Loading ...Are you utilizing Google Maps? If not, you could be hurting your business. According to Brian Combs, the Founder and Principal of ionadas local, maps are very important if you want to be noticed in Google.
Even if you have top ranking keywords, you could still be missing out. Combs told WebProNews that Google has been pushing maps even more so over the past few months and is also assuming that searchers have a local intent for certain keywords.
To optimize for Google Maps, businesses first need to create or claim their business listing with Google. It may already exist since Google pulls information from multiple databases. If this is the case, you can simply claim your business. To create a listing from scratch, you need to sign up for a Google account if you haven’t already, then create a Google Local account and add your information to the listing.
Secondly, optimize a website if you have one. The good news is that you do not have to have a site to be listed, but if you do, it needs to be optimized not only for keywords, but also for locations. For this, Combs suggests putting your business’s address and phone number on every page and even incorporating a Google map on the ‘Contact Us’ page. In addition, you could use hCard microformat, which is a tagging system that Google uses for data.
Thirdly, integrate citation building. Combs says citation building is the equivalent of link building in traditional SEO. If you have a webpage that is trusted by Google, the company may view it as a citation.
As you can see, optimization for Google Maps is not difficult and the results could determine whether or not your business is being noticed.
Great video. I sent it on to my sister in law that has a local biz.
There is not much authority info on maps and this info is great, in the UK I have noticed that searches without a geograpic location it defaults to London for searches in surrouding counties and some categories now have stopped showing the local map (like website designers / web design)
Essex Website Designer,
I wonder if the geo location problem means that whatever service Google is using to connect IP addresses to location is failing. These can vary greatly from place to place.
The problem with “website designers” and “web design” is a bug, according to Google. It actually encompasses most internet marketing related keywords and is worldwide (although a few countries are not suffering from it).
I hope they fix it soon, as it’s had a material impact on my own website traffic!
Excellent video and info.
Though not one for spending the required time to get good seo rankings,
I do have some friends I currently JV with that may find this very useful.
Thanks so much for sharing this!
John
Thanks, Good information!!
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And do not forget for Google Base. Google Maps + Google Base is a very powerful combination. I use both in my real estate website and my customers are happy.
Agreed, for certain markets (most notably real estate), utilizing Google Base is a must.
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This is some great information. I have been trying to pull my Portland carpet cleaning business up on page one of the maps for awhile with little success.
Some great thought provoking comments.
I like your website – nice !
newsletter (in the top right corner of this page).Powered by WP Greet BoxRecently WebProNews shared a short video interview with Brian Combs, Founder and Principal of ionadas.com. In this short video Brian shares three things you need to