Miami Internet Marketing | SEO | Josh Nelson

With the recent changes in the way that Google serves local search results by adding the Map Listings at the top of the Search Engine Results Page it has become imperative that businesses implement a Google Places Strategy.

One of the most common questions that I receive from Local Business Owners is “How do I get my company to show up on that Map? Below is my Google Places Strategy that has helped get my clients to the first page of Google for their services in their local area:

• Claim your Google Places Page. To claim your local listing on Google you need to visit www.google.com/places and set up your listing. Click here for step-by-step instructions for claiming your Google Places Page.
• Build out your Google Places Page. Add your Website Address – This will create an important inbound link. Upload PHOTOS – AS MANY AS POSSIBLE – Use personal Photos – Pictures of yourself (the owner), Pictures of Your Staff, Pictures of the Office, Pictures of Your Trucks, Your Logo, Coupons, Pictures of your work. People Connect & Resonate With People. Leverage that in your Map Listing. Upload a Video if you have one (If you don’t – Get one made!). List your hours of operation & services offered. ADD a Coupon. Click here for ideas on how to Optimize your Google Places Account.
• Add a Google TAG to make your listing Jump Off the page. A Google Tag is a paid option available by Google to highlight your listing in the local search results. Click here to learn more about Google Tags.
• Update your website from an SEO perspective. By completing the necessary on page SEO updates you can significantly increase your placement in the map listings. Click here for my SEO Strategy for Local Business.
• Get Reviews! A major component of placement in the Google Map listings is the number of reviews for your company. Put a procedure in place to consistently solicit reviews from your happy customers. We help our clients train their employees to keep their eyes and ears open for Happy Customers and then provide those happy customer with a “Share The Love Card”. This is a simple business card with a link to there Google Places page where they can quickly log-in and write a positive review for the business.

If you follow these simple steps you will start to see your business show up in the Google Business Listings for what you do.

As an Internet Marketing Consultant I help South Florida Businesses evaluate their marketing strategy as a whole and implement online marketing initiatives that drive increased sales activity and revenue. Give me a call or shoot me an email if you have any questions. You can email me at josh@joshnelsonimc.com or call me directly at 786-325-6761.

Below you will find a step-by-step guide for checking, claiming & managing your Local Business Listings on Google, Yahoo & Bing.

Step 1: Go to www.getlisted.org

Step 2: Enter your company name and address.

Step 3: Check to See if your listings are active & if you have claimed them or not:

Step 4: Click on the Listings that you have not claimed and CLAIM THEM:

Step 5: Claiming your Google Listing:

Just follow the instructions from there. I would encourage you to add as much detail and multi-media as possible. Where they ask for pictures & videos – upload them! Add your hours of operation, contact info, payment options, etc.

***NOTE: You will get to a page that asks, would you like to confirm your listing via Phone or Mail. Choose the “Phone Option”. When you do it this way you will recieve a call from Google’s automated system with your PIN. It makes claiming your listing much faster.

Here is what your Local Listing will look like once it is claimed:

To learn about how to Improve Your Placement on the Google Map click here. As an internet marketing consultant I help South Florida Businesses evaluate their marketing strategy as a whole and implement online marketing initiatives that drive increased sales activity and revenue.

You can reach me directly at 786-325-6761 or via email josh@joshnelsonimc.com.

Are you a South Florida business owner that is looking to learn more about internet marketing & to increase your presence online?  Then you have come to the right place. My name is Josh Nelson & I am an internet marketing consultant serving the South Florida Area (Miami, Fort Lauderdale & The Palm Beaches). Here at my website you will find valuable information about Internet Marketing as it relates to LOCAL BUSINESS. As you have probably already experienced, there is a TON of information online about “internet marketing” but very little of it pertains specifically to “local business”.  This site is dedicated to internet marketing as it relates to local businesses here in the Miami, Fort Lauderdale & Palm Beach area.Here you will find step-by-step strategies & tactics that you can implement immediately to improve your online presence and start to dominate the South Florida market for what you do.  The first resource I recommend you review is “The Ultimate Online Marketing Checklist For Local Business”. It takes you through what I feel are the most important things that you should do immediately that will have the biggest impact on your local presence online. You should also check out my post titled SEO Strategies for Local Business.

If you’d like to learn more about me and my roll as an internet marketing consultant just click here to learn more. Or better yet, call me directly at 786-325-6761 to schedule a free one-on-one consultation.

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Google is now allowing business owners to purchase a “Google Tag” for their map listing. This Tag helps to make your map listing stand out on the page. Below is an example of a Google Tag listing & how it appears in the search results:

The cost for this Tag is just $25 per month. As far as I am concerned, that is a small price to pay to differentiate your listing. You have the option to promote a specific feature of your place listing with this tag:

• Photos of your business
• Videos of your business
• Coupons for your listing
• Menu for your restaurant
• Reservations page for your business
• Posts for your business

Some of the benefits of a Tag Listing are:

• Easily and inexpensively highlight your listing on Google from Google Places.
• Potential customers in your local area will see what you think is most important or unique about your business.
• Track the effectiveness of your tag with your Google Places dashboard.
• You will be charged a low $25 flat monthly fee, with no bids and no keywords required.
• There is no additional work or ongoing management is needed.

To add a Tag to your listing, you just need to log into your Google Places account www.google.com/places and click “add a tag”.

If you haven’t already claimed your Google Places Map Listing click here for a Step-By-Step Guide To Claiming Your Google Map Listing.

As an Internet Marketing Consultant I help South Florida Businesses evaluate their marketing strategy as a whole and implement online marketing initiatives that drive increased sales activity and revenue.

You can reach me directly at 786-325-6761 or via email josh@joshnelsonimc.com.

1. Go to http://www.Google.com/places

2. Click on Create an account or Log-in using your Google Username & Password

3. Enter all of the necessary contact information

4. Then click on “List your business”

5. Enter your phone number so that Google can determine if you already exist in their database

6. If your company comes up, click “Edit” if it doesn’t, click “Add New Listing”

7. Fill in all of the necessary information

• Update Your Company Name to Read “Company Name – Core City + Main Service) – E.G. Heights Roofing – Miami Roofing Contractor” E.G. Reserve Dental Group – Boca Raton Dentist”
• Add your Website Address – This will create an important inbound link
• Upload PHOTOS – AS MANY AS POSSIBLE – Use personal Photos – Pictures of yourself (the owner), Pictures of Your Staff, Pictures of the Office, Pictures of Your Trucks, Your Logo, Coupons, Pictures of your work. People Connect & Resonate With People. Leverage that in your Map Listing
• Upload a Video if you have one (If you don’t – Get one made!)
• List your hours of operation & services offered

Press Submit

8. You will be asked how you want to confirm your listing – via Phone or Postcard.

• ALWAYS CHOOSE PHONE. It is much faster & will ensure that your complete the process
• The Postcard Option takes 2-3 weeks

 9. You will receive a call from Google’s automated system immediately. The automated system will provide you with a 5 digit code

• Make sure you or someone is available to answer the Office Line listed in your map listing.

10. Enter that code on the next screen & press “GO” in order to activate your listing

You will see a confirmation page indicating that you have successfully activated your listing.

That’s it! You have completed the 10 steps to claiming & setting up your Google Map listing on Google Places.

Here is what your Google Places Account Admin Area will look like once you are complete:

Here you will be able to edit your listing, add a coupon & check our your Google Places Page Stats 

• How many people are pulling up your Google Places Page
• What are they searching to get to you
• How many of them are clicking to your site, etc

Here is what you Google Map Listing will look like on Google once you are Complete

• Look for the “Business Owner Verified” check box in the top right corner
• GET REVIEWS – Getting reviews has been proven to increase placement in the map listing

Feel free to give me a call at 786-325-6761 or shoot me an email at josh@joshnelsonimc.com if you get stuck of if you have any questions. You can learn more about my Local SEO Strategies by clicing here.