Comments on: Introduction to Google Maps & Google’s Local Business Center http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/blog/seo/introduction-to-google-maps-google-local-business-center/ Proven & practical local search marketing strategies for small businesses. Gain visibility in Google Maps, Yahoo Local Search, MSN Search Local & much more! Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:17:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Matthew Hunt http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/blog/seo/introduction-to-google-maps-google-local-business-center/comment-page-1/#comment-575 Matthew Hunt Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:01:14 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/?p=1101#comment-575 @David Here are those links you were looking for: <strong>Image 1:</strong> http://www.brandinfection.com/wp-content/eyetools_google_search.jpg <strong>Image 2: Click distribution</strong> http://www.seobook.com/images/click-distribution-serp.jpg @David

Here are those links you were looking for:
Image 1:
http://www.brandinfection.com/wp-content/eyetools_google_search.jpg

Image 2: Click distribution
http://www.seobook.com/images/click-distribution-serp.jpg

]]> By: David http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/blog/seo/introduction-to-google-maps-google-local-business-center/comment-page-1/#comment-574 David Tue, 09 Mar 2010 03:55:40 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/?p=1101#comment-574 Do you have the link to the "eye tracking study" you mentioned in your video? Thanks! Do you have the link to the “eye tracking study” you mentioned in your video?
Thanks!

]]> By: Leah http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/blog/seo/introduction-to-google-maps-google-local-business-center/comment-page-1/#comment-572 Leah Mon, 08 Mar 2010 16:52:28 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/?p=1101#comment-572 Did you know that not all keywords trigger that 7-pack ? There's some software that finds the keywords that do trigger it so you can make sure you use those particular ones instead of picking the "wrong" ones. I know this is wrong but I don't do that keyword research because I hate it...so boring and yuck!! I just do business on and off-line as usual instead of strategized down to the word-long-short or otherwise. I even mixed up the categories and guess what, it went to a PR3 from a nothing within 9 or 10 months. I've got everything from automotive to rappers like Snoop Dogg, the HammerDance and internet marketing and software and Will Smith and The Venus Project too!! Maybe the less you know, the better it is since that's a more natural appearance to the robots!! Did you know that not all keywords trigger that 7-pack ? There’s some software that finds the keywords that do trigger it so you can make sure you use those particular ones instead of picking the “wrong” ones.

I know this is wrong but I don’t do that keyword research because I hate it…so boring and yuck!! I just do business on and off-line as usual instead of strategized down to the word-long-short or otherwise.

I even mixed up the categories and guess what, it went to a PR3 from a nothing within 9 or 10 months. I’ve got everything from automotive to rappers like Snoop Dogg, the HammerDance and internet marketing and software and Will Smith and The Venus Project too!! Maybe the less you know, the better it is since that’s a more natural appearance to the robots!!

]]> By: Matthew Hunt http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/blog/seo/introduction-to-google-maps-google-local-business-center/comment-page-1/#comment-571 Matthew Hunt Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:06:46 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/?p=1101#comment-571 @leah - thanks for stopping by. If your IP shows in different city than you are then you'll have to add a local modifier to your search query (most folks are savvy enough to do this) and then the proper Google Map's 7-Pack will be triggered. Not sure you need donuts to get it all done :) I do believe in the future people will do keyword research first before choosing their business name. I know I do. :) If haven't registered your business name yet you may want to invest in some good keyword research before you do. @leah – thanks for stopping by. If your IP shows in different city than you are then you’ll have to add a local modifier to your search query (most folks are savvy enough to do this) and then the proper Google Map’s 7-Pack will be triggered.

Not sure you need donuts to get it all done :)

I do believe in the future people will do keyword research first before choosing their business name. I know I do. :) If haven’t registered your business name yet you may want to invest in some good keyword research before you do.

]]> By: Matthew Hunt http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/blog/seo/introduction-to-google-maps-google-local-business-center/comment-page-1/#comment-570 Matthew Hunt Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:03:05 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/?p=1101#comment-570 @TzongYih No you won't get a penalty. How would franchisees with multiple locations get listings without a penalty. It's common for businesses to multiple locations, you just need to make sure you are using a unique address & phone on each listing. DBA and website can be the same. @TzongYih No you won’t get a penalty. How would franchisees with multiple locations get listings without a penalty. It’s common for businesses to multiple locations, you just need to make sure you are using a unique address & phone on each listing. DBA and website can be the same.

]]> By: Leah http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/blog/seo/introduction-to-google-maps-google-local-business-center/comment-page-1/#comment-568 Leah Mon, 08 Mar 2010 08:20:41 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/?p=1101#comment-568 Even if a searcher doesn't add the city to their query, Google uses their IP address and returns the closest business if there is nothing else entered for location. I don't think that's working because who knows where your IP address is from where you really are. I think one of our IP addrsses is in Ohio and we're in California. Not a good idea, Google!! A good rule of thumb to follow is wherever your mail is delivered for your business means that's the address. Use suite or unit numbers for more than one busienss and make sure the post office fixes their records for your mail delivery.... I'm not sure if the post office will agree without some city planners or other red tape but go ahead and bring some donuts in and just smile and ask....it just might work! Then there's the legal name with no keywords allowed -- time for a trip to your City License Dept and the newspaper so you can file a dba with your new legal name. Then back to the post office with more donuts to update their records again! BOTTOM LINE: Claim your maps first like the big guy says and the rest will fall into place after that. First things first. TIP: Get strangers to give you reviews (not friends) because Google KNOWS who you know...they are listed in all your contact lists, right? RDF Triples and SPARQL will make the connections - even more accurately in a few years. Even if a searcher doesn’t add the city to their query, Google uses their IP address and returns the closest business if there is nothing else entered for location.

I don’t think that’s working because who knows where your IP address is from where you really are. I think one of our IP addrsses is in Ohio and we’re in California. Not a good idea, Google!!

A good rule of thumb to follow is wherever your mail is delivered for your business means that’s the address. Use suite or unit numbers for more than one busienss and make sure the post office fixes their records for your mail delivery….

I’m not sure if the post office will agree without some city planners or other red tape but go ahead and bring some donuts in and just smile and ask….it just might work!

Then there’s the legal name with no keywords allowed — time for a trip to your City License Dept and the newspaper so you can file a dba with your new legal name. Then back to the post office with more donuts to update their records again!

BOTTOM LINE: Claim your maps first like the big guy says and the rest will fall into place after that. First things first.

TIP: Get strangers to give you reviews (not friends) because Google KNOWS who you know…they are listed in all your contact lists, right? RDF Triples and SPARQL will make the connections – even more accurately in a few years.

]]> By: TzongYih http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/blog/seo/introduction-to-google-maps-google-local-business-center/comment-page-1/#comment-517 TzongYih Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:26:52 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/?p=1101#comment-517 Thanks. If I do like that, would not be penalty by google? Thanks.
If I do like that, would not be penalty by google?

]]> By: Matthew Hunt http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/blog/seo/introduction-to-google-maps-google-local-business-center/comment-page-1/#comment-514 Matthew Hunt Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:27:51 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/?p=1101#comment-514 @TzongYih Yes, you can have a listing for each location you have. I suggest also make sure you have a unique local phone number for each location too because I have seen sometimes listings with the same business name and same phone number get merged. Your scenario is similar to what a franchise would do. @TzongYih Yes, you can have a listing for each location you have. I suggest also make sure you have a unique local phone number for each location too because I have seen sometimes listings with the same business name and same phone number get merged. Your scenario is similar to what a franchise would do.

]]> By: TzongYih http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/blog/seo/introduction-to-google-maps-google-local-business-center/comment-page-1/#comment-512 TzongYih Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:04:33 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/?p=1101#comment-512 To confirm, I have a domain with 10 different business in different locations, so it can place 10 Google Map Listings, is it right? To confirm,
I have a domain with 10 different business in different locations, so it can place 10 Google Map Listings, is it right?

]]> By: Matthew Hunt http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/blog/seo/introduction-to-google-maps-google-local-business-center/comment-page-1/#comment-441 Matthew Hunt Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:00:10 +0000 http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/?p=1101#comment-441 Yes you can only add one business per location. You can have same domain and multiple Google Map listings. Think Franchises and other big corporate businesses. They may all use one url for all their listings. Yes you can only add one business per location. You can have same domain and multiple Google Map listings. Think Franchises and other big corporate businesses. They may all use one url for all their listings.

]]>