Google’s “Local Business Results” Map Listings Are Great Free Advertising

Your Listing Might Be Included in Results for Neighboring Cities, Too – Who Would Argue More Exposure?

This is a quick addition to the post I made the other day about my top rankings for Franklin, Tennessee in Google’s local search map results.

The city my business is located in, and how it is listed with Google is Franklin – just outside of Nashville. To show you the extended benefit of getting your business listed in Google’s free “Local Business Results” map, here’s a screen shot taken today (June 18, 2008) and look! I am #1 in the local map listing for “search engine optimization consultant Nashville Tennessee”.

Note that there are three organic search results, then there is the Google local results map, and then organic rankings continue down below it. Isn’t it interesting that based on Google’s algorithms, the local search result map was placed in what amounts to position #4.

On top of that, I am in the top result on the map. And note that the other firm that is listed is actually a Nashville based firm. Remember … I am technically a Franklin-based SEO business!

Hmmm … I’ve no complaints about that! Guess I do a pretty darn good job when it comes to search engine optimization.

So, here the bottom line is: don’t ignore the FREE advertising space Google’s “Local Business Results” map listing provides. Not only may it be of great benefit to you when people are searching for you in the town where your business is actually located, but you just may find yourself in the search results for neighboring towns, too.

Take Advantage Of Google’s Free “Local Business Results” Map Listing

If You’re Not Taking Advantage of this Free Google Results Real Estate – Don’t Hesitate a Minute Longer!

Are you taking advantage of the FREE opportunity to have yet another place for your website to show up in Google’s organic rankings? Have you taken the 5-minutes to sign up and fill in the information for the Google “Local Business Results” Maps? If not, I highly encourage you to do so.

Google’s Local Maps Listing is a Way to Showcase Your Business Via an Eyecatching Map

Nothing like having great organic search rankings for the local search results that Google returns for my SEO consulting business. I have (of course!) made sure to optimize a number of pages on this website for the city, county and state in which my business resides. These pages normally rank up in the top-ten results for the keyword phrases that I’ve targeted.

To learn how to search engine optimize your site’s content for top ranking local results, please read my post: How To Effectively SEO Your Website To Be Local Search-Friendly

But how would you like to see your business listed above the top-ten local results on page one? You can, if you utilize the small business maps feature. Even if you are not in a top-ten, or even a top 40 organic listing for the targeted keywords being queried, you still might very well get a #1, #2 or even #3 placement on the map which then puts your small business name up at the top of the first results page!

Real Time Examples

I am pleased to show you two examples of my #1 ranking positions (screenshots taken June 13, 2008). I have held these map-listings top positions for quite some time, so obviously I have done a good job of providing targeted, keyword focused information for the local listings.

And this one …

It’s great to get listed in this way, as not only is there value in being shown in the listing, but the map is interactive just like regular Google maps, so people can click on the map to find driving directions; or they can click on the “more info” link that takes them to the information about the services I offer that I made sure to list when I set up my map listing.

Note that you are able to edit and/or add more information to your business profile after it has been approved for listing, so you are not “stuck” with the original information provided.

Case in point: I recently added another keyword phrase to the description for a service that I do truly offer to clients. That extra keyword phrase also helps me come up for other local search terms a potential client might be typing in.

Do not discount the value of getting your online business listed in Google’s local search map. It is free and quick to do.

Also, when I updated my information the other day, I was pleased to find that now they have an instant validation method, whereby Google calls you within seconds of hitting the submit button, and immediately authenticates you as being legitimate and your listing is immediately approved! How great is that?

Previously, the only option was to wait to receive a post card at the address you listed for your business, and it contained a pin number that you keyed in online to activate your listing. This option is still available and sometimes the only option available (depending upon the type of changes you are making to a listing), but I was pleased to see they’ve tried to make the whole process easier and quicker for those of us who don’t like waiting.

Your Organic Listing Does Not Affect the Position of the Map Listing

As I mentioned previously, Google determines how to rank the local map listings, just like they determine how the organic results are returned. So, don’t fret if your organic listing isn’t yet a top-ten position. It will not affect your chance at possibly achieving the #1 slot for the local map.

Make sure to use your targeted keyword phrases that best describe your business when you fill in the listing description! Google is going to take your entire listing description into consideration when it comes to what position they give you. You will have to deal with the same ranking issues, more or less, like you do in the regular rankings. Google has their criteria as to who is #1 and so on! So write a great description and keep your fingers crossed (just in case ).

You could be #1 or all the way down to #10 in the map listings. Again, Google has their secret way of figuring out who ranks where. In addition, your position is affected by the number of other businesses that have taken the time to submit their information … ranking competition exists in local maps, too!

For Some of You, the Coupon Feature Might Really Help Stimulate a Few More Sales!

Depending on the nature and niche of your business, offering a coupon of some sort might really be a winner with the people who are searching for your product or services online. Well, guess what? Google has integrated the ability for you to create free printable coupons that will be included with your local business listing.

As Google states, “A new way to attract customers. Adding coupons to your listing in Google Maps will bring new customers to your business. The better savings you offer, the more customers you’ll gain.”

Maybe you sell auto parts; maybe you are a barber or hairdresser; maybe you own a local restaurant; maybe you are the local florist; whatever your business may be … a Google small business map listing isn’t just for those of us who have internet based businesses. Brick and mortar businesses can benefit greatly, too!

All-in-all, you can’t go wrong by taking the time to include your small business listing in the local maps feature. To learn all about it, or to start right now and fill out the information needed, please refer to Google’s Local Business Center. (You need to have a free Google account set up in order to take advantage of the free listing.)

How To Effectively SEO Your Website To Be Local Search-Friendly

Whether You Own a Traditional Storefront Business or Work From Home … Make Sure Your Website is “Localized”

The SEO experts predicted there was going to be a big explosion in local online advertising in 2007. Possibly as much as a 30%+ growth rate. And it does seem that prediction came true. I don’t think we’ll see any slow-down in this trend.

Let’s face it … more and more people are buying computers, so of course these folks (consumers) are going online to find whatever product or service they need. In many instances, these people do want to find a physical establishment to drive to and visit. So, if you maintain a traditional brick and mortar storefront, you NEED to get an online presence in order to try and capture those potential customers who are looking for what you sell or offer in services. I will wager you’d welcome more business (which hopefully equates into more income!).

For those of us who work at home, myself included … we, too, need to take advantage of letting those internet searchers know about our geographic location. I’ve had some very nice clients based on the fact they wanted to deal with an SEO consultant who also lived nearby their city, or in a couple of other cases, who at least lived in their state. Even though all our contact was over the phone or internet, these clients were reassured in some way that I was “within their radar”.

So then, what does this trend in localized online advertising mean to you, me and our websites? It means that Google, Yahoo and MSN have become very aware of this trend and they’ve made darn sure their little spiders know what to look for as they crawl around. These spider-bots are looking for information pertaining to the specifics of our business address.

So, here are some of my professional search engine optimization recommendations on how to make your website and web pages more local search-friendly:

• 1. Have your physical location on every page of your website. Believe it or not, too many small businesses do NOT do this! If you work from home and don’t want to list your home address in order to protect your privacy, then you could get a mailbox at your local post office or at a “rent-a-mailbox” store. You can provide this information either in the footer at the bottom of each web page, or in the sidebar or within a widget on your blog.
• 2. Your local phone number needs to be on every page of your website. I’m not talking about an 800 number. I mean an actual local phone number with your area code. Those search engine spiders want to “see” a local number because it’s one more way the engines connect you to your location. (And by the way, 800 numbers are wonderful for your customers, just not great for SEO purposes.)
• 3. Place your physical address at the top of your “Contact Us” page. Yes, give yourself a little SEO boost by placing your street address, city, state, ZIP code, and local phone number right at the top of the page where the spiders will get to it quickly.
• 4. If you have a real brick and mortar establishment: create a page on your website titled “Directions” or “Location” or “Visit Us” (or similar). Make sure to clearly define where your business is located and how your customers can get to you. Be very descriptive and offer lots of location descriptions. This helps your customers and once again, gives those search engine spiders valuable information. It’s OK to use a Google Maps or MapQuest image. Just don’t let a map image be the only thing on this web page.
• 5.Mention the name of a shopping mall, or industrial park, or other significant place (street, avenue, etc.) that will help people find you. Mention you are “nearby historic Washington Square” or other details like these to make this page a nice meaty one for the spiders.
• 6.Driving directions from all directions should also be included. Use lots of descriptions as I’ve just explained.
• 7. Link to Google Maps and Yahoo Maps on your “Location” page. You can get a free-to-use link from both of these search engines. Many experts feel that it is beneficial to utilize these links on one’s website because they both include the latitude and longitude of the location in the URL, and that can help the spiders learn more about where you are.
• 8. Wherever appropriate, include your location in your page Titles. Titles carry a lot of search engine ranking importance … so take advantage of this. To learn about Title tags, please read: Why the Title Tag is So Very Important.
• 9. Make sure to list all the cities and towns your business covers. If your business is located in Smalltown, but you also serve many other outlying locations, then by all means do list those on your Home page, About Us page, or your Contact page.
• 10. List your street, city, state and zip code in the “keyword” meta tags for all your web pages. Though with Google it is true that the keyword meta tag is “good for nothing” nowadays, I am of the belief that you needn’t ignore it. There are still some minor search engine spiders that look at it.
• 11. Finally, do take advantage of internal linking opportunities with effectively worded anchor text. When linking to your “Location” page, don’t say “Click Here for Directions”. Be specific! State: “Click here for directions to our Name-of-your-town, State-name location”.

Right at this moment, someone could very well be searching for your products or services … is your website properly SEO’d for high ranking local search results?