Local business listings on Google Maps

As Google Maps becomes more sophisticated and increases its visibility through Google’s new ‘universal search’ results and mobile search, there is an increasing importance for many businesses to obtain a listing on this service.

Since Google Maps was first launched in early 2005, as a development of the Google Local search service, it has provided the opportunity for searchers to locate businesses or other services within a local or regional area. Business listings were initially linked to company information found within Google’s search results, or from associations with Yellow Pages listings (or similar services in the countries covered by this Google Maps service, which currently covers United States, Australia, Canada, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, the UK, China, and Japan).

More recently Google Maps has allowed business owners to edit their listings and to provide more in-depth information, such as additional contact details, a more detailed business description or images, as well as opening times, payment methods and other customised attributes, such as specialisations, areas served and local transport links. You can even create coupons that users who view your business details may print out and bring along to your shop or other venue.

Local search marketing is growing in importance and will be especially relevant for businesses that have a customer outlet or want to attract business from a local area. As mobile search services develop and the interactivity supporting local business marketing increases, it should be an essential strand to the marketing activity undertaken by any localised business or companies with a chain of stores in different locations.

If your business isn’t currently listed then you can submit your details online, or if you do have a listing you can check these are correct and then add additional information. Google Maps will then write to you at the address provided to confirm the information is correct and provide you with a verification code to activate your new details on this service.

When users search Google Maps for a type of business within an area, listings appear ranked in order of distance from a required location, or based on keywords if searching within a wider area, some optimisation of these listings can also be an important factor.

If you’d like to know more about Google Maps and how you can list your business, please contact us for details.

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