Help customers find you using Google Places. Millions of people search Google every day. Google Places helps your customers find you; the listings are not only free but also easy to use. Google is now focusing more and more on localised search results which are becoming more prominent in the business community. Businesses need to become more aware of the need to have a Google Places in their online profile.

Your local customers are already searching for the products and services you offer in Google. Why not make it easy for them to physically find you with Google search and in Google Maps? Google Places is a good place to start.

Google Places is a great solution for businesses of any size; whether you run a single dentist's office or dozens of coffee shops.

If your business has many locations, you can list multiple offices separately and still manage all your listings from one single account. You can update or edit your listing at any time.

Currently, businesses are only setting up very basic profiles believing that having the actual listing is enough to start capturing local traffic.

It’s good to know that there is a little more to it than just having a listed profile. Most businesses are overlooking some very important areas.

Profile Description:
Profile descriptions give you a  chance to give Google and potential customers a brief overview of what your business has to offer. You have 200 characters and you should be using them all. Your description should include your most important keywords, but remember to keep it short and to the point. Remember you only have 200 characters, so don’t waste time with superfluous details such as when your company was established, how many employees you have or that it’s a family run business. People want to know what problems you solve, not statistics on your business.

Categories:
Google gives you the option to include up to five, so make sure you use all of them. You will find that at least one has to be from the selection offered by Google but the other four are yours to create (if no other relevant options are on offer). Use Google’s options where possible if not create and make them relevant.

Products:
For those business offering a diverse range of products or services, it’s important that these are properly highlighted.  You can even include a description for each, make sure you include one.  This information should be included in the “Additional Details” section.

Images and Videos:
Another field that is overlooked more often than not is the option to upload images and videos. This can appear pointless, but creating a well presented profile page can be more appealing to potential customers. You are allowed to upload up to ten images. If you offer a range of products this gives you the chance to showcase them.

Further Details:
Include a contact Email address
Include the areas you cover. If it’s more local then include these areas.
Payment Methods, if you take online payment include your payment methods.
Hours of Operation, include the hours your business is open

After the Do’s here’s an important Don’t:
Your Business Name: There is a temptation to include your strongest key term to your Business name in the belief that it will help you rank. Don’t. For a while it was banded around that this was the thing to do, it’s not. Google will spot this a mile off and it could work against you. If your company name is simply ABC Printing then that is what you should include.

So if you don’t already have your business listed, I would recommend you got to Google Places straight away and upload your business information.

Niall Power

www.tribalise.com

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