matthewheinzel.com

Alright guys, by popular demand I have agreed to release some more secrets…

After my last post about Google Local, I have received a lot of feedback. You love it, but want more. I have agreed to open the vault protected by Chuck Norris (he doesn’t sleep, he waits) and go public with some of my techniques and tactics. Just because I have mad love for you my readers of course.

So here it is: (now remember, I’m assuming at this point that you have a general knowledge of Google Local and have gone through the setup process at least.)

When Google started their Local search, they took numerous directories already in existence such as yellowpages and scraped the data. That is why in most cases when you started your Google Local account, you saw that your business name and basic info was already in there. They have taken their open source approach here as well, allowing the world (us to do the work) to perfect their engine.

Google is all about “fact checking,” so they want to be sure that you are who you say you are and that they are providing others with legit data. Can you blame them?… especially with all the phoniness online. So they want to verify your address and phone number. When you setup your account, you have 2 options. You can either do a PVA (phone verified account) in others words, Google will call you on the number you provide, give you a pin # and have you enter it online to prove you are at the phone number that you say you are. Or option 2, a postcard mailer. Option 2 is the best option and here’s why: most people avoid it because it says it can take 3-6 weeks but it will most likely be a week or so. The reason it is the best option is because your address carries more weight than a phone number. Think about it, if you are “fact checking” someone which would be more valid, calling them on a phone number or sending something in the mail?

Next, be sure that your phone number is a landline and that your area code is valid for your location.

Make sure that the address that you use in your profile is written exactly the same as the one that is in the footer of your website. Also, spell out street, lane, avenue etc. The more thorough you are the better.

If your business name is incorporated, add Inc after your name in your profile or whatever your corporation extension is, LLC, Group, Enterprises etc. Again, this shows Google that you are the real deal. Just think the entire time you are building your Google Local page…”Is Google going to like this?” (It’s fun being a slave to Google isn’t it??)

If you want to capitalize on surrounding cities this requires you to have valid addresses in those cities. With multiple locations, you’ll want multiple listings. Make one for each location.

Get reviews on your business! If all your little ducky’s are in order, Google loves your site and local profile they are going to place you in the “top 7” (which is now being rumored that it will be the “top 5” soon) but if your competition also has their process equal in greatness but has customer reviews, who do you think Google is going to put ahead of the other? Just think “common sense” and you’ll be alright. Most everyone misses the simple stuff.

If you don’t do anything that I have told you thus far…utilize this resource:
http://www.universalbusinesslisting.org/

This is an awesome tool and worth its weight in gold. It’ll cost you $30 bucks a year and be worth every single penny. Instead of me listing everything they do, go check it out for yourself. P.S. it’s not an affiliate link, I don’t get anything for sending you there. It’s just another rad tool that I use.

So that concludes the “Google Local- Part Deux.” I hope this helps.

Keep in mind that Google is “kinda a big deal” and pretty much does whatever they want whenever they want. They can, have and will change their processes at any given time without notice. Hopefully the “Google slap” doesn’t put the smack down on you!

Until next time, keep it real and let’s make some dough

-Matthew