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One very important tool that your business should have in its Internet marketing arsenal is a Google Places listing.  Not only is Google Places free and easy to use, but it is also one of the most prominent and powerful entities on the web when it comes to business advertising.  As a matter of fact, it is safe to say that Google Places has completely taken over the yellow pages market, making that bulky book a thing of yesterday.  Your business should be taking advantage of all Google Places has to offer, and that begins with a complete listing.  Want to know how to get the most out of your Google Places page?  Here are seven requirements of a Google Places listing:

A Google account.  Before you can set up a Google Places listing, you must first have a valid Google account.

Your business name.  It is required that you list your business name exactly as it is on your business license – no exceptions.  This means that you cannot place keywords into your business name, no matter how tempting it is.

Business address.  Your business address must be listed exactly as it appears on your business license (or, how you would list it on any business correspondence).

Business telephone number.  You must list a valid, verifiable business phone number.  Be sure to include the area code.

Proof.  Before Google will publish your Places page to the web, you must provide proof of the accuracy of your business information.  This may be in the form of a business card, an advertisement, or a verifiable phone number.

Compliance.  Google sets some stringent guidelines when it comes to content, and you must comply with these guidelines, or else risk being blacklisted by Google altogether.  Google Places content guidelines address everything from copyrighting laws to pornography, and can be accessed through Google Places support (on the website).

Completeness.  Although it is not exactly necessary that you complete each and every space on your Google Places listing in order to publish the page, it is absolutely necessary that you fill in all the blanks (even the optional ones) if you want to score a 100 percent.  A perfect score is necessary to earning a high Google search engine ranking, so make sure your listing information is complete.

Take advantage of everything Google+ Local has to offer! Visit http://kenivey.com for details.

The post 7 Requirements of a Google Places Listing appeared first on Ken Ivey.

If you know anything about business web marketing, then there is no doubt that you’ve heard of two powerful offerings from the Internet powerhouse, Google: Google Maps and Google Places.  Google Maps is an interactive map application that encompasses features like driving directions, zoom in/out, multiple map views, business location and contact information, and more.  Google Places is an extension of Google Maps, bringing points of interest from Google Maps to life with individualized Places pages.  If your business is not using both Google Maps and Google Places to attract new customers, then you should work on setting up your Google presence, and right away.  Want to know more?  Here are three easy ways Google Maps and Google Places will deliver customers to your door:

Highly targeted marketing.  When you complete your Google Places listing, you have the option of targeting your listing for your ideal consumer market in a number of different ways.  You do this by enriching your content with keyword phrases that are aimed at reaching the very people your business serves, by choosing categories for your business that will attract those who are most likely to become paying customers, and by creating ads and deals that are specifically designed with your primary market in mind.

Your Google Maps place marker.  When you create your business listing on Google Places and have the corresponding business location marked on Google Maps (with that familiar blue pin that Google users have come to know and love), you are literally making your business available to everyone who searches for a business like yours in your area.  That means that even if someone doesn’t know the exact name of your business, or that person is searching using general keywords that pertain to your business, your business’ location marker will show up on the Google search Map results.

Two powerhouses, working together.  Think of it this way: everyone who searches the Internet using Google (and let’s face it, that’s practically everyone who uses the Internet) sees both Google Places page listings as well as Google Maps results.  This means your business has an even greater chance of standing out and getting the attention you want it to when you take advantage of using Google Places and Google Maps together.

Take advantage of everything Google+ Local has to offer! Visit http://kenivey.com for details.

The post 3 Easy Ways Google Maps and Google Places Will Deliver Customers to Your Door appeared first on Ken Ivey.

Your Google Places listing can be a very valuable tool when it comes to web marketing and establishing a strong Internet presence.  However, there is a right way and a wrong way to use your Google Places listing.  For this reason, Google has outlined certain policies regarding your listing content, and you must adhere to these policies if you are to use Google Places to its optimum potential.  Here is a guide to understanding Google Places content policies and why it’s important to follow them:

Your business listing.  You must list your business name, location, and contact information EXACTLY as it is on your business license.  You may not place keywords, taglines, or other marketing phrases in your listing.

Illegal activities.  You cannot advertise anything illegal through your Google Places listing, or use your listing as a means to discuss or conduct illegal business practices.

Violent or bullying behavior.  There should be absolutely no content on your Google Places page that could be considered threatening to other people, and your page content should not represent violent or bullying behavior of any sort.

Pornography.  Anything considered obscene, sexually explicit, or otherwise indicative of graphic sex is strictly prohibited on Google Places.  That includes any type of nudity.

Misleading representation.  You may not impersonate a person or business through your Google Places listing, or otherwise mislead people about the nature of your business.  This even pertains to images and videos you upload to your listing, which must be directly related to your business.

Malicious content.  Things like Trojans, password phishing scams, spam, worms, and any other type of harmful, malicious, or threatening content are not allowed in Google Places listings.

Copyright infringement.  You must respect all laws pertaining to the protection of intellectual property.  That means you cannot use copyrighted materials on your Google Places listing without proper permission.

Review content.  You cannot remove a review yourself, but you can flag it as inappropriate, in order to request a review by Google.  Google will remove review content that is proven to be spam, off-topic, illegitimate, inappropriate (according to general Google Places content policy), or unlawful.

Why follow these policies?  Simply put, Google Places content policies were designed to enhance the user experience, which ultimately ensures the success of your listing and improves your bottom line.  Not following these policies jeopardizes your standing with Google, and could also alienate those visiting your Places page.  Better safe than sorry, right?

Take advantage of everything Google+ Local has to offer! Visit http://kenivey.com for details.

The post Google Places Content Policies and Why It’s Important to Follow Them appeared first on Ken Ivey.

Google Places can be a powerful marketing tool for your business.  If you haven’t yet set up your free Google Places listing, then you should make that your next Internet marketing priority.  Once you have your Google Places page set up, you will then need to learn how to use it to its fullest potential, so that you can start seeing results as quickly as possible.  One great way to increase your bottom line on Google Places is by offering your page visitors a coupon (and this is not in reference to those paper things you get out of the Sunday paper).  So, how do you give your customers coupons in virtual reality?  Here is a guide to setting up a coupon in Google Places:

Google Offers.  Google makes it super easy to set up a coupon through your Google Places page.  Simply access Google Offers and Deals through the Offers tab, in the upper left-hand corner of your computer screen, indicate that you would like to set up a new offer, and then proceed to create your coupon.

Coupon information.  From the Google Offers screen, you will be prompted to fill out pertinent information for your coupon offer.  You will need to start with a headline of up to 25 characters.  This headline should be catchy, should speak to your target demographic, and should contain strong keywords.  You have the option of creating a sub-heading of up to 35 characters, and you should take advantage of this chance to embellish on the meaning of your headline.  In the details section, you can insert up to 250 characters to describe the details of your offer.  Be specific here, being sure to list essential defining information for the deal (cost, restrictions, etc.).  Once adding your text, you will have to indicate a “good until” date.  You can only run one Google Offer coupon at a time, so be choosy.  You do have the option of inserting an image and a coupon code.  For optimum results, and convenient tracking, take advantage of both of these opportunities.

Publish your offer.  You will be able to see your coupon every step along the way as you input the coupon information, on the preview screen to the right.  Once you are content that you have created the coupon you want, simply hit the publish button to make it go live within 24 hours.

Editing your coupon.  If you want to edit your coupon, or set preferences for either mobile or print coupons, simply access the deal via the Google Offers button.

Take advantage of everything Google+ Local has to offer! Visit http://kenivey.com for details.

The post How to Set Up a Coupon in Google Places appeared first on Ken Ivey.

Launched in 2009, Google Places was developed to serve as an online yellow pages – allowing businesses to park virtual offices in their prospective locations on Google Maps, and then to furnish those offices with everything relevant about their businesses that they would want potential customers to know.  Since then, Google Places has completely overtaken the yellow pages market, making that big, cumbersome book all but obsolete.  As a matter of fact, statistics show that 97 percent of all consumers use the Internet as their number one source for finding local businesses.  In light of these startling numbers, it seems that many businesses are still struggling with the logistics of using Google Places to its maximum potential.  How can you get the most out of your Google Places listing?  Here are five ways to use Google Places for your business:

Your Google Places listing.  The first step to establishing your presence on Google Places is to create your listing.  This is done in three simple steps: submitting all of your pertinent business information, providing Google with verification that your business is what you say it is (business card, website, business advertisement, etc.), and then waiting for Google to approve and feature your listing.

Keywords and relevant content.  When adding content to your Google Places listing, be sure to make it as relevant and keyword-rich as possible.  This will improve your organic search engine ranking.  Take time to do ample keyword research when creating your content.

Images.  Load your Google Places listing with plenty of photographs, and even videos, depicting your business.  Studies show that web surfers are much more responsive to images than to text, and using keyword-tagged images also moves you up in the Google search engine rankings.

Encourage reviews.  Your Google Places listing allows for your customers to write and post reviews to your space.  Customer reviews are a great way to promote your business, so be sure to ask your satisfied customers to help you out in this respect.

Google Business Photos.  Although this free Google service is still just catching on, it can be a great way for you to dramatically improve upon your Google Places listing.  Basically, when you sign on with Google Business Photos, Google will send out a photographer to do a 360 degree photoshoot of the interior of your business, so that visitors to your Google Places listing can take a virtual tour.

Take advantage of everything Google+ Local has to offer! Visit http://kenivey.com for details.

The post 5 Ways to Use Google Places for My Business appeared first on Ken Ivey.

There was a lot of talk surrounding Google’s introduction of its very own social networking platform: Google Plus.  How would it fare next to giants like Facebook and Twitter?  While it seems the comparative success of Google Plus is still up in the air in regards to mainstream social networking, many loyal fans of Google Plus argue that the relatively new social media site does fill a creative niche that sets it apart from its competitors.  Businesses, especially, are finding that a Google Plus business page can pack a lot of punch when it comes to marketing, branding, and building a credible Internet presence.  As a matter of fact, Google recently made Google Plus business pages virtually mandatory for businesses concerned with maintaining the web status quo, with the announcement that Google Plus is completely absorbing Google Places, in the form of Google Plus Local.  If you find yourself in the position of making that all-important switch from Google Places to Google Plus Local, then here are some things you should know:

The social aspect.  Google’s original intent with Google Places was to provide an outlet for vendors to interact with their customers.  However, that concept never came to light, as Google Places pages were ultimately too static and limited to allow for much back-and-forth interaction.  Google Plus Local is the solution to that issue, and it promises to enable real-time interaction between businesses and their customers.  Businesses will now be able to grow a following and send out direct messages to them, as well as post regular updates.  Additionally, both businesses and customers will be able to filter, search, and organize their contacts in Google + circles.

More ways to connect.  Now, instead of displaying a business’ page in a list of search engine results, Google will provide web surfers with more interactive Google + Local pages by way of several different avenues.  In addition to Google.com search engine results pages, Google +  Local listings will also appear when users search Google Maps and Google Plus, and also when they make use of Google mobile apps.

New review ratings.  Whereas Google Places relied on a 5-star scales to convey average user review ratings, the new Google + format makes use of something called the Zagat score.  The Zagat score is more comprehensive – including marks for a number of categories related to each specific type of business – and the 0 to 30 range is therefore indicative of a business’ rating on a broad range of factors.

Take advantage of everything Google+ Local has to offer! Visit http://kenivey.com for details.

The post Introducing the New Google Plus Local appeared first on Ken Ivey.

A Google Places listing is an ideal web marketing tool for your business.  However, it is not as simple as just completing your business information and publishing your page.  You must put some time and effort into optimizing your page for maximum search engine potency, down to every last detail.  One mistake people make when setting up their Google Places listings is rushing through the setup process without putting ample research into their decision-making when it comes to things like keywords and other search engine optimization (SEO) factors.  For example, Google allows you to choose a number of business categories to associate your listing with.  While it may be tempting to just choose what you think are decent fits and get on with it, the truth is that your business categories have a lot to do with how many visitors your Google Places page attracts.  Therefore, you need to know how to make the best decision for your business needs.  How do you do that?  Here is a guide for how to choose the right category for your Google Places listing:

Creating your own versus using Google’s categories.  Google does allow you the option of creating your own business categories.  However, it is generally not advisable to do this, as Google’s categories list is full of keyword phrases that are proven to be effective when it comes to search engine rankings.

Make a list of possible choices.  Access Google’s categories list from your Google Places Account link and scroll the entire list of category options.  This may take some time, but it is worth it.  Make a running list of each and every category your business may fall under.  Sure, you’re not going to use all of these, but you want as many as possible before moving on to the research step.  Be creative.  For example, if you are a bakery, you may also run a catering service, or even do cake decorating.

Research the categories on your list.  What you are looking for are the strongest, most search engine relevant categories.  Use a keyword research tool (like the free Google Adwords tool, found online) to identify which categories are strongest in terms of search volume (local monthly searches) and competition.

Analyze the data from your research.  Compare all of your potential categories side by side and narrow your list down to the strongest.

Choose your categories.  From your narrowed down list, choose a couple of strong categories that are in line with your business purpose.

Take advantage of everything Google+ Local has to offer! Visit http://kenivey.com for details.

The post How to Choose the Right Category for Your Google Places Listing appeared first on Ken Ivey.

Your Google Places page can be one of the strongest marketing tools you have in your arsenal, as long as you know how to use it to its fullest potential.  For that reason, it is important that you invest some time and energy into getting it just right, and from the get-go.  Having a complete, accurate, and optimized Google Places listing can mean the difference between reaping some major rewards from your Internet marketing efforts and going completely unnoticed.  So, how do you make sure your Google Places page is speaking well on behalf of your business?  Here are five most important components of your Google Places listing:

Keyword-rich business description.  Your business description should be concise, informative, and easy to read and understand.  However, it should also be optimized for search engine spiders, so that your Places page sits as high in search engine return rankings as possible.  Do some thorough keyword research to find strong keyword phrases that can maximize your page’s SEO, and then place those keywords strategically throughout your business description, being careful not to cram them in nonsensically.

Accurate and thorough business information.  You should take the time to fill in every single space when it comes to completing your business listing.  Don’t leave anything blank, and be as concise and accurate as possible.  In order to rank high in Google search results, your site should have a score of 100 percent, which requires that you input something into each available line in your listing (including the ones that are indicated as optional).

Photos and videos.  Studies show that people surfing the web are more responsive to images than they are to plain text.  Google Places allows you to upload a large number of photos and videos.  Take advantage of this by uploading the maximum allowed amount.

Positive customer reviews.  Your Google Places listing includes a customer review section.  Encourage your satisfied customers to write a short testament about your business and ask them to post them on your Google Places page, for all to see.

Product and service keywords.  As previously mentioned, keywords are important when completing your business description.  However, you should also be specific about products and services you offer, and use strong keywords when describing them.

Take advantage of everything Google+ Local has to offer! Visit http://kenivey.com for details.

The post 5 Most Important Components of Your Google Places Listing appeared first on Ken Ivey.

Your business’ Google Places listing is an integral part of your online reputation, and is an invaluable tool when it comes to the Internet marketing of your business.  One essential factor that contributes to the success (or lack thereof) of your Google Places listing is customer reviews.  In order to make the most out of your Google Places listing, you should have plenty of relevant, high-quality customer reviews.  How do you handle the reviews aspect of your Google Places listing?  Here are some tips for how to get and respond to Google Places reviews.

Getting Reviews:

Ask for them.  This is the simplest way to get Google Places reviews.  If you have satisfied customers or clients (and you should!), then make it a point to ask them to visit your Google Places listing and submit a review.  Remind them that posting a review to your listing is easy: they simple click on the “Write a Review” button at the top left-hand corner of your listing and type away.

Your Google Places listing link.  Google Places provides you with a personalized link that you can send to your email or snail mail list to direct people to your listing and ask for reviews.  You can also include your link on all of your business correspondence, advertisements and marketing materials.

QR codes.  Generate a QR code linked to your Google Places listing and put it on anything and everything related to your business that your customers may see, along with a simple request to visit your listing and write a review.  QR codes will take any smart phone user directly to your Google Places listing with a quick and easy scan.

Third-party sources.  List your business in directories like Yelp, Bing, Yahoo! Business listings, and Foursquare and all reviews submitted to those sites will automatically link to and be listed on your Google Places listing.

Responding to Reviews:

Negative reviews.  It never fails that some people simply won’t be happy with your business, no matter what you do.  It is important that you preserve your business’ reputation by responding to these reviews promptly and diplomatically.  Make a public attempt to resolve any issues, and express your perspective in a way that is neither self-justifying nor insulting to the customer.

Positive reviews.  Thank your satisfied customers for their support, and offer them incentives to keep coming back.  By offering coupons and referral rewards publicly, via the Google Places listing forum, you are encouraging potential customers to give you a try.

Take advantage of everything Google+ Local has to offer! Visit http://kenivey.com for details.

The post Google Places Reviews: How to Get Them and How to Respond to Them appeared first on Ken Ivey.

Google recently sent the Internet business community into a frenzy with its announcement that Google Places would no longer be called Google Places. In addition to its new name – Google+ Local – the business listing powerhouse will also change locales, to be housed in Google’s relatively new social networking platform, Google Plus. Google Plus Local pages still have much of the same functionality of the previous Google Places format, only they are more advanced and provide both businesses and customers with more communication options. Want to get in the know when it comes to this exciting new business frontier? Here is a guide to understanding the new Google Places (a.k.a. Google+ Local): Social networking via Google+ Local. Because Google+ Local is fully integrated into the Google Plus social networking platform, businesses now have the opportunity to interact with their customers on a large scale via their Google+ Local pages. You can post updates, send and receive private messages, develop a following, organize your following into categories (or “circles”), and even leave reviews for other businesses using your Google+ Local profile. These advanced social networking features carry a broad range of exciting opportunities for connecting with your customers in powerful new ways.

Google+ Local reviews. Google Plus completely revolutionizes the way customers leave reviews for your business. First of all, customers who want to leave reviews must be logged into their Google Plus accounts. This means that there are no longer anonymous reviews, which carries two very important benefits: 1) malicious and spammy reviewers will be deterred from leaving reviews, and 2) you will know exactly who left what review, and you can respond to them directly, through their Google Plus profiles. The second great thing about Google+ Local reviews is that, in place of the previous 0 to 5 star rating scale, there is now a 30-point rating scale that requires reviewers to break down their ratings into specific aspects of your business (customer service, food, and décor, for example). This gives you a great advantage when it comes to interpreting and applying reviewer data for the betterment of your business.

Reach. It used to be that Google Places listings were only shown on Google Search results pages. Now, your Google+ Local listing will show up when web surfers search Google.com, Google Maps, and Google Plus, as well as when people access Google through mobile apps.

Take advantage of everything Google+ Local has to offer! Visit http://kenivey.com for details.

The post Understanding the New Google Places appeared first on Ken Ivey.