimized there is a new opportunity to be ranked on the first page. Links still appear to be an important factor, as this article suggests. The race is on while everyone will be trying to figure this out, so get a SEO professional hired, and consider a new website if yours is not embedded with good local content, or is not compatible with mobile browsers. Local SEO expert Andrew Shotland put together some additional SEO related considerations related to Google Places.

PPC advertising remains a no-brainer, and I’ve always recommended outside help here as well. Qualified PPC firms can provide maximum ROI and full reporting/call tracking while the business owners can continue doing what they do best; running their own businesses.

Lastly, the new Place Pages require some of your attention, and for good reason. Google is now driving as much traffic to these self-edited pages as they build deeper local content. Already, there are 50 million locations in their database, and your’s may be waiting to be claimed. There are many options and “best practices” with this process so don’t hesitate in researching further, or getting some professional assistance.

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