In late 2010, Google Places for Business listings started being shown as part of the organic results when users search for businesses and professions within a certain locality (e.g. personal injury lawyers in Dallas). Based upon the simple realization that what Google’s users really want when they look for local businesses is a reputable local firm, these results are generated based on the trust-score for each individual business. As users have become used to seeing Google Places listings when searching locally, their perceived trust for listed businesses has grown to the point where they are now far more likely to click on a places listing, rather than an ordinary web search result. For local companies, this has triggered a shift in focus away from traditional SEO, and towards Google Places Optimization, as Places listings have become a far more cost-effective means of generating new customers via the Internet than other advertising media.

Google Places?

Formerly known the Local Business Center, Google Places combines Google Maps technology with local business listings to produce the kind of business directory which has been making established players such as SuperPages and YellowPages jealous for some time now. In fact, the combination between localized maps and business data has proven so popular with Google’s users, that the search giant now handles almost 80% of all searches for local companies on the Internet, just under forty times the volume of both the above Pages sites. Looking at the image on the right, you will see a typical set of Google results, based on the example search for Attorneys in Dallas. As you can see, aside from the Sponsored Results (AdWords), the page is dominated by Google Places Business Listings. So successful has the integration of local business listings into ordinary search results been, that Google’s users are now more likely to click on a Google Places result than they are on an ordinary search result..

How does Google Places Optimization help your Business?

The days when people were willing to pick up a book to look for a local business are long gone. With high-speed Internet access and smart-phones now being a part of our daily lives, it’s far easier to Google a local business than it is to go looking for books or navigate through a local directory. These days, Google users have actually come to expect local business listings as part of their search results.

As the number of Google searches for local companies has grown, so has the competition for inclusion in the coveted 7-Pack, the seven listings allocated to any top search results page. There’s every chance that your competitors are already listed.

Why does your business need Google Places Optimization?

• The 7-Pack often beats ordinary websites into 1st place.
• It’s actually possible to get multiple 1st page listings. This creates more brand-awareness.
• Searchers trust Google Places results, so you get more clicks and more customers.
• Some of your competitors are already taking advantage of Google Places Listings.
• Google Places Listing Optimization is cost-effective compared to other forms of advertising or Search Engine Optimization.

Can you manage your own Google Places Listing?

Make no mistake, optimizing a Google Places listing isn’t as easy as it might first appear. It’s time-consuming, tedious, and totally unforgiving about mistakes or cheating attempts. If you do make a mistake you’ll spend months trying to get your listing back up into the 7-Pack, and in the many hours it takes to learn and do the job properly, you’re not making any money doing what you do best.

Take the sting out of Google Places Optimization with eGumball

Our Google Places specialists have been looking after thousands of our clients'listings since 2007, and over the years we’ve developed a great many ways to do the job more efficiently. By becoming our client you can be sure of getting the best possible service at the best possible price. Sign up and experience the eGumball difference today.

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