Google Local Listings and Goog-411: How to get Listed

By Micah Johnson | October 13, 2007

1-800-Goog-411 has recently graduated from Google Labs to become a full-fledged Google product. It’s a free service that allows anyone to call in and find local business information.

However, what becomes more important than the service itself, is how to make sure your business is listed.

Google Local Business Center

If you have been wondering how other businesses appear on Google Maps or in the search results when you are searching for a specific location, then the Google Local Business Center is your answer.

Why should I list locally?

Local listing is the next frontier for the search engines. They have the game down pat for web-wide searching, but when it comes to finding something in your area, they do not perform as well.

However, Google is trying to stay the leader of the pack by introducing new technologies and products that relate to local searching.

What this means is you have additional ways to be found, outside of natural and paid search advertising.

What about phone books?

I can’t honestly remember the last time I used a phone book, before I looked something up online first. …And I can guess that I’m not the only one.

Here’s an example: Yesterday I needed to buy a mattress (true story), and I did a search for “mattress store san diego.” There were three local search results that came up with a Google Map at the top of the search listings. Guess which one I picked? That’s right. The one that was closest to me with enough information and pictures on their site to make me feel comfortable knowing that I would be happy shopping there.

Because that mattress store was listed on Google Local Listings, they made an additional $530 that would not have come in otherwise.

What’s your point?

The point is that times are changing, and local search is coming to the web. Either you get there first or your competitors do. It’s free and easy to set up, so no matter which way you look at it, it’s a good idea.

Ok, how do I get listed?

1. Go to the Google Local Business Center and login or create a Google account
2. Fill out as much information as you feel comfortable with
3. Remember, the more information your potential clients can access before they move on to your competitor’s listing, the better chance you have of securing that business
4. Upload images of your location and your logo
5. Include your hours and the types of payments you access
6. Once you complete your listing information, Google will call you and all you enter a pin code they give you to verify this is your number and business.
7. Once your company is listed in the Google Local Business Center it will also be available in Google Maps, and 1-800-goog-411.

Think of a Search Engine Like a 2-Year Old

By Micah Johnson | October 11, 2007

When you think of search engines like toddlers, the concepts for search engine optimization (SEO) get much more simple.

With young children, you need to make things extra easy in order for them to understand. Take children’s books for example. They usually consist of a few words per page and cut right to he point.

The same thing applies to search engines. You need to make it crystal clear what each page is about, and when they understand what each page is about, they know how to rank you. The more clear, the better chance of top rankings.

Introducing: Keyword Focus.

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Google Analytics Tutorials

By Micah Johnson | September 27, 2007

Recently, Google has published a whole set of Google Analytics Tutorials on YouTube. These Google Analytics Tutorials include over 11 videos and have over 4 hours of tutorial footage.

If you’re like many of our clients, you don’t have 11 hours to spend watching tutorials. However, to make qualified decisions both for your web site and the business you run, you should have a basic grasp of what can be gathered and what data is available with Google Analytics.

Here are the few Google Analytics Tutorials that I suggest:

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