What Is GOOGLE Places for Business?

So you might be wondering… “Just What is GOOGLE Places™ Anyway?”

Even more importantly, “Will it help my small business with internet marketing?”

and “What does it cost?”

So here are the most common GOOGLE* Places FAQ we receive plus how you can claim your page for free!

What is GOOGLE Places?

It is a standalone web page created by GOOGLE Places to provide a listing for business locations.

The listing shows basic information about the business including the name, address, phone number, and category.  It can also show enhanced items like photos, videos, reviews, hours of operation, and details on types of services.

If you’ve ever searched for a local business then chances are you noticed the red balloon or map pin.  This is tied to a GOOGLE Places listing that feeds results for GOOGLE Web Search, GOOGLE Maps, Mobile search, GOOGLE Earth, and even the 1-800-GOOG-411 voice directory search.

To see this in action for your own location just open a Google search bar and type in your “City State Restaurants”.

Of course these listings aren’t just for restaurants.  The plan is to have a Places Page to organize “all the world’s information for every place in the world!”  This includes all types of businesses, points of interest, landmarks, and cities, and etc.

Where Did They Get The Information For My GOOGLE Places Page?

The listings are generated based on information across the Internet including places like Yellow Pages, City Grid, InfoUSA, Superpages, Better Business Bureau, and others third-party providers.  They also pull user content and information submitted through the owner verification process.

Why Should I Claim and Verify My Place Page?

97% of consumers search for local businesses online – according to GOOGLE Places.  Since they hold the largest share of search engine traffic (about 65%) it makes sense to be seen by potential customers searching from their computers, smart phones, or other mobile devices like iPads.

You want your listing to represent your company as thoroughly and favorably as possible. In order to correct or add information to your listing you must first verify you are the business owner.  It is a simple process that you start online with GOOGLE Places performing the verification through either a phone call or a mailing.  Once you have the PIN you can enhance , optimize, and update your listing.

What Does Claiming My GOOGLE Places Page Cost?

Zero dollars…yes it really is free. To get started claiming your page visit http://www.google.com/places/

If it is free, why do people keep contacting me to buy services for GOOGLE Places?

Since the place pages are fairly new many SEO companies and internet marketing consultants are offering this as a paid service.  A business owner might be too busy or just not have an interest in doing it for himself or herself.  I could change my own oil and clean my own house but I prefer to pay somebody to do it for me!

What is GOOGLE Places Optimization?

These are enhancements you can make to your listing that give people more information.  They include up to 10 photos, 5 videos, service details, coupons, and other items.  There is not a charge for the business owner to upload these items.  There are also things you can do to enhance your listing outside of the actual page including citations, directory listings, geocoding, and encouraging customers to leave reviews.

Is there such a thing as GOOGLE Places SEO?

Most search engine optimization (SEO) is centered around targeting keywords customers are likely to use when looking for your company.  These keywords can also be incorporated in the Place Page comments, photo alt tags, and other allowable places – being careful to follow the GOOGLE Places quality guidelines. It is generally believed that fully optimizing your listing can help with rankings in the search engine results page and will certainly be appreciated by customers.

Where Can I Get GOOGLE Places Help?

If you want to take the DIY or “Do It Yourself” approach you’ll find GOOGLE Places Support has some great tutorials.  You can also check out our articles on GOOGLE Places Help for Small Business.  If you prefer to hire these services done for you we also have packages starting at $99.  Feel free to contact us for details!

*GOOGLE is a trademark of Google Inc.

This article was written based on research and professional experience.  This author, company, and website are not endorsed by or affiliated with GOOGLE Inc.