There is one space on the Internet that every business owner covets–The top section of the first search engine results page. There is one easy way to get there and it doesn’t even require a website. Claim your Google Places Page.
You want to claim your Google Places Page to get killer results in local search engine listings. For example if someone is looking for a flower shop in San Luis Obispo Google will often show a listing of several local flower shops next to a map of where they are located. These listings appear usually below the sponsored listings but above organic search results. This is prime search engine results page real estate!
The best part of it is that you don’t even need to have a website.
How to claim your Google Places Page
Simply go to Google Places
Click on “List Your Business”
Enter your phone number to see if you business is already listed. If it isn’t you’ll be given the opportunity to list details, like your address, hours of operation, etc., But you’ll also get to enter up to 10 photos and up to five YouTube videos about your business. This is a great way to enhance the listing. Your can include pictures of your storefront, your products or videos demonstrating your product or just introducing your services.
Once you’ve entered your information Google will call you (or you can opt for a postcard, which takes a few days) to provide you with a pin number. Enter that pin number on the screen to validate that you are the business owner. Then in about a day your listing will appear in the Google Places map.
The very best part about this is that few business owners are taking advantage of this free way to draw attention to their business. Maybe you’ll be the first in your city. If you have questions about the best way to enhance your Google Places Page, give me a call or drop me a line at beachbettypr@verizon.net
4 responses to “Have you claimed your Google Places Page yet?”
have a question – I have a local business directory site. Can I claim google places on behalf of business owners (if I have their permission of course), for the web address – can I direct it to their listing on my directory – as some of the businesses don’t have websites.
I’ve not done that. You probably can. It’s just the website that you are directing it to right? Everything else would be the business’ address.
Yes, you absolutely can TV serials. When you are claiming a page on behalf of another business though, it is wise to have the business owner available by phone because Google will sometimes do a telephone verfication to give you the pin number for the business and without them there they will just send the pin# to that business person’s address which just delays the verification process.
I hope that helps.
Thanks Bossy Life for clearing that up. 🙂
Shelly