Google + Local For Some Major Google Juice For Your Local Business

June 18, 2012 - PRLog -- Do you know who the new marketing guy on the block is?  Google places is now Google+ Local.   It has recently gone through a major change to something with much more potential.  It is an application powered by Google Maps that works with the phones internal GPS navigation technology.  It is a very compelling service for users, too.  On Google Places+ Local, businesses have a great opportunity to describe their products and services to their potential prospects on line and on the go.

Google places is a search tool for businesses offered by Google to show up in local search results for your business type within any particular city.  It is a free service that allows business owners to list their business on Google Places, now referred to as Google Local.  It has become an essential tool in increasing popularity of a business on the Web to attract local consumers.  It is a location-based marketing platform that allows your business to rank in Google’s organic local search results.

Oddly enough very few businesses have claimed their Google places location online.  Maybe this is just from pure lack of knowledge or a lack of understanding the power behind its potential.  For businesses that jump in now, they will have a great advantage over the ones that haven’t claimed their page yet.   As local search becomes more and more relevant for location based businesses, it’s critical to take advantage of local business marketing.  Avoiding it will cause you to miss out on great revenue opportunities.  Google places is a great service for local businesses because it targets prospects within a specified location.  It is essentially a local business directory with directions, contact information and reviews.  It is getting to the point where it’s key to the online success of any local business. Google + Local is growing as a point of traffic distribution, particularly for mobile searches.

Google places is even available on your Android or iPhone device, so people can find your business on the-go. As a matter of fact, a growing number of online consumer searches are being initiated from mobile devices and not desk top computers. Google places service is a way to take the market share of local search traffic from Facebook/Foursquare and other social networks in the location space.   It helps both businesses and consumers find one another through recommendations and more.

Google places has changed the rules of the game with regard to local search.  The key to success on Google places is to really maximize the opportunity for content that Google allows the business owner on its places platform. The very first step is to set up a Google account, from there; Google walks you through the rest.  There are methods however to really “turn up the volume” on your Google Places page. Google Places Optimization is different than traditional Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Many business owners don’t have the time to learn the very specific steps in the process, but a good SEO expert will help you fully optimize and maximize your places page for ultimate online exposure.

Google + Local can be a very powerful addition to your online marketing strategy. Combining it with a well thought out Google friendly website and a few SEO backend strategies on both your webpage and your places page, you can really expect your business to gain some serious traction online.  It is very important for local businesses because it will capture more visitors and leads, and what business couldn’t use more of that? Like it or not, online is where most consumers begin their search for products and services. Missing out on Google + Local means skipping out on massive marketing opportunities in your local community.