If you want to get seen online, if you want to tap into the masses who are searching for businesses like yours - the very first step is to set up, claim, or check on, your Google Place. A free Google Place is the single best thing any business can do to make sure they are listed and searchable on the web. Setting it up is fast and free and enables you to define your business to Google and its users which account for 67% of all searches (according to comScore Sept 2012).
When you set up your Google Place you’ll tell the world what you do, what your hours are, your location, how you get paid and much more. You’ll tell Google searchers what categories you do business in and what geographic territory to cover. Your Google Place will literally “put you on the map”. When someone does a search of “your category of business” you’ll be found and a pin will show up on the Google Map. Your pin will be the same size as your very largest competitor – leveling the playing field.
To set up your Google Place, or to claim your business, visit the link below and follow the instructions. Not just anyone can claim a business – Google will verify your listing by calling you with a short code to enter or if that becomes an issue they can also mail you a post card with the code. Once you enter it you’ll be able to update the listing, add pictures, link to other web locations, create promotions and much more.
This is also the same place where customers can post reviews – good and bad - more about that in my next post.
http://www.google.com/local/add/analyticsSplashPage?pli=1
Google Place - Taylor Made Communications, LLC
