Google Places

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Have you noticed that if you search for certain keywords such as “dentist” or “driving instructor” Google displays local search results with a map like this?

Google can determine your approximate location from your IP address and attempt to display relevent results.

Just like regular search listings can be optimised for a higher position, Google Places pages can also be optimised so that your site has a page one ranking.

There are certain factors that effect ranking position on Google Places:

• Keywords
  Only certain keywords trigger Google Places listing. Keyword research is essential to get significant traffic from Google Places listings.
• Relevency
  Google determine the revelency of Places listings by a number of factors including reviews, photos, videos, website link, all listing details completed including hours of operation, and citations (external websites mentioning your business name, address and telephone number).

One Box Listings

Google will sometimes show just one listing for a company if they believe that it is the most relevent result for a particular local search. This is known as a “one box” listing on Google Places. To achieve a one box listing you must show Google that your business is the number one most relevent result for your area.

How we optimise Google Places listings

• Adding Your Business
  If you don’t already have a listing on Google Places we will suggest your listing to Google using an independent Google account, as if one of your best customers suggested the listing. We will ensure that all details are added correctly including proper selection of business categories.
• Claiming Your Listing
  Usually within the next 24 hours your listing will appear and we can claim your listing using a Google account registered to your companies email address.
• Phone Verifying Your Listing
  For a fast listing on Google Places phone verification is the best way, rather than waiting for Google to send a postcard which could take several days or weeks and might even get lost in the post.
• Optimising Your Listing
  Next we complete all the information required by Google Places so that you have a 100% complete listing. This includes filling out all fields including your hours of opening, payment methods, company description and more. We make maximum use of the “Additional Details” area to include all your relevent keywords.
• Offers and Coupons
  We include two offers of value with a strong call to action.
• Photos and Videos
  We geo-tag photos and upload them to Panoramio (also owned by Google). We also geo-tag videos in YouTube with your business address and include these in your Google Places listing.
• Off-site Citations
  In traditional search results the number of incoming links effects ranking but in Google Places results the number of websites citing your business address and telephone number effects the ranking in the local search results. Our research shows that the number of quality off-site citations helps to get a higher position for your Google Places listing. We use top internet directories to create pages citing your business.
• Geo-tagging your Webcam (optional)
  If your company has a webcam we can geo-tag it on webcams.travel so that it appears on the Google Maps search. This provides extra trusted information to Google and an additional citation.
• Review Posting
  We can help to formulate a strategy for getting more reviews to your Google Places listing. The more reviews your listing has the greater the chance of your listing outranking your competitors.
• Link Building
  Google have recently incorporated backlink counts into the algorithm for local search. We will build high quality links to your website to help your local search listing outrank your competitors as quickly as possible.
• KML Files
  We create a KML file and upload it to your domain before notifying Google of the KML file location. This informs Google of the geographic location(s) of your business and helps it to rank in local search.
• Setting up a Facebook Fan Page
  We will create a Facebook Fan Page for your business and help you to invite your clients to become Fans of your business to help spread the word about your company on social media.

If you would like help getting a top ranking on Google Places call James on 01332 898879.