Millions of People Search for Businesses and Services Using Google Places Every Day

If your business is local and caters for the needs of local customers in your area, a free placement on Google maps will make it easy for them to reach you. Google allows any business to create, edit and modify their business profile for free and and millions of businesses have already taken advantage of this free opportunity.

The importance of Google maps when it comes to a local marketing strategy cannot be underestimated. Whether your business is a big florist shop or small plumbing service, you should start thinking locally because it is where your potential customers are searching for help. Google’s local maps and Google Places are extremely important to your small business. They add more exposure in the search engines, thus generating more leads and traffic to your business. Each local business listing contains all the essential business information needed for a customer to pick you over the competition; information like your business name, addresses, website URL, phone number, pictures, videos, and reviews.

Why Aren’t You Showing up on the Front Page?

This isn’t always an easy answer, but it may be more obvious than you think. Most businesses still haven’t even claimed and completed their listings. This includes adding keywords, photos, and other essential information. Those that do have the upper-hand over those who don’t. If you haven’t claimed your listing, what are you waiting for? Google Maps and Google Places also have mobile apps for the iPhone and Android Phone, which give location specific results for your business. They help potential customers find your local business listing information while on the go. Google’s Mobile Apps will help clients find your business locally, targeting customers that are traveling in the area of your business. Many business owners want to market themselves online, but have little knowledge or understanding about Google Local Maps and Google Places. Frankly, they are losing customers and money everyday they don’t have their business on the Map.

While some businesses have claimed their listing and even ‘optimized’ it, they are still unsuccessful at getting their business to the front page results. That is because Google is looking for very specific things and most people don’t know what those things are and they aimlessly fiddle around with their settings in frustration. Additionally, some businesses have a good understanding of Google Places and may have even had some success with their listing results. But then Google shifts their algorithms and the rules suddenly change. One day you’re on top and the next day you’re no where to be found. How do you keep up with all the changes? Aren’t you supposed to be running a business and not becoming an expert on Google? If your business relies on Google local maps for its success and your listing disappears, you’re probably losing a lot of money. We know that is accurate, because it is estimated that 87% of online users search using Google for services, merchandise, and information. In anyone’s world, 87% is way too much to leave on the table, so your business better get a Google Places listing setup.

 Setting up a Google Places Listing

The first thing you’ll need to set up a Google Map or Google Places listing is a Google Account. The best part about Google accounts is that they are free. You may find that your business already has a listing, but it is unclaimed and void of any important content. These are created by Google and they are just waiting for you to claim them and optimize them. Once you have your Google account created, do a quick search for your business listing using your primary phone number to see a listing already exists.

Remember, your phone number is like a Social Security Number to Google and it is the easiest way to find your listing. If a listing exists for your business, you need to claim it. While logged into your Google account, go to your Google Places listing and Click the ‘Business Owner?’ link in the upper right hand corner. Follow the instructions for claiming the listing and be prepared to verify that you are indeed the owner. Google verifies by either sending a postcard with a pin number on it to the address of your business or with an automated phone call from Google with a pin number.

Now that you are the verified owner of the listing, you can make changes to it. Start by filling in, and correcting if necessary, all the fields in the listing. Business name, address, phone, website, pictures, hours, etc. Optimizing your listing with keywords and accurate information will put you ahead of the majority of businesses that haven’t yet claimed their listing, but it won’t get you on the front page if you have any amount of competition. Getting on the front page is difficult. Google has specific expectations, but they don’t tell you what they are and if you do it incorrectly, you may even be penalized without knowing it. This is frustrating to a lot of businesses, but it is the reality of playing in the sand in Google’s sandbox.

Do You Have the Knowledge, Skills, and Time Required to Have a Front Page Google Local Maps Placement?

If not, you’re not alone. It is probable that 99% of the business owners are more interested in running their business than figuring out Google. Those who can, turn to professionals for help. Using an expert, someone who knows what Google wants and expects, will save you a lot of time and money. So, if after completing the above procedures to claim and optimize your business listing, your still not showing up where you’d like to be on Google Maps or Google Places – consider speaking to a Google Places Professional . Doing so may help you regain your lost 90% customer base or bring you 90% more customers! Already, millions of small businesses are using Google Local Maps and Google Places, but very few of them are using it correctly. This leads to poor placement results, fewer phone calls, less sales, and more headaches. If after you’ve done all you can do on your listing and you still aren’t getting the results you desire, consider contacting a professional service; they may be able to help your business get proper page placement on the front page of Google Local Maps.

• 10 Local Marketing Ideas – part 1
• 10 Local Marketing Ideas – part 2

1. Google Local Business: (covered in part 1)
2. Internet Yellow Pages: (covered in part 1)
3. Review Sites: (covered in part 1)
4. Your Company Blog: (covered in part 2)
5. Social Media Marketing: (covered in part 2)
6. Forum Posting: (covered in part 2)

Today we will talking about specific things you can do to improve the organic ranking of your site. While some of the topics we discussed in part 1 & 2 will help boost your ranking in the search engines, the pointers we will be covering today are designed to help the search engines interpret what your site is about and where you are located.

7. On-Site SEO:

While your website may have a nice look and feel to it, what do the search engines think of it? Sites like SEO Engine and Website Grader will evaluate your content and offer a free report. Even if you do all the afore mentioned items, if your site is not isel to it, what do the search engines think of it? Sites like SEO Engine and Website Grader will evaluate your content and offer a free report. Even if you do all the afore mentioned items, if your site is not “Google worthy”, you may never rank well.

8. Video Marketing:

Many of you found this site through one of our videos. While you may not have access to the proper lighting and video editing to make a really knockout video, that doesn’t always matter. As mentioned before, people love watching videos, especially those that are amateur. So get busy! Most cell phones have video capabilities and they are usually good enough quality to get your message across effectively. Upload it to YouTube and if your channel has been setup correctly, you will get a free link from YouTube and you can easily publish that video on your site with little effort. Interactive123 does our video marketing and we have enjoyed great results from their efforts.

9. Web Directories:

While many of these are free and you should add your local business to all the relevant free directories you can find. You may want to spend a few dollars and get listed in some of the better known directories. Some high traffic directories cost as little as $1 (MrSEOdirectory.com) to as much as $30, $70, $399 (Yahoo Directory) and more. Fortunately, many of these require only a one time payment to get listed. If you can find a directory specific to your industry, consider getting listed.

10. Link Building:

Getting your keywords to the top of Google for many business owners is crucial. If you know what your customers are searching for, you might want to check out NoRank-NoPay.com. Their prices are very affordable and their online quoting tool allows you to get a price right on the spot. They provide nationwide SEO service as well as local search marketing using local keyword phrases. They can be reached at 800-244-1456.

While there are scores of other ways to develop an effective local online advertising campaign, these 10 marketing tips should get you started. While MapTraffic doesn’t provide these services, we have several vendor partners we would be happy to refer you to. they have served us well and have helped brand us as the leader in local online marketing using Google Maps. Call 888-Map-Map1 (627-6271) and ask for Dave or Katie.

1. Google Local Business: (covered in part 1)
2. Internet Yellow Pages: (covered in part 1)
3. Review Sites: (covered in part 1)
4. Your Company Blog:

Yes, a blog can mean a lot of work, but for many businesses, writing a blog post once every month or two is better than nothing at all. Now days blogging is so easy that if set up correctly, you can blog via email and even phone! What’s more is all those pictures you take of your work, upload them to your blog. Do you take videos? add them as well. Visitors love images and especially videos. Even if they aren’t studio quality. Many people tell me they prefer that since it is more believable. Most importantly though, Google loves images and video. done correctly, you could get a nice bump in your keyword rankings.

5. Social Media Marketing:

Even if you personally don’t use Twitter, Facebook and Linkedin, others do. They are free to use and can be very effective. While MapTraffic doesn’t use these social platforms as local advertising tools for our clients listings, we certainly do for our site. when we click “publish” on this post, for example, it will automatically send an update to all three of the sites mentioned. For Facebook marketing, we highly recommend Destiny Internet Marketing.

6. Forum Posting:

Nearly every niche has a forum associated with it. If you search for your industry and “forum” you will find several. I would encourage you to create an account and start contributing. Chances are, many of the forum visitors would greatly benefit from your knowledge and experience. When you are creating your profile you can even add a link to your website. If you want to take it a step further, include a signature with a link to your site. Every time you post you will create another link back to your site.

People want to work with the best in the business. By using these three suggestions, you will be able to start build a strong client base who perceives your company to be the authority in your field. When they have questions or needs, they will turn to you first for answers, products and services. when implemented correctly, customers won’t have a problem paying a little more to work with the best. While MapTraffic doesn’t provide these services directly, we will gladly share our resources with you. Our vendors have helped us become the authority in our field of online advertising: Google Maps search results. We can be reached at 888-Map-Map1 (627-6271). Ask for Dave or Katie and we would be happy to help.

As an added bonus, here is a video showing you how to get your company listed on the well-known review site; JudysBook.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Continue Reading: 10 Local Marketing Ideas – part 3

When consulting with business owners, I ask them to think of their website as a building on a hidden piece of real estate, somewhere off the beaten path. No matter how pretty that building is and how well all the features and accommodations work inside your new building, you still need traffic. Simply hanging a “Grand Opening” sign and flipping your closed sign to say “Open”, probably isn’t going to do the trick .

A website is no different. In fact most local internet advertising agencies have a saying; “If you build it they WON’T come.” It’s sad, but true. Just like your brick and mortar business, you generally need to advertise locally, outside of signs and window displays to bring in new business. But where to spend your advertising dollar, is the question? With so many marketing choices available, how do you get started?

Here are a few pointers to help you kick start you local advertising campaign without spending a lot of money:

1. Google Local Business:

If you have a business which relies on phone calls from new customers, Google Maps is the place to be. It’s free to add your company, but if you are in a competitive market, you will probably need to work with a company like MapTraffic.net which specializes in getting you on the front page of Google (when a map is displayed) using only Google authorized local marketing techniques. If you are in a small town, or in a non-competitive niche where you only have 2 or3 competitors, you can most likely get listed on the front page of Google Maps yourself. If you need help, give us a call at 888-627-6271. While we won’t give away our ‘secret sauce”, we will be happy to give you some helpful advice as well as a free evaluation.

2. Internet Yellow Pages:

Many business owners are unaware that nearly every internet yellow pages allows you to submit your company information for free. Websites like Superpages, InsiderPages, YellowPages, DexKnows and more allow you to add your listing for free. These site don’t get nearly the traffic that Google does, but still a strong listing could get you another listing on the first page of Google. You generally have to register as a user before you can add your business listing, but it’s well worth the time to get some much needed online exposure. Caution, these sites make it hard to add a free listing, but look around and you will find the link.

3. Review Sites:

CitySearch, JudysBook, YellowBot, Merchant Circle and many more allow your customers to rate your business, whether good or bad. If you provide quality products and services, these are great sites to get even more traffic. The main purpose of these sites is to make it very easy for your clients to leave a review. If you aren’t listed, they might not take the time to add you. Worse yet, they might list your business name, address and information incorrectly. Make it easy for your customers, get listed in as many review sites as you can find.

Click here to view the embedded video.

<h3>Local Marketing Video</h3>

This video demonstrates one of the review sites mentioned; YellowBot.com.

Please consider subscribing to our rss feed so you don’t miss any of our upcoming blog posts concerning local marketing.

• 10 Local Marketing Ideas – part 2
• 10 Local Marketing Ideas – part 3

1. Ava’s Day Spa and Beauty Salon
   170 Grand Avenue, St Paul, MN 55102
   (651) 222-2525
   avassalonandspa.com
   KEYWORDS:  “spa st paul” and “day spa st paul”
2. RecDirect Factory Outlets
   3715 Northcrest rd, Atlanta, GA 30340
   (404) 806-7407
   recdirectfactoryoutlets.com
   KEYWORDS: “hot tubs atlanta” and “saunas atlanta”
3. Serviced Apartments London Gold
   240, 2 Lansdowne Row, London W1J 6HL, United Kingdom
   +44 20 3318 5801 ?
   servicedapartmentslondon-now.com
   KEYWORDS: “vacation flats london”
4. Foster Law Group P.C.
   2855 N Speer Blvd, Denver, CO 80211
   (303) 297-7729 – (303) 845-9924 (Fax) ?
   denver-bankruptcy-lawyer.com
   KEYWORDS: “bankruptcy attorney denver” and “bankruptcy lawyer denver”
5. CDA- San Antonio Cosmetic Dentists
   5837 Babcock Road, San Antonio, TX 78240
   (210) 337-6453 ?
   33smile.com
   KEYWORDS: “cosmetic dentist san antonio” and “teeth whitening san antonio”
6. Dr. Judith Kanzic, D.C. Houston Chiropractor
   7702 Westview Drive, Houston, TX 77055
   (713) 683-6800
   houstonchiro.net
   KEYWORDS: “pain relief houston” “neck pain houston”
7. Los Angeles ADT Dealer
   200 N Spring Street , Los Angeles, CA 90012
   (213) 261-0655
   www.weknowalarms.com
   KEYWORDS: “Alarm Systems Los Angeles” and “Home Security Systems Los Angeles”

Because of the on-going changes we make, our clients enjoy a more stable map listing as time goes on. The longer we work with them, typically the more “locked-in” they get. If for some reason they slip, and they will, we work diligently to restore them to the position they had or better. Normally the reason for this is something the business owner has done to cause adverse results on their Google Places position.

If you are ready to get serious about your online presence and are ready to work with a company who specializes ONLY in the Google Map, then give us a call to get started. We guarantee that within 2 months we will have you on the front of the map for 3 of your 5 keyword terms as outlined in our Terms of Service. We can be reached at 888-MAP-MAP1 (888-627-6271).

The problem is, they might be calling your competitors. When people want to talk to someone and don’ necessarily need to visit a website to see work samples or read testimonials (think dentists, roofers, insurance, mechanics, etc.), they tend to look for the first phone number they can find. Since roughly 87% of online searches are performed on Google, odds are they’ll call one of the numbers on the front page. Are you on the first page of Google Maps? If not, you should be.

MapTraffic.net can help by getting you a first page listing on the map. We have identified 27 key components which Google uses to determine who gets to be on page 1 and who doesn’t. While it’s true that Google likes to shake things up quite often, we can typically figure out how they changed their algorithm by testing and have our clients back on the front page in no time. Oftentimes in less than a day. We also know that Google likes consistency and we continue to grow your online reputation each and every month. To do that requires a systematic approach and that’s where we come in.

If you are ready to kick your business up a notch and start getting more calls coming in, we can help. We aren’t afraid to take on even the most populated metro areas nor the most difficult cases. Call us today to get on page one of Google maps.

• “I’ve done everything I can do to my Google Places profile, what more can I do?”
• “The businesses on the top of the map aren’t even local.”
• “I have great reviews, my competitor writes fake reviews, so why is he on the front page of the map?”
• “If we hire your company, can we quit once we are on top?”

These are just a sampling of the comments we hear from frustrated business owners. So what is the magic formula to get on the top of the map? Well, for starters, it’s no real secret that Google wants to list businesses that are truly local to the community, have some reviews (good or bad) and have a great online web presence.

So what are your next steps? Easy, work with our company!

Seriously, we do the things that you don’t want to do, nor should have the time to do if you are busy working your business. About a month ago, Google made some changes which once again shook the whole Google Places community. At MapTraffic.net we have identified 27 different components which Google uses to determine who will be listed on the front of the map. Of those 27 one is SEO (search engine optimization). When Google made their change, most of our customers did very, very well because we have always included a small amount of Google Map SEO for our clients. Now, we just do more.

As a side note, reviews are just one of the 27 different items on the list. Unfortunately, it’s one we have no control over. We require our clients to get at least 2 reviews per month and we handle the 26 remaining items on the list. Just to emphasize, getting on the map is not simply a “who has the most reviews” race. while they are important, they are not the “special sauce”.

Our service is a monthly commitment on our part and yours. To keep someone on the front page (ideally at the top) of the Google map, requires ongoing work on our part in building a web presence that Google sees as relevant, timely and consistent. Your commitment is of course monetary, but also a small change in the way you do business. Getting customer reviews is no easy task. You will need to develop a system of working with your customers to encourage them to take action and write you an online testimonial. This is no simple task, as you will perhaps need a leave behind and follow-up system. The good news is that the system you develop will hopefully improve customer interaction and perhaps generate even more referral business.

If you are ready to take your business to the next level by getting on Google Maps and getting your phone ringing, give us a call today and we will answer your questions to the best of our ability without giving away our secret formula.  888-Map-Map1

More competitive terms like “auto glass repair san francisco ca” has 6,786 results as of 06/25/2010. So it’s no wonder you are asking the question “How do I get on Google Maps”.

What this means is that Google has narrowed down the results found from 731 & 6,786 respectively to 7! This is why many have started referring to these 7 results found on the front  page of Google Maps as the “Lucky 7″. But it doesn’t have to be luck. Our company  has identified 27 variables which Google uses when determining which companies will be displayed for the person doing the search. Obviously, they are all about quality results, so they want to make sure only the very best results are displayed.

It’s also common knowledge that Google likes to shake things up about every 3-4 months. The 7 businesses who have enjoyed being on the top of Google maps, may suddenly find them selves on page two. The good news is, our programmers know which elements Google measures, so it’s just a matter of weighting them differently and finding the right formula. Once they have determined that, we simply apply it to all our customers and they are back in the same position!

While we won’t give away any of our trade secrets, we would like to give you 3 often overlooked pointers in regards to getting your business on the front page of the Google Map.

1. You must have a completed Google Maps profile – It’s highly unlikely you will have great results without a completed profile including proper category selection, description and images.
2. Have your customers leave reviews – notice we didn’t say add your own reviews? Give Google some credit. They can tell if all three of the reviews you added 3 days ago are from the same ip address. They can also tell that for the past 90 days you have had no reviews and suddenly you have 13 reviews.
3. Hire and SEO firm, but get references – If you hire an SEO company to help get you to the top, ask for samples of their work. how competitive is the industry. Go to the second page of the map, scroll down and see how many other results there are. For example, any SEO firm could help a business get listed on the map for: “mobile home repair odessa tx” (1 result).
4. Here’s a bonus….be patient! – I know it’s difficult because you want your company on the map immediately, but Google is not so easily manipulated.

We realize we haven’t even scratched the surface of what Google is looking for, but at least you will have a start. At MapTraffic.net, we have identified 26 points which Google considers regarding where you rank on the map. We also know that from time to time they like to shake things up. When that happens, we simply go to work testing to see which of those components they are now giving more weight o and make the appropriate adjustments. At MapTraffic.net we guarantee your business a first page listing on the map within 60 days, or we refund ALL your money, and that guarantee is for 3 out of 5 keywords! Call 888–Map-Map1 today for more info.

Google Maps Search Engine Optimization

Managing a business at any level means that you are facing new challenges every day. When you are running a business, you know that it takes quite some time to make yourself known in the market and get yourself adjusted to the business environment. It’s time you move the world wide web in order to successfully implement your company. This means to make use of SEO, or as it’s known in the web marketing and web promotion industry, Search Engine Optimization

Search Engine Optimization

The higher your rank on a search engine, the easier it will be for others to find you online. This will result in the public becoming more familiar with the product or service you offer, and, accordingly, more business and profit for you as opposed to your competitors. There are many advantages and benefits of search engine optimization, because having your business outsourced to a SEO will not bring your worth down at any point, but it will, in fact, relieve you from most of the tension.

Of course, in order to benefit from SEO, you need to consider a number of factors, and before hiring any SEO company, there are things you must think through. To optimize the quality this will help you. Through devoted web masters, you can standardize and optimize your webpages, if you take advantage of experienced, SEO service providers.

Is Your Business on the Google Map?

One of the greatest benefits of getting your business outsourced to a SEO based company is that you can improve and increase your presence on the internet, and on Google in particular, and in this way reach millions of people and promote your business in multiple ways. If you appear on Google maps, you will be visible to millions and possibly billions of people all around the world. The way your business listings appear on the internet all depends on the way you appear to Google. You will be able to appear on the internet more prominently through a good SEO package of services such as the local map listing service offered through MapTraffic.net. The best methodology is through Google Map SEO. A good SEO specialist will focus primarily on Google Map Optimization and on trusted and proven tactics or strategies to improve your search results. This might appear to be simple, but it requires lots experience, practice and technical knowledge of the internet and web linking.

If you are struggling to increase web presence, consider getting an SEO service to increase your site’s ranking and its web presence. You will be exposed to a number of SEO techniques that enable you to have an improved way of enhancing your business and letting your product or service reach more people than you think possible, at any time of day. Ready to get started? Call 888-Map-Map1