Did you know about the FREE service from Google that allows you to make sure that your local business listing can be found on Google. If you're not using this simple and FREE tool then you're really missing a trick. Here's how to get set up and why you should start using it today:
1. Visit http://www.google.com/lbc. Create a google account if you don't have one, or sign in to your account.
2. Enter information about your business. You can even add photos of your logo and business or products and add coupons that will give visitors to your site via google with discounts.
3. Vertify that you own or run the business. Follow the instructions and enter a PIN code when you receive it to complete the process.
4. Now you're all set. You can log in daily to see how your business listings perform on Google, including how many times people found it and what actions they took.
Don't miss out on this excellent and very simple tool to see who visits your website.
Wednesday 3 February 2010
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Hello Your Web Star,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Google's local business listing is a marketing tool the local business should engage. This is the first time that the Internet is going to be a good local business marketing tool to reach the local consumer.
What I am most concerned about are small and local businesses having to contend with multiple websites when it comes to their local listing. What I'm really talking about are "time resources".
Afterall, there are over 60 websites in four different categories specifically geared towards local listings. How can a local or small business have the time resources to cover this space?
Even if you made a conscious decision to not manage all 60, there are well more than Google, Yahoo, Bing, and Ask. The space goes to Local.com (they went public), Yelp, Merchant Circle, and many others.
Consumers will be the ones deciding which of these local listing websites they will go and post their experience through consumer reviews. This adds to the burden that no one single local listing website will do the trick.
Therefore, my argument is that "getting listed" is not the real services needed. The local business still has to claim, update and maintain their local listing at multiple local listing websites.
"Getting listed" is an admirable starting point, but it will not address the long term need of the local business and their local marketing efforts.
Something we recently read at KillerStartUps are companies that are offering a low cost service to update then manage these listings for companies. You can read about this at KillerStartUps here:
http://www.killerstartups.com/Search/smartfindslocallisting-com-be-found-online
It is a changing world and the local business will benefit. There will be some adjustment to this space needed.
Good information from your post and hopefully varying opinions help give perspective.
Wow, what a fantastic info local business directory
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