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Archive for the ‘Google Local Business Center’ Category

Google Favorite Places

Monday, April 12th, 2010

Google continues to send QR bar-coded window stickers to U.S. businesses who are already signed up in the local business center, and meet other requirements such as number of searches for directions and other information.

Once the business is registered, they can add coupons, images, videos, descriptions, links, hours and more. Customers with smart phones then scan the sticker (try the one above to get to Nina Hale, Inc), read or write reviews, view the coupons or mark it as a favorite place to visit later.

This is a great way for small businesses to interact with their customers, and is a smart way to bring more people into the Google advertising funnel.

At this point there is no way to request inclusion in this Google Beta, but you can join the action by getting your own QR (quick response) code here and put it on your blog, site, or email.

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Google Local Beta Brings Sponsored Results to Maps

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

Just when you thought you had gotten used to recent changes at Google Local Business Center & maps, they throw a little bomb at you.

What you see below is an example of this bomb—a sponsored site creeping into what was formerly a space reserved for organic map results only.

Their intentions are clear—to draw in the $29 billion pool of small businesses that may feel overwhelmed and overbid in today’s online landscape by offering a $25/month enhanced listing that shows up with organic search results. People with a local business account can choose and alternate between seven ways to promote their enhanced listing: photos, videos, link to site, coupons, directions, menu and reservations.

The problem has always been how to tap into such a wide base of small businesses that historically doesn’t spend much money in online advertising while making it profitable. A problem companies like Dex and Yellow Pages continue to struggle with.

Google began cracking this shell last year by offering a way to measure the results of the Local Business Center, making it really easy for small businesses to see how many people are getting directions to their store, printing a coupon, or clicking through.

Right now this is only available in Houston and San Jose, but expect that this will grow as Google continues on its quest: “To organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.

Click here to read the original New York Times article.

Tags: google natural search results, nina hale inc
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New Service-Based Feature To Google Local Business Center

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

Another step in the evolution of local search was revealed today by Google–the ability for owners of a local business center account to define a service area!

This is a really exciting development in the LBC for companies large and small. You can define your service area by radius, zipcode or city/state. Perfect for pizza, furniture, plumbers, etc. We aren’t sure if this is available to everybody, how it shows up in the maps, or if it is just another beta. We are waiting for an official response from our Google rep to learn more.

We do know that this would be ideal for many of our current clients, and that it is brilliant!

Here is the picture that Nina mentions in her comment below: The service areas can’t be separate – they all have to connect.

Posted in Google, Google Local Business Center | 1 Comment »