Categories: Tips

8 Steps to a Successful Google Places Listing

Here at MyCorp, we are very proud to have introduced our readers to our affiliate StarterSuccess. StarterSuccess provides small business solutions such as the ability to write a business plan, business marketing and employee management. They also provide Google Place listings. Google Places helps business be found on Google in order to promote the business. StarterSuccess provided us with 8 steps to a successful Google Places Listing. Millions of businesses are already using Google Places proving it is an invaluable tool. Use these tips to help your business get started!

1. Answer all questions on the questionnaire. These include hours of operation and methods of payment. Make sure to double check answers as any misspellings or incorrect information may affect your listing visibility.

2. Include your main phone number. This should be a local number, do your best to avoid toll free numbers.

3. Include a business address. This should be the actual location of your business. P.O. boxes are not acceptable.

4. Your business description should have keywords relevant to your business. For extra help on keywords, click here. It’s better to use more keywords rather than having a more literarily pleasing description. Example: “Joe Smith Car Care in Dallas, Texas. Highly respected mechanic in Dallas. Car Care mechanic specializing in domestic and imports. Joe Smith has been in business for 25 years in Dallas.”

5. Categories. Based on your businesses keywords, select categories relevant to your industry. Simply start typing your keywords. Each business listing should use all five available categories. An example of keywords for a mechanic would be: mechanic, car repair, domestic import, transmission repair, engine repair, brake repair and Dallas repair shop.

6. Add images. Try to upload 10 images, the max number allowed. Make sure to optimize your photos. By optimizing your images you increase the value of your business listing. Name your image using keywords. For example, a photo of Joe Smith would be named ‘Dallas Mechanic Shop Joe Smith.’

7. Add videos. Add all five that are allowed if you can. Make sure the videos uploaded are high definition and have inscribed meta-data in the file. Meta-data is a term that refers to the video details that are added when the video is created. These details would include a video title (keyword rich) and video tags or keywords. Use keywords used with your images and in your description.

8. Include additional details. This is a good place to add details about your business that didn’t fit in other categories such as notable recognition or your business has received.

Additional Tips for Success
The Google Places Business Listings are ranked according to many factors. One major factor that contributes to your success is your company’s website. By optimizing your website, Google and other search engines are better able to see what your company represents and thus may rank you higher on search results pages.

If you would like to know more about Google Places and claim your Places Page for FREE, click here.

Deborah Sweeney

Deborah Sweeney is an advocate for protecting personal and business assets for business owners and entrepreneurs. With extensive experience in the field of corporate and intellectual property law, Deborah provides insightful commentary on the benefits of incorporation and trademark registration.

Education: Deborah received her Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from Pepperdine University, and has served as an adjunct professor at the University of West Los Angeles and San Fernando School of Law in corporate and intellectual property law.

Experience: After becoming a partner at LA-based law firm, Michel & Robinson, she became an in-house attorney for MyCorporation, formerly a division in Intuit. She took the company private in 2009 and after 10 years of entrepreneurship sold the company to Deluxe Corporation. Deborah is also well-recognized for her written work online as a contributing writer with some of the top business and entrepreneurial blogging sites including Forbes, Business Insider, SCORE, and Fox Business, among others.

Fun facts/Other pursuits: Originally from Southern California, Deborah enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, Benjamin and Christopher, and practicing Pilates. Deborah believes in the importance of family and credits the entrepreneurial business model for giving her the flexibility to enjoy both a career and motherhood. Deborah, and MyCorporation, have previously been honored by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal’s List of the Valley’s Largest Women-Owned Businesses in 2012. MyCorporation received the Stevie Award for Best Women-Owned Business in 2011.