5 Tips to a Better Business Google Places Listing

Let’s face it. If you are competiting for customers in your local area, you cannot afford to skip out on your Google Places listing. The good part is, that it’s free! The bad part is, that it’s free. Google will not offer a great deal of support to people struggling with Google Places – though thankfully I can help.

I have worked on hundreds of hundreds of local business listings so I know exactly what works and what doesn’t. So if you are having trouble with your Google Places listing, make sure you follow the 5 tips to correctly optimise it appropriately!

1 – Give the most appropriate business name possible.

DO NOT KEYWORD STUFF IN YOUR BUSINESS NAME! This is a big no no as far as Google sees it.

If your business name is Ben’s Northern Plumbing then do not call your places listing ‘Ben’s Plumbing & Tiling Melbourne’. This is the absolute, worst way to optimise a map for the Melbourne area. Google will come down on you with the angry foot of a elephant in the circus. Don’t mess with your business name!

Call it exactly what your business is known as in it’s URL or trading name. Do not deviate from this rule.

2 – Don’t keyword stuff your categories listing

You might be included to include as many words in your categories listing box, but PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS! It sets off a big cause for concern in the eyes of Google. Just place in 5 relevant and targeted keywords that go for the services or products your business offers on it’s website!

For the example company, Ben’s Northern Plumbing I would target keywords that have reasonable traffic amounts via Google’s external keyword tool like…

• Plumbing
• Residential Plumbing
• Toilet Repairs
• Spout & Grout Cleaning
• Sink Repairs

This will keep Google happy. If you want to rank for more than 5 keywords, consider getting Yellow Page’s and other local directory listings that target more keywords instead. If and when Google picks them up, you will eventually be considered relevant towards them!

3 – Good reviews don’t generate themselves. Ask for them!

Most businesses that I have encountered, legitimately feel that they do the best damn service they can provide and their customers rave on about them for that! It’s great that they have happy customers but they don’t capitalise it to help their online marketing.

Why not get those raving customers to help your business out in the most meaningful way possible?

If Ben the Plumber took the time to ask every customer to leave a review on his Places listing, I’m sure 1-5% (I hate arbitrary figures) would happily oblige him. Now think about it if you were to do 200 jobs a year. It all adds up.

4 – Bad reviews are a blessing, not a curse.

You aren’t going to please everybody. Let’s take this moment to stop with the pipedream.

Just one moment.

OK, now that we’ve established this as a fact let’s begin the tip. When you eventually have a disagreement or a situation that leaves you & your customer on unfavorable terms, make sure that you have tried to remedy the situation to the best of your ability. If you haven’t, then it will definitely show when you try to make a rebuttal or reply on your places listing.

You need to create a reply that isn’t just a cookie cutter PR response, but a in-depth and sincere response to promote accountability to your customer’s satisfaction and legitimacy in your business. Think like your customer on this one.

2 things you shouldn’t do is ignore it or attack it as this will make you look immature and unprofessional. Speaking of unprofessional this leads us to…

5 – Information must be 100% accurate and correct on listing and your site!

Google rewards a good user experience that gives them an appropriate listing for their intended search query. So imagine the user experience one would yield for walking up to a deserted building that purports as your business!

Exactly, I thought so. Make sure that any information that you place on Google Places listing is found on your website too including phone numbers and addresses of primary importance!

Was any of this helpful to your Google Places listing? Did you rank higher or not? Let me know what you think in the comments below! I’ll be sure to reply!