Smugglers Bay
WebSite Design & SEO
Tip of the Day!
22 Oct 2010
Google Places provides maps, driving directions and contact information for local businesses as people search for
them. By signing up for Google Places, you are putting your business on the map, literally. When you sign up, you will be added to
Google Maps. Google Maps is one of the most widely used methods people look up directions for where they are going.
It is likely that customers who are searching for your business will go no further than Google Maps in trying to find you before they
will look for a similar company. If you are not on the map, it is like you do not exist for many people.
Many business leaders believe that Google Maps and Google Places are the same thing, but slightly
different. As a result, they do not even both to join one or the other. This is a mistake as they are both tools that help people find
your business. The Google Places application allows you to take control of what is said about your company.
Meanwhile, the Google Maps application depends on what the
Yellow Book or others say about you. You can edit what Google Maps say about you through Google Places, if you sign
up and take the time to alter it however.
Google Places and Google Maps are wonderful applications that can greatly help you increase your business. Be sure that you business
is part of them.
Google Maps at Smugglers Bay!
Yep! We can create a variety of Google Maps configurations for your WebSite here at Smugglers Bay. Takes about an hour.
View Smugglers Bay - Ventura County in a larger map
Google Places Escalates The Location War
The Location War going on right now has many fronts (Foursquare, Twitter, search, mobile), but it is being funded by one thing: convincing local businesses to spend money on online advertising. Google is escalating that war by making a big push to become the de facto directory for local businesses on the Web. Its Google Places is introducing a whole bunch of new features including local search and map listings, real time updates, custom QR codes and coupons, and even photo shoots for businesses. One out of every five searches is location related, but local search still represents a relatively small portion of Google’s revenues. Google wants local businesses to claim their Places pages (4 million have already done so), update them and buy local search advertising.
Google Maps Hates S&M & Caps
Several months ago, after not having touched my Google Places Page for weeks, I updated the photo. Immediately my edit was rejected and my listing removed from Google Maps. I thought the problem was with the new image and resubmitted the old one, but the listing still got rejected. I decided I was encountering Google’s issue with SEO's so I changed my listing name to “Smugglers Bay Search Optimization” and like magic, I was back in Google Maps, except this time I didn't rank #4 for “Ventura SEO” – I ranked more like #50. Last week, I was reading my SEO checklist on Google Places Rejections and had a #Duh! moment. "You are only allowed up to 3 capitals together to allow LLC or LTD on a company name. " Of course “SEO” is 3 capitals together so it shouldn't have been a problem. I immediately updated my listing name to “Local Seo Guide” and It's all good!