Google Places is a local business directory paired up with Google Search. It gives a business a landing page where it can describe its services, additional contact information, highlight products through photos and video, and allows customers to leave reviews.
Google Places is very important to businesses because Google Search relies heavily on Google Places when someone is searching for a local product or service. For example, if someone was searching for an “Austin bakery” a large percentage of the Google results will be some type of Google Places data.
What is the advantage of having a Google Places page?
Besides having your business more visible in search results, a Google Places page can have many other benefits.
It allows a potential customer to find your business and see where you are located. This helps a customer determine where you are relative to them and how to get to you. Also, Google Places lists your contact information. This is a great opportunity for a potential customer to pick up the phone and call you or click over to your website to learn more about you.
Businesses can also use imagery on their Google Places pages—one of the features Fahrenheit Marketing sees people taking the least advantage of. Google gives you the ability to upload pictures and video. This will give you the opportunity to highlight your product or services or show your business location through a visual method. People are more likely to engage in a business transaction with you if they are able to see your business through videos and pictures.
The core feature of a business’s Google Places page is reviews, which are listed at the bottom of your page. This gives customers the ability to rate and leave a comment about your business. A good or bad review could play into a potential customer’s decision on purchasing your product or services. More than ever it is important for people to be given the best service possible because a review can make or break your business.
Google Places is becoming more essential for local businesses. We are seeing Google push Google Places more and more here in Austin, which shows that it will become more important for local businesses to claim and optimize their pages.
Also with coming changes to Google, you might see some type of integration with Google Plus pages and Google Places. Either way it is important to claim and optimize your Google Places page for search engine optimization and customer conversion, so you don’t miss out on extra business.
To learn more about how to incorporate Google Places pages into your business, contact Fahrenheit Marketing today.
Fahrenheit Marketing is an Austin web design firm.