Improve your search results with Google Places

Google Places for Business is a quick and easy way to improve the way your business shows up in search results, especially if your business serves a specific geographic area.

With the growing presence of GPS-enabled mobile phones, location-aware browsers, and IP address geotagging, search engines, including Google, are able to tailor results based on the location we’re in at the time or the location we’re searching for. A user in Idaho searching for a plumber will see totally different results from a user in Connecticut searching for a plumber.

To help facilitate these localized searches, Google released a feature called Google Places which allows business owners to add their business name, address, web site, hours of operation, and other pertinent details to Google’s database. Think of it as Google’s version of the Yellow Pages.

Now when a user in close proximity to your location searches for your type of business or business category, your business will appear in the localized search results. These localized search results typically appear toward the very top of the search results page, even above regular web site listings. It’s a prime search engine real estate spot you don’t want to miss out on! In addition, your business will also appear as a point on the Google Map displayed alongside the results.

If you’re a home-based business or tend to be more on-the-go than in one fixed place, you can still add your business while keeping your physical address private. Google allows you to establish specific zip codes or a target radius of where you service your customers and you’ll show up in those results.

Ready to get started? Just visit the Google Places sign up page and fill out your information. It’s free, fast, and easy. If you’re still not sure what to do, we’re more than happy to help you through the process.