Google Places Optimization - 3 Keys to Rank Well in Local Searches

Google Places Optimization - 3 Keys to Rank Well in Local Searches

Optimizing for local listings is one of the best ways to gain new customers. Local search results are becoming more and more valuable as Google tweaks its algorithm. The basics of ranking well on local listings are very similar to ranking well on regular Google searches. Here are 3 major steps to have your Google places page rank highly on the results:

1. Make sure you have multiple reviews from many different citation sources (citysearch, yellowpages, yelp, superpages)

2. Use a Variety of images, some submitted by the owner of the listing and others gathered from flickr or Google images

3. Create videos of your business and distribute them to YouTube

The problem with doing all of this is that it takes a lot of time and the pure monotony of it will wear on you. This is where you want to outsource some of the work. You could either go on a site like freelancer.com and hire someone to do it for you, but you would end up spending a good deal of money.

Your other option is to hire a Google Places Optimization firm. By hiring them you can have a hassle-free experience and still take care of the three of the major steps you need to take in order rank highly in Google places. One of the great things about building your business through the internet is that you can outsource work to leverage your time. Be sure to take advantage of this everywhere you can.

When Google determines their local search rankings they want to make sure the results are geo-targeted to what the user is searching for. In order to optimize your Google places page you must make sure your address and business details match up exactly on your Google places page and your website. Also, make sure to select appropriate keywords and categories when creating your local business listing. For example, if you are a dentist you would assign the following categories to your page: Health & Medical - Dentists, Dentists, General Dentistry, Cosmetic Dentist, Invisalign Dentist, General Dentist. Putting in multiple categories helps your page rank in the many different searches that are performed.

One of the best ways to help your ranking is to have a system set up that allows your customers to easily post reviews on your places page and other sites like yelp. Offer them a coupon for posting a review in order to involve them in the process. In order to have good reputation management you must get your customers excited to be involved in your online presence. To do this you must give them:

- Motivation (i.e. coupons to save money)

- An appropriate environment to take action

- Excellent customer service

If you provide these things you will see your ranking naturally rise because your customers are involved and doing the work for you. If you combine hiring a Google Places Optimization team and involved customers, your local listings will shoot to the top of the rankings and you will gain many new customers.

How can I outsource the work required to rank well on local searches?

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