Using Google Places for Business

Written on the 13 December 2012 by Snap Marketing

Google Places is a dedicated part of the Google platform that collates a range of information about a particular place, from tourist sites to cities and businesses. Google Places for Business helps businesses claim their Place Page and appear in search results.

Have you ever Googled a business, goods or services and noticed a Google Map appear at the top of the search results page? This map comes from Google Places in response to the search terms entered. By clicking on the pins on the map, users can then be redirected to the Place Page for that particular business or point of interest. The Place Page is full of information, including relevant websites, reviews, photos and ratings provided by the business itself and external sources. 

Benefits of Google Places

The benefits of listing your business on Google Places are far-reaching, including:

• Its free advertising.
• Its quick and easy to set up.
• Your business will be easier to find online.
• You can manage and edit the information in your listing.
• You have access to statistics about your listing traffic.
• You can upload various types of media.
• You can provide discount coupons in your listing.
• You can optimise your listing for better search engine rankings.
• Its a great form of online presence if you dont have a website.
• Other users reviews, ratings and material related to your business also appear.
• You can see what others say about your business and respond.

Setting up your listing

If you dont already have a Google or Gmail account for your business, the first thing youll need to do is create one. Dont use a personal account. Next, go to Google Places and sign in to create your listing.

Required steps to set up a business listing include:

• Inputting basic information about your business, such as your business name, address and phone number.
• Selecting the categories that best describe your business the kind of words that individuals would use to search for you.

Optional steps to get the most out of your listing and rank better include:

• Adding extra information such as hours of operation, payment options and parking details.
• Uploading related multimedia such as photos and videos.

Contact Snap today to find out how we can help you with your business website and marketing needs.