Enter The Net

Google offers a wide variety of free services and one of the best paid advertising systems in the world. Some of the free services inlcude:

• iGoogle – a customizable dashboard for your information “feeds.”
• Google Calendar – one of the most powerful online calendar systems – and it’s free.
• Google Local Business Center – Mappable, localized results, usually at the top of the search engine results [click HERE to learn more about the Google Local Business Center.]
• Google Analytics – the best free, online web stats system available.
• Google Webmaster Tools – Analysis tools and advice for website owners.
• Plus many more!

Google’s advertising system, Adwords, is not free, of course, but it is powerful and potentially effective for many.

The key to all of these services is your Google Account.

Many people who utilize these services experience a phenomenon I will call “Google Account Creep.” This is the experience of creating too many Google Accounts because you either forgot – or did not realize – that they can all be managed under one account. In fact, the ability to keep all of these services under one account has been proven (by me) to reduce headaches and generally lead to happier computer times.

Google Sign In Box

HOW TO CREATE GOOGLE ACCOUNTS:

There are two ways to create a Google Account. If you want to create an account based on any email address:

• Go to www.google.com and click on the link in the upper right that says “Sign In.”
• You can then click on the link that says “Create and account now.”
• After you fill out all of the information, Google will send a verification link to your email address.
• NOTE: Google recently added a verification step for ALL Google Accounts. They now require that you verify a code they will TEXT to your cell phone number. Google claims to be doing this to cut down on people making multiple, frivolous accounts. Google’s advice if you do not have a cell phone? “Borrow a friend’s.”

If you create a Gmail Account (Google’s free, web-based email system,) you have automatically created a Google Account.

You may use your gmail account to activate and manage any of Google’s services.

Happy Googling. Please send me any questions or comments you may have via the comment section below…

Many people ask me how they can get listed in the Google’s “local results.” There is a lot of information on this page, including a very good 40-minute webinar video provided by Google. You do not need to gather all this information at once. Just take what you need! However, if you are wanting to get your business listed on Google Places, and this is all very new to you, then spending an hour to learn and do it well could be worth it!

These are the Google Places listings that come paired with a map and are often listed first on the organic results.

Google Local Results Listings

These results come from free listings in Google Places. That’s right: free.

So, to get listed here, all you have to is complete your business profile with Google. After that, your results may show up when someone conducts a search that seems “local” to Google. For example, a Google search for “restaurants Mountain View California” triggers the local results, whereas “Britney Spears lyrics” does not.

I have noticed that a search for very general terms, such as “dentists” will still generate local results – and the local results will be based on the IP address of my computer. For example, I live in NE Portland Oregon, so a search for “dentists” generates local results based on downtown Portland.

RESULTS

I have been studying the actual results within the Google local listings in the hopes of understanding why some get placed higher than others. It is difficult to discern the formula. However, I have noticed three trends:

• More complete profiles appear to perform better than others. Make sure you fill out all of the information and write good descriptions of your business.
• Profiles with more reviews appear to perform better. Clients can write reviews on your profile – if they have a Google Account. Ask your favorite clients to complete a review for you.
• Profiles for websites that are also doing well on organic results appear to perform better in the local results.

The above are just trends I have informally noticed. Of course, the results also depend on your actual address in relation to the search. A restaurant in Newark, New Jersey should not expect to perform for “restaurants New York City.”

NEW STUFF:

Google recently added a very cool feature for local business center profiles – the ability to look at stats about how people are using your profile. These include how many times your listing was seen, how many people clicked on your profile for more info, how many clicked to your site and even how many used the “get directions” feature to come to your storefront. You can even find out from where they originated the directions. Check out the video below:

SO, HOW DO I CREATE MY PROFILE?

It’s pretty easy. Just go to http://www.google.com/places/and click on the Get Started button under Get Your Business Found on Google.

You need a Google Account.

[Click HERE to learn more about Google Accounts.]

Fill out the information.

At the end of the process, Google will give you some options for verifying that you are the real owner of the profile:

1. You can have them call the number you list in the profile. They give you a code over the phone, which you must enter to activate the profile.
2. Or, they will send a letter with the code to the address listed in the profile. The phone call is the quickest route. [NOTE: as of January 2011, Google now only allows for phone verification for certain businesses. For more info, read HERE.]

THE WAIT

Google alerts you that your business profile may not appear for 4-6 weeks. This is true.

Good luck with your Google Local Result!  Let me know if you have any questions or comments via the comments section below.

More Info About Google Places:

How much does it cost?

Adding your listing to Google Places is free, and Google doesn’t accept payment to include particular listings or sites in our search results. However, we do offer locally-targeted advertising through Google AdWords Express.
What if I don’t have a store or office?

Every business listing must have a mailing address. If you work from home or you are a mobile business you can specify a “service area” in the sign up process and choose to hide your physical address.
More about Service Areas:

Can I add multiple locations?

There should be only one listing per physical location. Even if you cover multiple towns, you should instead use the description of your business or categories to explain the different services for your business.

More About Why Google Places Is Important:

40+ Minute Full Tutorial On How To Use Google Places (from Google.)