Google Places is in essence a free online business listing. You may have heard the ever-popular phrase “just Google it” and with one out of five searches on Google being related to location, Google places is an effective and easy way to stay visible online.
How to create a Google Places page
Your Google Places page can be tailored to reflect your company’s services and expertise. Your listing can consist of an array of information including:
- Which geographical locations you serve
- Detailed information on your products and services
- Your company hours and contact details
- Real-time news and updates
- Photos and videos of your business and/or products
- Coupons/offers for consumers to print out and use
Why create a Google Places page
There are several major reasons to have a Google Places page, the major reasons are:
- According to Google itself 97% of consumers search for local businesses online, it is imperative that your company be at their fingertips.
- Having a Google Places page is very important for businesses for whom location is important i.e. tourism, retail.
- Companies with a Google Places page are often shown first above any organic search results.
Analysing your page
Google Places comes with a dashboard which allows you to analyse your page and gives you access to important data, such as:
- How many people are searching for you on Google
- What they searched for to find you
- Where the web traffic is coming from
- How many people recently viewed your Google Place page
This will allow you to analyse what online platforms and interactions are driving consumers towards your page – allowing you to tailor future activity.
By Colin Harris