Nehlsen Notebook

The Case for Google Places

By Brian Oster - Business Development  1.19.11

There are many “business listing” websites available to list your company, claim your page and draw people to your business. However, there are so many of these sites available it may be overwhelming for business owners to know where to start. Don’t let that deter you from doing anything at all.

These listing websites can be useful whether you are small or large, B2B or B2C. Some serve a specific purpose: Yelp is all about sharing customer reviews. Others cater to a specific niche: Angie’s List rates local service companies. But ...

Google is taking on all the competition.

Google Places search is "a new kind of local search result that organizes the world's information around places. We've clustered search results around specific locations so you can more easily make comparisons and decide where to go."

If your business has any local presence, even community outreach, you should consider adding your business and build out its listing in Google Places.

Here is an over-simplified example: search your hometown and “pizza” in Google. Notice the new Google Map on the right column with all the pizza places nearby? This replaced Google’s paid advertising. Now look in the left toolbar for “Places.” One click and the built-out businesses have more information readily available for ready-to-buy customers.

New Google Places Example

The same result would apply if you searched locally for plumbers, Mexican restaurants, auto insurance or marketing agencies. Localized search is on the rise and here to stay. The “Find us on Facebook” button is appearing on many business websites and there may be a Google Places button someday soon.

To claim your business and get on the Google Places map, visit http://places.google.com/business. For a tutorial, go to http://bit.ly/gEYy50.

Ann
Posts: 1
Comment
Google Places app
Reply #1 on : Thu January 20, 2011, 10:37:15
Google Places just released their iPhone app last week too. Another sign they are serious and committed about this. Check out the full story at http://www.socialtimes.com/2011/01/did-google-just-steal-yelps-business.

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