Walt Goshert » Google Local Business Listing

Calling Google Kool-Aid Drinkers…

Walt Goshert — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:48:38 +0000

Here are two quick gulps, mixed up fresh from Google:

Verify Your Google Profile

You know how those social media big-shots and Celebs have “Verified Twitter Accounts”?

Well, Google gives you a tool to “Verify Your Google Profile”… without the need for a million Followers.

(WARNING: You will need to give up your Social Security Number or Credit Card Number to prove it is you.)

Setting aside Privacy concerns, if you’re looking to build a Buzz Following, a Verified Profile probably makes sense.

(click to enlarge)

Here’s the complete “How to Verify Your Google Profile”:

Are You Buzzing? Get Your Google Profile Verified

Oh, yeah… here’s another warning:

If you decide NOT to drink the Google Buzz Kool-Aid and want to deep-six Buzz, seems that Google wipes your Profile off the face of the Earth.

“Ouch, Baby, Ouch”

Ok, moving on…

Google Local Listing Enhancements

Available currently in San Jose and Houston, for 25 bucks a month, local businesses in those cities can highlight links to Photos, Videos, Coupons, and More:

(click on image to Enlarge)

For more on Google’s Enhanced Listing Experiment:

Google Local Listing Enhancements

Google Testing Enhancements to Local Listings

Even if Listing Enhancements are not currently available in your area, the one thing you MUST-DO is Claim Your Google Local Business Listing.

Make sure you add Photos, Videos, Coupons, Driving Directions, Menus, etc., and begin testing click-throughs and responses to these items on your Listing. When Enhanced Listings hit your area, you’ll then be ready to jump on the opportunity to distinguish your business from your competition.

Now before you click away and go …

Let me ask you a question.

While I like and appreciate all the Google tools and innovation…

How concerned are you about Google’s dominance and access to your private information?

___________________

Google Buzz Makes Your Profile Searchable (thaibrother.com)
Your Google Profile Is The New Resume (timelliott.us)
Using Buzz and a Google Profile (sharedcreation.com)
Google Buzz (techhotspot.com)
Speaking Of Creepy Location Features: Google’s Opt-Out Latitude Alerts (techcrunch.com)
A simple way for local businesses to enhance their listing (google-latlong.blogspot.com)

Photo Credit: Flickr lowereastside

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Google Citations: Key to 7-Pak Happiness

Walt Goshert — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 12:06:50 +0000

In the Google Game, citations are a good thing for local businesses looking to rise to the top of their Local Business rankings… and break into the 7-Pak Space of Happiness for your Local Business.

David Mihm, a Local Search expert, defines Google Local Business Citations as:

“Any page that is listed under the “Web Page” tab inside a Google Local Business Listing.”

Citations are “mentions” of your Local Business Name and Address on other websites, even if there is no link back to your website. For instance, your business might be listed at YellowPages.com without a link back to your site. Congrats… you got a citation.

Most Local SEO gurus agree that citations are a key, if not THE key, factor in how Google determines rankings in the 7-Pak of Local Business Listings. Everything else being equal, the business with the most citations, especially citations from recognized Local business sites, wins the ranking game, getting their listing pushed to the top.

Google Local business citations validate that a business is part of a local community. For example, a citation from Acxiom, who lists only Business Land Phone lines, and the Local Chamber of Commerce, confirms that a business is who they claim to be on their Google Local Business Listing.

So, what you want for your Local business is more citations, and citations from the Right Sources.

You’ll want to gather citations from these sources:

1. Local Search Engines-

Make sure your Local business is listed on all the major Local Search Engines.

2. Local Blogs-

Seek out Local or Hyper-Local blogs in your area.

Simply perform a search:
“[your city] blog” or,
“[your neighborhood] blog”

Blogs are typically well-indexed in Search Engines. Businesses listed or linked to in Local Blogs are viewed as trusted, relevant results in Local Search.

3. Local Directories

Check out Best of the Web’s Regional Directory and Yahoo’s Regional Directory.

Also, do a search, same as you did for blogs:

“[your city] directory”

“[your state] directory”

4. Don’t Forget Industry Directories and Blogs

Check out the Membership Directory of your Trade Association, Vendor Listings, and Industry-specific blogs. Even if these websites or directories are not focused on your particular area, they no doubt include topics and keywords related to the products/services you offer. Chances are the Local Search engines will crawl these sites and count it as a citation source when they find your Local business listed on these sites.

Search:

“[your industry] directory”
“[your keyword] directory”

You’ll find sites for potential listings, links, and citations.

5. Check Your Citations for Accuracy

Visit the search engines, directories, blogs, and sites where you’ve submitted your business. Make sure your business name, address, and phone number is listed correctly and consistently the same across all the sites.

Time and effort you spend in these four areas will pay dividends in beefing up your Google Local Business Citations. While it’s important to gather citations for your Google Local Business Listing as soon as you can, make it a point to constantly keep your eyes open for places where you can earn citations. When your business shows at the top of Google’s 7-Pak in your area for the type of product/service you offer, you’re positioned to grab more sales and customers.

The Google 7-PAK is Your Happy Space Online. Your Business Citations help you enter your 7-PAK Happy Space.

Flickr Photo Credit: House of Sims

Understanding Local Listing Sites as Google Changes the Game (marketingvox.com)
Improve Your Online Business With Search Engine Optimization (SEO) (webmanmarketing.com)
Gain the Top Spot In Google (lazerpromotions.com)
Improve Your Web Site Ranking With These 5 tips (ronmedlin.com)
Dealing with multiple phone numbers in Google Local (blogstorm.co.uk)

Google Local Business Listing: Video

Walt Goshert — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 14:04:13 +0000

Wanna know the trick to making your Google Local Business Listing Rock?

Rock… meaning prospects actually visiting your website, calling you for appointments, hiring you, giving you money?

One word:

Video

Video is the ultimate killer app for Local businesses.

And it starts with adding video to your Google Local Business Listing.

Here are the reasons why you want to seriously consider adding video to your Google Local Business Listing, and spread your videos to other sites online.

1. Everyone has grown up in the TV, video game, multi-media World. Most of us like and prefer our information and entertainment served up in video- pictures, audio, and context.

2. Online video, while inexpensive and relatively simple to create and upload online, is technically more challenging to create and do. This narrows the playing field. Many Local businesses will not get involved with video.

3. Video has viral potential. YouTube is now the Number 2 online Search Engine behind Google, and the 4th most visited site in the U.S.

4. Online video is now more accessible with increased broadband connections, and 3 and 4G mobile access with more and more people using smart phones, such as iPhones and BlackBerrys.

Rocking Your Local Business with Video has never been easier.

You have two simple and inexpensive ways to get started with video for your Local business.

1. Use Screen Capture software or still Photos, Audio, and Text to create a Video Slide Show.

You don’t need tons of expensive equipment- video cameras, lighting, and software to create and edit video. It doesn’t take lots of time or any special “film school skill” to crank out interesting, compelling videos. In fact, you don’t even need a video camera to create videos!

You can create effective videos that showcase your Local business. You can tell your unique Local business story simply with photos, audio, and text. With programs already available on your computer such as Power Point and Windows Media, you can pull together videos. Or, check out onetruemedia.com, stupeflix.com , or animoto.com- free online sites where you can take your photos, audio, and text and create “instant videos”.

One of the easiest Free online Screen Capture tools to use is the Picnik Firefox add-on.

2. Flip Video Camera

For now under a $150 you can get an easy-to-use, take-everywhere, pocket-sized simple Flip Video Camera. With the Flip Video Camera, upload to YouTube is a simple “one-click”.

While a Flip Video Camera isn’t going to deliver professional grade quality video, it does put in your hands a simple, easy-to-use tool, to capture authentic, real moments about your Local business- your staff, demonstrating a product, describing a service, interviewing a client about their experience working with you

Here’s the thing…

Real and authentic trumps slick and ad-agency produced. People online can smell a slick, produced sales pitch a mile away nowadays. Folks are looking to plug into a community, to be part of something important to them and their lives. Capture unguarded 30 second to 3 minute moments in your business. Share your Local business moments with your prospects and clients using video and you have a powerful way to build community and naturally draw sales towards your business.

Post Your Video to your Google Local Business Listing

To post your videos to your Google Local Business Listing, you must first upload them to YouTube.

Go to YouTube.com and set-up your account. Pick the best name possible for your YouTube Channel, your Local Business name. Make sure you complete the YouTube Profile information. You’ll be indexed and easier to find. On your YouTube Channel, you can customize colors and background to match your Local business identity. You’ll want to add keywords about your business and a link back to your website. Here’s an example of a customized Local business YouTube channel: BMW of Freehold,NJ

After you upload your videos to YouTube, simply copy and paste the video URL (website address) into your Google Local Business Listing form.

For Free Video marketing tips, and a free site where you can syndicate (share and spread your videos far and wide) your Local business videos on the Internet, check out TubeMogul.

The key with video is it doesn’t have to be Hollywood or TV grade quality. Lots of people get hung-up on this thinking this is what their prospects and clients expect.

It doesn’t matter if it’s good, bad, goofy, funny, or even lame. Start recording.

Put your videos out there, starting with your Google Local Business Listing and have your online community spread ‘em for you.

Flickr Photo Credit: Carissa GoodNCrazy

Top Ten Reasons Why You Must Add Video to Your Marketing Mix This Fall (biztipsblog.com)
YouTube reaches fifth birthday (guardian.co.uk)
Google Local Business: How to get your business to appear at the top of the local search engine results at no cost (krishnade.com)

Google Local Business Listing:Photo Tweaks and Tips

Walt Goshert — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:28:51 +0000

Now, you’ve claimed your Google Local Business Listing…

But, one or two lame photos?

Come on… Show me more!

Ok, so, you’re asking…

“Why is it so freakin’ important to add my own photos, with Keyword Tags, to my Google Local Business Listing?… I got a real business to run here!”

First of all…

If you don’t, there’s a chance Google will auto-fill your Local Business Listing with stock photos…

Or… even worse…

Photos of your competitor.

Now aside from Google taking liberties with your Local Business Listing, you probably already realize…

Pictures DO paint a story and stir the imagination in the minds of your prospects and clients.

Today’s online world is a multi-media experience. Plain old text ain’t gonna cut it.

While Local SEO pros are divided about how much influence photos have in determining your Google Local Business Listing rank in the 7-Pak rankings, everyone pretty much agrees…

Photos do improve Click Through Rates to your website, potential phone call inquiries, and visits to your store, shop, or showroom.

Your Google Local Business Listing accommodates 10 photos. Use a variety of photos to portray your Local business.

Your location/building/store front.
You and your staff
Your Products
Your Services

In addition to adding your 10 Photos to your Google Local Business Listing,here are two tricks to get the most mileage from your Photos online.

1. “Tag” all your Photos with Category and Geo-Targeted keywords. For example:

“kitchen design/build , Lancaster County PA” on a Photo of a recent kitchen remodel project.

Tagging helps the search engines find keyword information. Tagging your Photos also makes organizing them easier. As you take and add photos to your website and other areas online, when you’ve added tags, it’s easier to sort and find related photos- both for you when creating new content, and visitors to your website.

2. Post your Photos not only on your Google Local Business Listing, but also add your Photos (with keyword “Tags” of course) to:

Picasa- Google’s Photo sharing site.
Flickr- Yahoo’s popular online Photo sharing site

Now, with only a bit more time and effort, after you’ve posted 10 Photos on your Google Local business Listing, 10 Photos on your Picasa site, 10 Photos at your Flickr account, you’ve now claimed 30 more spots, with your keywords added, for your Local Business. You’ve taken one little additional step. Yes, while it might seem like a waste of time and duplication of information, keep in mind this information you provide goes into the huge Internet database. Search Engines are simple the tools your prospects use to find information in this database.

It’s these little tweaks… claiming your Google Local Business Listing, and then taking the steps that 99% of businesses don’t take, like adding photo Keyword tags and then posting to Photo sharing sites…

These are the little things that make the difference of your business getting found on-line rather than your competition.

Not only have you claimed more spots in the Google Game. You’ve given your prospects an interesting way to learn more about your business.

Oh, one more thing. Each day, more and more Local Business sites and Directories give you the ability to create free Local Business Listing. Many of these sites have the option to upload and add your Photos.

You’ll want to claim your Local Business listing at these sites, and while you’re there add your Photos.

Check out sites to list your Local business for Free such as MerchantCircle.com, Kudzu.com, and Yelp.com.

Plus, don’t forget possibly the Number One place to Profile your Local Business… with unlimited keyword tagged Photos.

Do you know you can create a Business Page on the one of the top five busiest sites Online… for Free?

And include unlimited, keyword tagged photos, with links back to your website?

Yep, a Facebook Business Page allows you to upload and create Photo albums of your Local Business.

Stay tuned…

More Google Local Business Listing Tips.

And Coming Soon:

All about Facebook Business Pages

Flickr Photo Credit: victoriapeckham

More on Google Local Business Listings:

Understanding Local Listing Sites as Google Changes the Game (marketingvox.com)
Local business listings hijackings

Google Local Business Listing: Step-By-Step Guide

Walt Goshert — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:54:23 +0000

Your Google Local Business Listing is possibly the single most important thing you MUST-DO to get your local business found online.

Why?

Over 10 Billion unique searches done each month…
… and that’s just in the United States!
Of those searches…
·        40% of queries have Local intent
·        5% use the city and/or state name
·        2% use informal terms, like neighborhoods
·        0.5% use zip codes
All of these searches return results from Local search engines, with Google delivering over 60% of them.
So, if you want potential customers to find you when they’re searching online…

The obvious first place you want to go and claim your online stake is your Google Local Business Listing.

IMPORTANT WARNING:

If you don’t claim your Local Business Listing, Google will attempt to pull your Local business information from a 3rd party site. The information usually is incomplete or inaccurate.
Since your Google Local Business Listing has the power to drive significant targeted traffic to your website and your business, you don’t want your listing information merged with another business. (especially a competitor’s)

Claiming your Google Local Business Listing is simple.

Here are Google’s step-by-step instructions, along with some basic tips you’ll need to know: (look for NOTE:)

1.    If you already have a Google Account, sign in with your email and password. You can also use an AdWords login address and password, if you have one.
2.    Click on Business Solutions on the main Google Page, then Local Business Center.
3.    If you don’t have a Google Account, click Sign up for an account now, or click here to go straight to the sign-up page.

4. On the Local Business Center homepage, click Add new business.

5. Fill out the basic information about your business. This includes:
Company/Organization: This is the official/registered name of your business. NOTE: Make sure your Business Name is exactly as it appears in the physical world, such as how it’s printed in the Yellow Pages. Do not add keywords, phrases, or names of towns. Keep how your Business name is shown consistent.
Address (required): The address should look exactly the way you’d write it on a paper mailing envelope. If your business services several areas, you can create one listing under a PO Box.
Phone Number (required): Be sure to include your area code with your phone number. NOTE: Make sure your area code matches the area code for your location area.
Website: This can be a maximum of 255 characters. NOTE: Add your email address in the prior field, if you respond to email inquiries. Best to use a Business Domain email that matches your website address. Also, the more information that matches up between your website and your Google Local Business Listing the better.
Description: Tell users what makes your business special. NOTE: What do you do? Who do you do it for? Where do you do it? Be concise. Do not keyword stuff with names of cities and towns.

6. Click Next.You’ll now have the opportunity to provide the following information about your business:
Categories: Enter several categories to describe your business, to make it easier for others to find when they search Maps. Google will automatically suggest categories as you type. You can enter up to 5 categories for your business. NOTE: Make sure to select your main part of your business operation to avoid being mis-categorized. Make sure the categories you choose are accurate and describe your business properly. Here John Jantsch suggests a tweak to your Category Listings. Matthew Hunt, a local search specialist, warns about using this technique in the comments. I tend to agree with Matthew. Be careful about using geo-indicators in your Categories.
Hours of operation: Select your hours of operation using the dropdown menus. If you prefer not to specify your hours of operation, keep the radio button selected next to ‘I prefer not to specify operating hours.’
Payment options: Select the checkboxes next to the payment methods that your business accepts.
Photos: Use the photo uploader to add a photo from your computer, or specify a URL to add a photo from the web. You can add up to 10 photos to your listing. NOTE: While there’s no hard evidence that adding photos and videos helps your Local Business Listing rankings, Photos and Videos DO increase click-throughs to your website, calls to your business, and visits. Take time to include them.
Video: To add a video, upload it to YouTube and enter its URL. You can add up to 5 videos to your listing. For help with uploading your video to YouTube, read the article on how to upload in the YouTube Help Center.
Additional details: Use this section to add your own information fields to your listing. For example, parking availability,specific Brands you represent, or whether your business allows pets.

7. You can see your listing as it will appear in Maps on the right side of your screen, and new information will appear as you enter it. When it looks the way you want it to, click Submit at the bottom of the page.

8. Choose how you would like to verify your listing. Choose Phone verification and you’ll receive an automated Google Verification call asking for your PIN number immediately.Click Finish after you’ve gotten your call and verified your listing.

One final NOTE:

After a day or two, visit getlisted.org to check your Google Local Business Listing.

GetListed.org is completely free to use. It was created for Local business owners to learn more about how their business is listed online. You’ll want to Bookmark GetListed.org and check you Google Local Business Listing frequently to make sure everything remains accurate and up-to-date.

One Final Suggestion:

While you’re at getlisted.org, claim your Local Business Listings at the other sites… Bing, Yahoo, Best of the Web…

Make it easy for your prospects and customers to find your Local Business On-line.

Google Local Business Listings are Being Hijacked Again (searchengineguide.com)
Understanding Local Listing Sites as Google Changes the Game (marketingvox.com)
The Rise of Google Local Business Listings (blogstorm.co.uk)
Optimize Your Website For Bing The Right Way (ronmedlin.com)

Walt Goshert » Google Local Business Listing

Calling Google Kool-Aid Drinkers…

Verify Your Google Profile

Google Local Listing Enhancements

Related Google Buzz articles:

Google Citations: Key to 7-Pak Happiness

Related articles on Google Local Business Listings:

Google Local Business Listing: Video

Video is the ultimate killer app for Local businesses.

Rocking Your Local Business with Video has never been easier.

Post Your Video to your Google Local Business Listing

More on Google Local Business Listings, Video, and YouTube:

Google Local Business Listing:Photo Tweaks and Tips

“Why is it so freakin’ important to add my own photos, with Keyword Tags, to my Google Local Business Listing?… I got a real business to run here!”

Google Local Business Listing: Step-By-Step Guide

More on Google Local Business Listings: