Google places or google local business (as it is sometimes known)  is probably the most over looked unknown SEO development in off site search engine placement. And what makes it even more important is the continous development of the Google account, which is moving in on the social media side of online browsing. In March 2011 Google announced that soon there will be a feature where you recommend sites to your google account friends.

Using the power of Google places Search Engine Optimisation is a must for any small business, and the good news is right now only a tiny fraction of the UK market in any sector is using it. This really is your chance to get ahead of the game, and interact with customers and be visible in the ever popular search engine.

This feature from the search engine giant is free to set up, so you can just go and do it yourself, a simple profile which lists your business, opening times,  prices, services, contact info, parking etc. Every business that creates a listing will display roughly the same data fields -Including your competition.

For this reason it is even more important to stand out from the crowd (once it gets crowded) little extra funky features are avaliable like adding photos, videos, additional unique information and best of all there is a mini blog like feature for semi regular updates.

Now here comes the real clever bit, customer reviews – Yes on this little invention from the search engine giant customers can find your listing and place reviews for all to see 24/7, of course this means the good and the bad so you best be good. However done properly this can bring in lot’s of additional business if your places listing is in the top ten, and has good interactions from existing customers.

Knowing Google this will only get bigger and more important, as the search engine seeks to provide more utility to the end user (the person searching). The search engine is constantly looking for better ways to help connect customers with companies, and with mobile smart devices starting to replace the home PC, it’s more important to list for mobile searches providing real time small updates with contact info.

So why not let Solent SEO be your local search marketing consultants, and let us create the listing for you, we can manage the listing process, all the additional bits and even maintain the mini blog for you. Further we can advise you on how to get your existing customers to interact with your new listing and tie it all in with your socail media efforts.

The possibilies are endless and will only continue to grow, so why not get in touch.