Setting up your Google places page

There is a lot that goes into building and optimizing your Google places page now days that when done accurately you will reap the prize for a long, long period of time. If you are on page one today of your local Search and are not optimized, the reality is you can start slipping down off that prime virtual real estate that Google is now offering you.

Optimizing your Google places page

Optimizing your Google places page is no problem when you know exactly what you are doing, there are a few basic steps you can take to blossom your online visibility. The first thing you need is to make certain you do is claim your Google places page!

Claiming your Google places page

To check display your browser to Google's home page and simply search for yourself. When you find your places page choose the little that says Place page. This will take you into the page area itself where your details are. along the top but just under the search box you notice two links, first one says edit the other will either say Owner Verified with a check mark or it will say Business owner? with a question mark asking if you want to verify your business. If it is yours you should verify it before anyone else claims your Google places page for you.

If you do not have a Google account you will need to set one up, Gmail is the easiest way

First Steps Google places page

1st steps after that make sure your business name is as you have it on your business license, Google is keeping track. Stuffing keywords into the business name section is not allowed

Warning Do Not Try To Beat The System

After that begin to fill in the fields they ask for. There are a lot of new changes being made by Google as far as how your places page should be designed. With recent changes in Jan & Feb 2011 if you do not do things by Google guidelines you may never find yourself in the top 7 box.

Categories come next for basic set up, just keep these with the ones that Google recommends.Again do not try to stuff more words in to make it be searchable. Your Google places page can make you or break you if not done properly it could take back peddling to get back to where Google sees it as an asset.

Optimize your video and Pictures in your Google Places Page

Another important step optimizing your pictures and videos. Creating these is a whole other article so for now I am going to keep it at what we have. Future articles I will discuss these factors as well as how to optimize your Google places page for your mapping, QR codes, getting a ton of reviews and more.

Until then good luck with your Google places page.