Published on the 16/01/2014 | Written by Paul Di Francesco
In this ‘social, local, mobile’ world we live in, being able to pinpoint where we are, what is in our immediate vicinity and how to get there, is vital…
If your business is not on the map, and you are not leveraging that data, you could be missing out not only on an effective marketing opportunity but operational and sales efficiencies too. Have you always wondered how Google puts local businesses on the map? Some time ago search results started presenting more and more details about the businesses that we were searching for. The listing would appear on the side of the search engine result page which displayed a Google map for directions, pictures, address, contact information, trading hours and even customer reviews. It’s pretty nifty, but it didn’t, and still doesn’t, happen for every business. We thought it must be because it cost a fortune, but we were wrong. It turns out that by using Google Places for Business, any business owner can submit their detailed information with ease at no cost. Here’s how to do it, using the example of the well-known Bar Reggio, an authentic Italian restaurant based in Darlinghurst, Sydney. Like many restaurants, Reggio’s customer base comes from traditional means such as word of mouth, reviews in third-party magazines or the average punter walking past who willing to try something new. These are all still viable channels, but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t also leverage its free listing on Google Maps to the max. Doing so may seem like a small thing, but it can have a big impact for a local eatery like Reggio’s. By adding more information and enticing imagery, you can give potential customers a sneak preview of what will be in store for them and begin to set the scene and build a rapport with them before they have even stepped through the door. The seed of trust in your brand is established. And of course the more relevant information that you include then the better the search engine optimisation and the greater the traffic to your listing. So here is how the painless process works. This article was originally featured in iStart technology in business magazine. For the magazine version of this article click the link below: …
