Getting Listed in Google Local Business Center
Google wants to become the source for local business information, and one of the services they offer in order to entice local business owners to sign up for various services is Google Local Business Center (Google LBC). You know those Google maps that come up when you search for local services in Google Maps. You’re not going to be on that map unless you register with Google LBC.
In order to take advantage of Google LBC you need to first get listed with them specifically. This is not the same as having your website indexed. You actually have to register your business with Google LBC.
Here’s how you claim your listing at Google Local Business Center:
Once you have claimed your business you will need to go in and edit your listing. This is where you will need to make your profile stand out to the search engines. The most important thing is to be as detailed as possible, and be sure to use the keywords and categories you want to be found for.
1. Write a good description about yourself or your company using the keywords you want to rank for. You have 200 characters to work with.
2. Fill in all the contact information such as address, email and phone numbers.
3. Fill in all the categories. If you are a realtor, fill in Realtor, Real Estate, Realtor, Realty for starters.
4. Add appropriate photos. The more the better (they give you 10).
5. Add a link to a Youtube video if you have one (or as many as 5).
6. Add testimonials (reviews) if you have any.
Optimize your listing for local keywords, and optimize your site as well and Google will be glad to send you more targeted traffic.
January 1st, 2010 at 8:55 pm
This is great advice on how to setup a account and should be followed.
It is important to remember that Google will rank listing based on several factors.
The listing itself, mainly the title and category.
Then the references and citations that you have online, not just your URL but
wherever your business name, address and phone number are mentioned.
Think internet yellow pages and local directory’s.
Reviews follow after those. It is critical that you have at least a few reviews
to rank well.
Try and make a few content places, online maps that have you business info or
getoaged photos that mention your business.
The distance to city center from your address also plays a huge part.
If you are within 5 miles of city center you can generally get on the maps
with some effort.
Andy
January 2nd, 2010 at 12:31 am
Hey Andy,
Thanks for the additional info. That’s tremendous advice.
Rick
January 5th, 2010 at 8:14 am
[...] Getting Listed in Google Local Business Center [...]
August 7th, 2010 at 6:18 am
Do you have any advice on how to get your personal webpage listed when you are in share an address with many other agents?
August 19th, 2010 at 11:12 am
Hi Cindy,
It looks like you have your own domain forwarded to a sub-domain within the KW site. I believe that makes it a bit more difficult to get search engine ranking for a broad cross section of keywords. From what I have read on this topic the opinions on the SEO ramifications of redirecting a domain are all over the map. And frankly I’m not sure what to say about the implications for your Google Local Listing. I assume you want to get cindydudley.com listed – Have you tried to do that?