How to claim a Google+ Local page for your business. Step-by-step instructions in this easy to follow presentation from bizmktg.com. Learn what Google+ Local is and why its important for local businesses.

1. Getting Started
with Google+
Local Pages
bizmktg.com
creating measurable results
(425) 835-3412 info@bizmktg.com

2. What is Google+ Local?
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Google+ is Google's social service that was created, in-part, to compete with
Facebook.
Google launched "Google+ Local" as a feature of Google+ on May 30, 2012.
Google+ Local replaces to "Google Places."
"Helping people find, rate and share your business," is how Google
positioned Google+ Local to business owners on its Google And Your Business
blog.
Google adds, "...we are bringing the community of Google+ to local business
owners around the world. We aim to improve the way people discover new
businesses, rediscover places they love, and share them with their friends
across the web.

3. What is a Google+ Local Page?
bizmktg.com
A "Google+ Local Page" is an info page about your business that shows up in
Google Web Search and Map Search results. It's free from Google.

4. Do Google+ Local Pages matter?
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Google now prominently features Google+ Local Pages in Web Search Results
and Map Search Results. If someone is searching Google for a local business,
product or service, there is a good chance a Google+ Local Page will be
included in the search results.

5. Google Maps Search example
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6. Claiming your Google+ Local Page
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To get started, go to Google Maps http://maps.google.com and type in your
business phone number in the following format "(Area Code) Prefix-Number"

7. Claiming your Google+ Local Page
bizmktg.com
Next, a list of search results will appear down the left side of the page. Each
listing will have a letter beside it, starting with "A" at the top and corresponding
pinpoints will be shown on the map.
Click the listing in the left column that most closely matches your business
including phone number and address. If you find multiple listings for your
business, select the most complete and accurate listing.
Now click the "More Info" link.

8. Claiming your Google+ Local Page
bizmktg.com
Now, down the right side of the page you should see "Is This Your Business?"
and "Manage this page." Click Manage this page. Make sure you are logged
into the Google or Gmail account that will be used to manage this listing in the
future. If you don't have a Gmail account, go to Gmail and create one.

9. Claiming your Google+ Local Page
bizmktg.com
Select "Edit my business information" from the page that appears next. Notice
the page titled is "Google places" which is Google's old local business service.

10. Claiming your Google+ Local Page
bizmktg.com
If your Google+ Local Page was already claimed, you may see this page. If so,
find "Your business info" and select "Edit."

11. Claiming your Google+ Local Page
bizmktg.com
Now Add and Edit the
information.
Be sure to check and
edit your Main phone.
Add an email
address, your website
address and a 200
character description
of your business.
Also select at least
one category for your
business. You may
have up to 5.
The more complete your
page is, the better it looks!

12. Claiming your Google+ Local Page
bizmktg.com
Next, add Hours of
operation and
Payment options.

13. Claiming your Google+ Local Page
bizmktg.com
Photos
Add up to ten photos
of your business or
products. Google will
automatically create
110 X 110 Pixel
thumbnails of each
photo which will link to
the full image.
Videos
Add up to five
Youtube videos about
your business. You
may upload your
videos to Youtube in
order to use them
here.

14. Claiming your Google+ Local Page
bizmktg.com
Finally, add Additional
Details about your
business. This is a
great way to
distinguish your
business, especially if
you have unique
benefits potential
customers/clients are
looking for.
Once the page is
complete as possible,
select "Submit."
Note: You can make edits to
the page later if you need to
add or change informations.

15. Claiming your Google+ Local Page
bizmktg.com
Once you select Submit,
the "Finish" page which
validates your ownership
will appear. Validate "By
phone" is quickest.
Note: In order to validate
by phone someone
needs to answer that
phone # listed for your
business and enter a
code into the phone.
Once validated, you will
receive an email with
instructions to make
future edits of your
Google+ Local Page.

16. Re-Editing your Google+ Local Page
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To make additional edits
to your page, login to
your Gmail or Google
Account, then go to: http:
//www.google.com/local/add/
and find "Your business
details" and "Edit."
In order for edits to be
used, you will most likely
need to re-verify your
ownership. This is a
tedious process but it
helps Google insure that
edits to the pages are
being done by the real
owners of the
businesses.

17. Customer Reviews & Google+ Local
bizmktg.com
Now that you have
claimed and edited
your page, you will
want to get customer
reviews added to your
page. These are
important because
Google is ranking
businesses higher in
search results if they
have five or more
reviews. Also,
Google is now
favoring its own
reviews over
CitySearch,
InsiderPages and
other reviews.

18. Customer Reviews & Google+ Local
bizmktg.com
Direct your customers & clients to your Google+ Local page to write a review for your business.
The URL for your Google+ Local page starts with "https://plus.google.com/" followed by a long
string of numbers (see example below). You can use Google's own URL shortener to make
this URL easier to use. Google's URL shortener is located at http://goo.gl For example, the
shortened URL for this business's Google+ Local page is http://goo.gl/jnTeu
Note: Only customers with a Gmail or Google account can write reviews about your business.

19. Need help?
bizmktg.com
bizmktg.com
creating measurable results
http://bizmktg.com
(425) 835-3412
info@bizmktg.com