The Importance of Google Places for Your Small Business
- by Matthew McNairy, January 24, 2012
If you haven’t noticed, your recent Google search results likely feature more local listings. The reason for this change is the increased importance of Google Places in the results formula, which is good news for your small business.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) company SEOmoz completed eye-tracking studies a few months back on Google’s search engine results page (SERP). While it’s understood that users typically read results in an “F-shaped” pattern, the studies indicated that Places in the listings had an even stronger pull.
Because local SEO is becoming a more critical piece to business, it’s imperative that small companies take advantage of Google Places. If your business is not registered on Google places, make sure you do so immediately. Below are some additional tips for increasing and improving your profile:
1) Optimize Your Places Page – Make sure that your page tracks back to your correct city landing page. You also need to ensure that your business is categorized correctly. People won’t find a communications company if you’re listed as home improvement.
2) Confirm Information Consistency – Your business information needs to be written the same in all locations. Indianapolis and Ind. are not the same thing. Make sure you smooth out the wrinkles.
3) Build a Portfolio of Reviews – You want to increase your online presence – reviews are an excellent way to draw attention. And don’t forget to use an aggregator like Yelp to grow opportunities.
Are you unsure whether your business is registered correctly on Google places? Contact us today! We’d be happy to help you increase your online presence.