2011 is the year of Google Places.
But First, let me go back to 2009…
I read Mashable articles nearly every day, yes I am a geek, I love the stuff. I recently came across an article stating “Google is broken” that references the fact that Google searches regularly come back with pages of spam and no relevant content.
“They Say” Google broke in 2009
Do you think Google knows this?
Yes, they do, they are a pretty smart crew…in 2010 they ushered in major changes week after week.
Good changes that will help your business, but you have to move fast!
You see traditional searches in Google (and Yahoo and Bing and all the others for that matter) can be manipulated by giving Google what it’s crawlers are looking for…back-links. (among other things) Which means that traditional organic search can be manipulated (the person, or company that devotes enough time and money can get to the top of search terms)
Google Hates This! They want relevant search.
So, they have decided to heavily weigh their Google Places accounts.
You see every business in the world has been given a free website from Google. A Google Places page. These sites can not be falsely raised in the search engines. If your page is relevant to the local search your client (or potential client) is entering, you will come up…or not…
This stuff is urgent…I mean you need to be doing this yesterday!
So, if you are a small business owner, here are your action steps:
1. Make sure your Google Places page is claimed, and complete.
2. You need citations, other web sites and directories that confirm your listing. ALL directory listings need to be consistent. (name, address, phone number, website, what you do all correspond) Google Places hates polka dots and strips in the same ensemble…be sure everything syncs and matches.
3. Tags…every business should be using Tags effectively. Our clients have seen great great results.
4. Google Boost at the beginning to get on top of the search results. (available in limited areas today) See the video, but Boost is the key to instant #1 rank position in your budget.
5. You need reviews…make it easy! Give your client easy access to your hotpot, yelp, Foursquare, Gowalla, and Facebook Places review pages and give good service!
6. POST POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE REVIEWS! Be transparent, a negative review dealt with immediately, in the social space can be a great source of additional business. People see you take care of issues fast and direct.
7. Monitor all Social Media channels. This is no longer an option for business owners. If someone posts anything about you, your company, your competition, or your products you need to know today and respond today. It is expected and required if you look to have any say in your on-line presence.
8. Have mobile landing pages to easily convert traffic from mobile devises…let me be the first to tell you…you have heard of a smart phone…I predict all mobile devises will be “smart” as we think of them today within 2 years.
9. A mobile strategy in place to drive traffic to your web and mobile pages and convert that traffic to a list you can market to on demand.
10. Reward to best, most loyal clients and they will do ALL of the heavy lifting for you. This is not the 60′s, we are not in an episode of Mad Men, and you do not control your brand any longer, your clients do, you have to take care of your best clients so they will sing your praises to the world and become Raving Fans.
Google’s play in 2011 is local and mobile search…this has to be your play as well if you want a leg up on your competition. There are thousands of people looking for you and your service on-line EVERY DAY. If they do not find you, you are invisible, you don’t exist…
Using Google Places effectively means rewarding your best customers and letting new potential customers find you, see your reviews, and decide in advance that they know like and trust you to handle their business.
Make 2011 your year of Google Places!
Lastly you need people who watch this information day and night and act fast to take advantage of new trends.
If you would like our people to be your people send us an email at info@GetLocal123.com
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