Google Plus Local for Your Business

Www.TriadInternetMarketing.com

Get on the map!
A guide to free front page visibility and reaching local
customers by using Google Plus Local

82% of people first search for a local business using the internet rather than phone
books or newspapers. Your business should be the among the first results to appear
when somebody is searching online to capture these customers.

Having your business in Google Plus Local is a vital first step towards
visibility and reaching local customers.

In this pdf, I explain how Google Plus Local work to benefit your business, and why the
use of them is such an important first step. The best part is that you can start making
your business visible in major search engines by following the instructions in this guide.

Let me first explain more about Google Plus Local. If you want to skip ahead to the step
by step instructions in this guide, go to page 4.

Why Google Plus Local?

Google Plus Local is a free business directory that is displayed on the top of search
engine results. Google displays your business on a map and in a list on the top of the
search results page. This map is highly visible to local customers who are looking for
your product or service.

How does Google Plus Local work?

Google compiles data from more than 2 dozen major certified information sources to
determine which businesses should be listed in Google Plus Local. The more your
business appears in these data sources, the higher Google will rank you in Google
Places.

If your business is new, or does not appear consistently in those sources, you may not
be visible to local customers shopping for your goods or services.

Secondly, your position (called “rank”) in Google search results are now factored into



your visibility in Google Plus Local. If you have a website, and that site is ranked highly
in Google's organic search results, you will also be more visible in Google Plus Local. If
you do not have a website that appears in organic search results, being in Google Plus
Local as you will still be very visible to potential customers and help your business in
other ways.

Let me show you....
To better understand how Google plus Local works, open your browser window and go
to http://www.google.com, enter your business type, and hit "search".
In this example, I have chosen "car dealer"

Your page may look slightly different, but you will notice the same sections of
information:

1) Paid search results
2) Map with markers
3) Local Search Results (the businesses marked on the map)



The Map (2) and the Local Search Results (3) are where we will be displaying your
business. Paid search results (1) are different and are not covered in this guide.

How will potential customers see my business?
When a potential customer searches on Google, a map appears toward the top the
search results. This map displays the location of businesses in the area that are related
to the consumer's search as pinpoints on the map. It also displays the top results in a
list next to that map.

You will see this list of businesses under the heading "Place for (your search term) in
(your town)" . Businesses relevant our search term "car dealer" are visible on the map
and in the list to the left.

This map stays visible as the customer scrolls down the page, resulting in the top
ranked business being visible to searchers at all times.

The displayed map and list are based on the location of the person using the Google
search engine. A well crafted Google Places listing, combined a few optimization tips
will have you positioned at the top of the list of businesses and be more prominent on
the map as well.

Will I still benefit from my free Google Plus Local list if I do not have a website?
Whether you have a website for your business or not, your business profile in Google
Plus Local will allow you to visible on the map and in the corresponding search
positions. This allows shoppers to find you. The Google Plus Local listings are used by
other search engines for information, so even if you are not in the top 10 results, there
are more ways that your Google Plus Local listing helps make your business visible on
the internet. You will still benefit from Google Plus Local without a website. For best
results optimizing your business listing and maintain it regularly will help you be
displayed in the top 10 results.

Having a separate website that ranks properly in Google will also impact how highly you
appear in the Places results. The nice part about Google Plus Local is that you can log
in and update your listing any time, so if you build a website later on, you can add that
information to your Google Plus Local listing and raise your visibility.

HOW TO LIST YOUR BUSINESS IN GOOGLE PLUS LOCAL, STEP BY STEP

I have included a checklist at the end of this guide. Filling out this simple checklist first
will will ensure you have information about your business ready to enter.

The entire process of filling out the checklist and entering the information in Google
Plus Local takes less than 1 hour for the average business owner, and is a result well
worth the investment of your time.



To begin your business listing:

Connect your web browser to http://www.places.google.com/business

On the right hand side is a button that will tell you to either log in with your Google
account, create an account, or list your business. Register for an account if you do not
have one already, and sign in; it takes less than 2 minutes to register. Once you log in,
you can begin your listing.

Step 1: check to see if Google has information about your business.
Enter your country and your phone number in the 2 boxes. If any information about
your business is already in Google's database, it will be displayed here. If there is no
information, click on "Add a Business".

If you have an entry in Google Maps, a screen will appear with that listing. You will see
an "edit" button. Click here to reach the account information screen.

Unless you have entered this information in Google Plus Local and Google Maps
yourself, do not assume the information is correct. Unethical companies have been
known to "hijack" business listings to steer traffic away from their competition. By
following my instructions, you will have properly "claimed" your business back.

A form will be displayed; enter your business information here.

1) Your business contact information with your direct phone number goes in the first
area. You must use your direct number, as Google will call this phone number to verify
your business listing.

2) Enter your service area or address, hours, payments accepted, photos, videos, and
any additional details that you would like to add to the listing. You will then choose your
exact location on the map and submit your form. The more information you enter, the
better your listing will appear to people searching for you.

3) Once you review the information, submit the form and validate the information.
After you submit form, you will be able to choose your validation method. This is done



by mail or phone. When you are editing an existing listing to change the address, the
default option of verification by postcard will take automatically be chosen. If the option
for telephone verification is visible, pick that.

Validation by telephone is fastest; you will receive a verification number within minutes,
and enter that number in this page. When you are editing an existing listing to change
the address, however, the default option of verification by postcard will take
automatically be chosen.

4) Once you have chosen your verification method, click “Finish” and you will be brought
to the “Thank You” page.

At this point, your business will be submitted into Google Places. Your listing is visible
as soon as it is processed. I have had listings that were verified by telephone appear in
Google Plus Local and Google Maps within hours of submission.

When you are visible in Google Plus Local and Google Maps you may wish to edit your
business information. Simply log in to your Google Plus account, and edit your listing.
You will be offered the option of editing, or suspending your business information.



What if I do not appear on the first page of Google Plus Local results?

Some businesses have more competition than others, and your business may not
appear in the top 10 results from Google Plus Local right away. However, this can be
fixed by giving Google a more information about your business.

Log into Google Plus, and click on Help. You will see detailed, free information about
using Google Plus Local in competitive areas. These are some of the same steps that
my company, follows when submitting business profiles to Google Plus Local.

The 12 step "Create a Great Listing" tool, is in the top left area on the Google Places
Help page. This will walk you through the basic additional steps you need to perform for
your listing to bring in good results. If you follow this guide, your listing should become
more visible over the next few weeks.



In Summary:
Having your business name and information prominently displayed to local customers
who look are looking for your goods or services is, of course, worth the hour of time you
invested into this first step.

Some markets are more competitive than others, and you may need to take additional
steps to increase your visibility.

Remember earlier when I said how Google gets its data from over 2 dozen major
certified data sources? In competitive markets, you need to have all of your information
correct and entered exactly the same way in those data sources to show in top 10
results where there is a lot of competition.

You can do all of this yourself for very little money, as you have done with your Google
Plus Local listing. However, you will need about 25 hours to do this.

Fortunately you can have this work performed by a company like ours.

We are updated daily on the information Google wants to see, and how it needs to be
organized, to yield the best results.

We update your information with the certified data sources that Google relies on as well,
ensuring your business information is accurate across the internet.

We also update your information with other major services that supply additional
information to Google, Yahoo, MSN / Bing, and hundreds of search engines, maps, and
directories.

This increases your business "citations" that determine how visible your business will be
in Google Plus Local.

We will also provide your business information to dashboard navigation
systems like "On-star", so new customers can always find your business.

In an area near a major highway, visibility to drivers "passing through" or people on
vacation will bring in extra customers over time.

And any appointment based business knows how much money late arrivals and “no-
shows” cost your business; being available on GPS systems and directories will make it
easier for your customers to arrive on time.

An added bonus of using a reputable SEO company to perform this work is the value of
additional services that you can purchase.

For instance we offer hard-working websites, with your domain name and hosting
included, for a small additional fee.



This allows internet users to find out more about your business directly from the
hundreds of business listings across the internet that stem from our work on your
Google Places listing service.

With a local search package, you will be correctly listed in all major business directories,
you will be visible in all major search engines, you will be visible on cell phone and
GPS navigation systems, and you also have the additional option of getting a basic
business web site with your own domain and hosting at a rock bottom price.

Our Google Plus Local service will have your business available in Google, Yahoo, and
Bing's top results for a one time investment. This guarantees your listing will be correctly
submitted to all of the certified directories and data sources, and will be maintained
throughout the year.

We also can offer simple business websites that can be added to your service. A
full website with your own domain and hosting, are quoted based on your business
need, discounted with the purchase of a local search package, and monthly payments
are available

I hope this introduction to Google Plus Local was helpful. There are many more ways to
use free or inexpensive resources on the internet to boost your local business.

I have more tips and valuable information help you market your business on the internet
available and am always happy to answer any questions you may have about promoting
your business.

Wishing you a profitable year.

Terry Power
www.TerryPower.com
(336) 310-9322


Google Plus Local for Your Business

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