Local SEO Strategies (Google Places)

Google Places, formally known as Google Local Business Center, has brought great change to both local search and traditional organic search.

As a local business. it used to be easy to be guaranteed a spot in the top 7 local listings. You simply had to list with Google your physical location, an optimized Google map page and an accurate citation (your name, address and phone number). In addition to the Google local listings being an eyesore, it also pushed the organic listings down the page. Google Places now integrates it’s Place Pages with it’s organic listings.

The New Face of the Google’s Local Business Listings: Google Places

With its innate aim to fight map spam and create a stronger online presence, Google opted to make some local algorithmic tweaks. These are some of the techniques that you need to implement to dominate your the pages for your local business.

Optimize Your Website by Creating Landing Pages per Location:

Make sure you optimize your website based on location-centered keywords. Adding your city, state and industry specific keywords (categories) can make a huge difference. Remember that the credibility of your links may also be proportionate to the location of your business. Create location pages with a call to action and optimize them in the following areas:

• Title Tags Add your business name and location city and state – no more than 70 characters
• Meta Description Type something like visit <name of your business> for the best <type of services you offer> and experience the essence of <your city>, then add your full address. Make sure you don’t exceed 170 characters.
• Header Tags in the description Add  something like “Welcome to your business name at your location. Be sure to tag it with H1
• Content – 200-250 words that includes your city, state and industry keywords (categories)
• Contact Information – Make sure you add your N.A.P (name, phone number & address). Note: your N.A.P. needs to be consistent throughout the web. For ex., if a Suite no is included in your address be sure to consistently type Suite as Ste. OR Suite.
• Add a Facebook fan page and/or a Follow us on Twitter link, then add a Goggle Place Page.
• Build location based authoritative back-links: For example, Better Business Bureau of San Antonio Texas, Chamber of Commerce in San Antonio Texas, and other high ranking and authoritative business directories

Optimize Your Google Places Page:

Create Google Place Pages for Every Location

• Verification Make sure you claim your Google Place pages by clicking on “Edit this place”. You’ll be verified via phone or post card.
• Title: Include your business name, location and industry keywords (categories)
• Contact Information- Make sure you add your phone number & address that will match your website.
• Link to relevant landing pages: link to your landing or location base pages and not your primary website
• Categories are very important so expand it to at least five categories. NOTE: As you start typing your category you will notice a drop down menu appear. Be sure to first select as many categories from that drop down menu before creating your own categories.
• Add Photos and Videos. Take some pictures of your business location, your office, and even your employees. Be creative.
• Reviews. Encourage your customers to review your business. Don’t worry about bad reviews. Try to be transparent.
• Build citations: Your citations will appear at the bottom of your Google Place page. They are mentions of your business’ name, address and phone number. You can add to your citations by adding, claiming and/or optimizing your business in Yahoo, Bing, Map Listing, Foursquare, Yelp etc… You may use getlisted.org for that. Create some type of consistent activities on Foursquare, Facebook Places and Twitter Places. Also, check out Google Hotpot Ratings. Click here to learn where to get more local citations.
• Add coupons

With all the new features of Google Places and all these neat, white hat techniques, your business website will definitely find its place among online users. Not only will Google Places give your business a more visible location, but it will make you more visible under the online hotspot.

About The Author

Yusuf Chowdhury is a Social Media & Online Marketing Consultant who focuses on promoting and building a continuing relationship with new potential clients, using social media and online marketing strategies. Yusuf have consulted with many non-profit organizations, small businesses, and online education groups to help them use social media and online marketing, develop ingenious ideas, and find ways to promote and advance their business. Yusuf gets great satisfaction from empowering others to start their business, seeing them grow and become independent, and lending a hand to help them create a lasting legacy for themselves and their families.

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