Did you know you can rank on top of the search results even if you don’t have a website? A Google places listing does just this. Here’s how to do it.
In recent months the search engines all have made major efforts in providing users with better and better results when searching for information locally. This is excellent news indeed for business owners who traditionally would rely on newspaper and yellow pages advertising – two mediums that simply don’t work any more in this new world of online search.
As technology improves – we now can search for anything very conveniently even on our phones – it becomes increasingly easier for business owners with local clients to take advantage of the advances online. The World Wide Web used to be just that, world wide information. Many people are thinking of the entire planet when they think about the internet.
However that is no longer true. The search engines discovered that we also want to know what’s happening just around the corner to where we are. And so they have changed how local search results are shown.
People are constantly on the move, migrating to new areas they still have to get to know. Where do they find their information? Online!
Many perform a quick search on the internet for a dentist, or a vet, or a pharmacy, or a hairdresser, or a plumber, or an accountant, the list is endless – as long as the list of categories in the yellow pages.
The question is – does your business show up?
Chances are, it is not. I’m going to continue using Google as an example but all the search engines are now working hard to make local search results more relevant.
Google is in the business of indexing websites (= copying all the words on all the pages it can find into it’s own directory and then providing the user with a result to a search within split seconds) to help us find what we are looking for and in so doing they can tell if a website is about a local business (which is why it is crucial that your physical address is mentioned throughout your website).
So they went along and used that information and created what they call a “Places listing”. I will call this a dummy listing, an unclaimed listing. Using the information they found a listing for your business was created. If you find your business listed like that you can claim it by clicking on the “Business owner” link in the top right corner of the listing.
If you haven’t been indexed by Google because you don’t have a website yet, you can put your own listing up. Sign up with Google Places and add all the relevant information. Note that it will take up to 30 days after verification for your listing to show up in the organic local search results page.
In both cases you will need to be verified by Google. 
They are not leaving things to chance and open to spammers. Only if they can reach you at a landline or send you a postcard can your listing be verified.
Once that is done you will receive statistics about impressions, hits, etc.
The beauty of such a listing is that as a small business owner with a shop on the corner serving local clients you do not need to go to great expense in money and time to get a website up. This listing is good enough to be found on the search! And the best part, Google does NOT CHARGE for this listing.
Once it’s up and running you should keep it alive by adding new information, enticing clients to leave reviews, giving people that find you via that search a little incentive (Google calls it an offer) to come visit your shop.
And next time someone searches for your product or service in your area you will show up on top, with a dot on the map, directions, info about opening hours and anything else you’d like to put up!
Please note that if you DON’T want Google to show your physical address (maybe you’re running a home office) you can tell them so and then they won’t show the address only the area you are servicing. Here’s an example.
See for yourself what it can do: Business Owner Tim Upton came to me to get help in setting up his listing. Already after only a month he is at the 2nd spot on Google for a very competitive keyword amongst 5,520,000 results! Needless to say, he’s one happy client!
If you’d like to receive help with your listing, particularly researching the correct keywords to be found (prospective clients are not looking for your name, they look for your product/service) and keeping it alive and valid (which counts in your favour to rank high) contact me to set you up on Googles Places (maps). I charge R450 for this service including optimizing your graphics.
