This is a PowerPoint Training doc that explains how you can improve your rankings in Google Places simply by entering correct and consistent information on all major online search directories. The name, address, and phone number of the business should be used consistently throughout other sites for citations.

1. Google Local Overview: This where we get into the nuts and
bolts of how you can do this for yourself and your clients!

2.  Google has been aggregating local
information from Yellow Pages and
reviews from sites like City Search and
Yelp
 Only 7% of these listings have been
claimed by businesses in the US
 Google is giving away a page on their site

3.  Claim your business listings in Google Places
 Make sure fill out the Places page correctly
and completely
 Add pictures, videos, and coupons
 Have citations
 Gather positive and recent reviews

4. 1. Set up a new Gmail account for the client/business you are
listing (if there is none yet), use a simple password
 For example: sogohotels@gmail.com
2. Go to http://www.google.com/places and click Get Started.
3. Enter the business phone number, and click Find Business
Information.

6. Address should be the
actual physical business
address (no PO box),
and phone number
should be a local phone
number.
Categories should never be used for
keyword stuffing! Max of 5 categories

7. Always enter the hours of
operation since this is one of
the factors for a business to
show up in the Google
Places search results.

8. • Use the Add a photo
from the web option to
pictures that is displaying
on their site to create
back links.
• Geo-tag pictures in
Picasa or Panoramio

9. 1. Add citations on your
YouTube videos by going
to your YouTube channel.
2. Select a video and edit the
details.
3. Enter the following inform
in the Description box:
• Name
• Address
• Phone Number
4. Double-check the map
location.

10. Add “Discrete links” in the Additional
Details section. These can be a link to a
certain page on your website.

11. Last step is to validate your listings. Google wants you to confirm
you are the business owner by sending a phone call, text
message, or post card to the contact info provided for that
business. Choose the method that you prefer.
For more info on how to verify
your Google listing, go to
http://support.google.com/place
s/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=
75569#

12. If you choose the phone validation your phone will ring shortly
after you click the "Call Me Now" button. Follow the automated
instructions and enter the PIN number you see on your screen.
For more info on how to verify
your Google listing, go to
http://support.google.com/pla
ces/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ans
wer=75569#
Tip: Call the client first and
tell them they will receive a
call from Google.

13. If you opt for the snail mail validation you'll have to watch for the
card from Google in your mailbox. When it arrives, log back into
your LBC account and enter the PIN number.
For more info on how to verify
your Google listing, go to
http://support.google.com/pla
ces/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ans
wer=75569#

14. Once your PIN has been set, it may take up to one week after
verification for your new business listing to appear on Google.
For more info on how to verify
your Google listing, go to
http://support.google.com/pla
ces/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ans
wer=75569#
Updates to existing listings, including the removal of photos or
entire listings can also take about one week.

15. The dashboard provides you Impressions: The number
with information on how Google of times that your business
listing has appeared in
users are interacting with your search results.
listing on Google and Google
Search. Actions: The number of
users who have clicked
through your business
listing after viewing it as a
search result.
For more info on using the
dashboard in your Google Places
account, visit:
http://support.google.com/places
/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=14
2910&topic=1656751&ctx=topic

18. Smart tags like QR Codes allows people to
instantly access the mobile version of the
business' Place Page on any supported
phone.
User should have a
mobile device with a
smart tag reader app
and scan the code with
its camera.
For more info on using the QR Codes
in your Google Places account, visit:
http://www.google.com/help/maps/f
avoriteplaces/business/barcode.html

19.  Citations are listings and mentions on local
sites/directories
 Name, address, and phone number (NAP)
should be consistent across the board
• Yellow Pages
• InfoUSA
• City Search
• Yelp
• Merchant Circle
• Better Business Bureau
 Use the following services
• www.GetListed.org
• www.ubl.org
• www.expressupdateusa.com

20. This is where most business fail because it hard
to get reviews.

21. Your reputation is important in this world of
social media.

22. Happy customers are less likely to review (although it’s
getting easier with smart phones apps) but angry
customers will surely tell everyone!

23.  Claim your business listings in Google Places
 Make sure fill out the Places page correctly
and completely
 Add pictures, videos, and coupons
 Have citations
 Gather positive and recent reviews

24.  What you do here applies to mobile too.
 Google has said over 50% of all traffic Google
Places is from a mobile devices.

25. • Reviews
• Citations
• Google AdWords Express
• Other tips

26.  Reviews must be genuine, don’t fake them.
 Use www.posterous.com to upload reviews.
1. Scan the hand-written review or fax
2. Type the customer’s verbatim
3. Upload it in Posterous
4. Add the review in Google places with the link to the
specific Posterous page.
▪ Set up a Google alert for client reviews
▪ Some directories allows you to respond (Yelp and Google)

27. What’s New on Reviews: Google "Hot Pot"
 Go to http://places.google.com/rate
 Using Google Hotpot is simple:
 You rate places on google.com/hotpot—
restaurants, hotels, cafes—and
 Add friends on Hotpot whose opinions you trust.
 Then the next time you perform a search, Google
will serve up personalized results, listing places
based on your tastes, as well as recommendations
from your friends.

28. What’s New on Reviews: Google "Hot Pot"

29. What’s New on Reviews: Google "Hot Pot"

30. What’s New on Reviews: WP Customer
Reviews Plugin
WP Customer Reviews plugin
 There are many sites that are crawling for user-generated
reviews now, including Google Places and Google Local Search.
 WP Customer Reviews allows you to setup a specific page on
your blog to receive customer testimonials for your
business/service OR to write reviews about multiple products
(using multiple pages).
 All submissions are moderated, which means that YOU choose
which reviews get shown.
 For more info: visit http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/wp-
customer-reviews

31. What’s New on Reviews: WP Customer
Reviews Plugin
WP Customer Reviews - Sample

32. Citations: Use Whitespark Local Citation Finder
A citation is a reference from somewhere else that is considered a reputable
source. One tool to find places on the Internet that may provide citations for
our business is at Whitespark.
The tool is called the Local Citation Finder and it will return to you a list of
places to go to for a citation.
Submitting citations can be very easy to somewhat time-consuming. It depends
on how much information the site wants.

33. Use Whitespark Local Citation Finder for
Citations
1. Go to www.whitespark.ca

34. Use Whitespark Local Citation Finder for
Citations
1. Search by the keyphrase and get your citation sources.
2. Go through the results and see if there are any
opportunities to submit your business.
 You're looking for local directories that might list
your site. As you go through the list, check off the
sites you have already submitted to, and they'll be
marked and moved to the bottom.
 Some of the results may be useless scraper sites that
you can't submit to. When you come across those in
your results, please mark them as useless.

35. What's New On Reviews
Local Business Listing Robot (www.lblrobot.com)
automates the posting of your clients' reviews

36. How To Set Up Google AdWords Express

37. How To Set Up Google AdWords Express