Your Google Local Business Centre is a very important location on your marketing map. Currently providing free listings in Google Maps you have got to be bonkers not to take advantage of a free listing on Page 1 of Google.

We know from our friends at Google that local search is the fastest growing sector of Search Engine activity. This is clearly good news for all local businesses. It may also make you want to reconsider your Yellow Pages strategy.

If you haven’t seen the listings you can see a screen capture above. In essence there are currently 3 distinct areas on a SERP (Search Engine Results Page) …

The Organic Listings – In the main body of the page

Sponsored Listings – On the right hand side of the page and featuring Google Adwords

Local Business Listings – Top Right as per our picture

How Do I Get Into My Local Listings..?

If you click on the link at the top of this page you will be directed to the Google Business Centre. Simply log in with your Google id and select Add New Business and away you go.

There is some debate about how you get in one of the much coveted front page spots but the general rules seem to be as follows…

1. The nearer your actual business postcode is to the town centre the better
2. Including a key word in your title is frowned upon but adding Accountants for example works
3. Local Telephone rather than 0800 or 0845 work better
4. The fuller your profile and the more positive your reviews are add weight to your listing
5. When completing your chosen categories keep them relevant
6. Using a contextual URL will help e.g. www.accountantsgloucester.co.uk
7. Sentiment scoring via completed reviews is very important. Invite all your customers to give your business a review

Now Here’s an Idea For You…

Research from the States is telling us that when it comes to local searches people are more inclined towards the paid rather than organic listings. The rational could be that a local business prepared to pay for local advertising is better regarded.

Therefore if you are prepared to run a Pay Per Click ad and have your listing in Google Maps you have a better chance of obtaining more clicks. And if you look at point 6 above URL’s with local names in them also get more clicks.

You should also for good measure invest in Search Engine Optimisation which for a local businessthis is not cost excessive at all. You could then have a Maps listing, a PPC ad and an organic listing – A full hand in marketing terms.

However a word of caution for local organic listings. Google are currently trialling paid local listings in San Diego and San Francisco. Their clear aim to extract as many revenue streams as possible from their huge search engine popularity is a fairly obvious tactic.

Now from a simple logistics perspective the further monetising of the SERP (Search Engine Results Page) means that there is less page room for one of the constituent parts of the SERP. We know that they are certainly not going to reduce the space attributed to Adwords and as previously mentioned Local Business (Maps) Searches is their fastest growing search sector – So we are left with Local Organic Listings who I’m afraid are going to be pushed right off the screen.

We will endeavour to keep you updated with Google updates and changes as they happen.

If You Need Assistance With Your Google Maps Listing Call, Mail or Tweet and We’ll be happy to discuss your requirements.