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Using Google Places should not be passed up by any business wishing to be found.

Google Places allows business owners to update and manage their physical business location information. This information can be used to update their business listing so that it appears correctly within Google Maps and associated Google properties and search and Display Network sites. It’s basically an online yellow pages, Google-style. Google-style being that it integrates with all Google’s wildly popular services like Google Maps.

Google Places offers an excellent way to place a business on the Web with little effort that yields excellent results. One example of its value is its potentially profound impact on SEO. A relevant local business listed with Google Places can rank higher in Google search results than many other sites that have traditionally carried more weight. What does this mean? Well, if you’re a local gym in Charleston, SC and you Google “Charleston gym,” for instance. The larger, brand name gyms in will generally pop up first in the search results because their websites have greater SEO. So, YMCA or Gold’s Gym would be at the top of the results, and your small, one location gym would be lower in the listings. Well, if you have a Google Places page, those are listed at the very top of results – above the websites like YMCA and Gold’s. Of course, if the larger gyms have Places pages, they’ll show there as well, but you’ll have much more equal billing.

If a company is just starting a business, setting up a Places page is one of the first things that should be done. This free service helps direct potential clients to your business through their simple online searches, as well as increases the business’ credibility by having this online presence with Google. For a pre-existing business, you may notice Google already has a Places page for you. In this case, it is in your best interest to “claim” this page, which can be accomplished through a relatively simple process through Google. In most cases, these unclaimed businesses won’t have the entire profile built out. This is what you’ll want to do when you gain access to your Place page. Filling in an entire profile for a business automatically gives it more weight (i.e. SEO). If the business is a brick and mortar shop, it is best to make sure the address and phone numbers are correct and listed. Adding photos of the business makes it more memorable for potential customers as well.

If you need advice on how to set your business place listing with Google, please contact us and we will be happy to help you.

Think of your website as a bakery store. You should put as much effort online as you would on a real display window. At the end of the day, your customers would expect your website to be as fresh as your physical shop display.

Open your website. Think as a customer and ask yourself the following questions. Or to make it even better, ask a few people to answer these questions:

1. Where do your eyes go first?
2. Do you know right away what this website is about?
3. Do you have to scroll down to view important information?
4. Can you easily find the benefits of the product or service you offer?
5. Are the colours and images pleasing?
6. Is the font used easy to read?
7. Does the menu clearly tell you where it will take you?
8. Is there an easy way to contact the business?
9. Can you find out more about the owner or staff of the company?
10. Do you feel personally connected?
11. Is there a contact form?
12. Is the offering good enough to make you want to give your email address?
13. Are there links to social media such as Facebook, twitter or blog?

We understand the importance of having a website that works for your business. If you would like a free website report and some advice on how you can improve your online presence,  contact us today for a complete free quotation.