Quick Tips: Google Places (Google Map)

Google Places/Google Map are an entirely different animal, it seems.

While nobody ever REALLY knows what Google values, many of us have pretty good ideas.  Many of these are derived from a common sense perspective.  Essentially, we figure Google to like what us, as readers like.

We like to read at pages that answer the questions we wanted to find.  It helps if a lot of other people have had good experiences with this before we ever got there.  We like it to be easy to read the material, and we want to be able to find everything we want without having to strain ourselves.

Google (and the other search engines) cover this pretty well.

However, the rules seem to change for Google Places listings (which also go to Google Maps, too).

Knowing that there seem to be exceptions, here is my best effort to provide tips that will help you get to the top of the Google Maps and Google Places.

1. Keywords are Key!  Nothing helps your standing with Google as making it clear that your Places Page relates to what their user wants to find.  Put your keyword in the Title.  Have your Description include your keywords.  Include keywords in your Categories.  Also include them in your Other section.
2. Get Your Backlinks!  Have other sites point to your Google Places page.  Write Press Releases that point to your page.  It doesn't hurt if your press releases have backlinks to them.  Heck, you can even make a Blog, and have it point to your Google Places page.
3. Catch your Comments!  The more (positive) comments you have on your Google Places page, the better chance you have of rising to the top.
4. Photo Shoot!  Have a photo.  In fact, if you can, have several photos attached to your Google Places page.  You can have as many as ten (10).  It helps if the file names of these photos include your keyword phrase.  It might be a good idea to include your logo as the first picture.  That's what people will see prior to clicking on your Google Places page.
5. Roll Them Videos!  If you have a video that showcases  your business, that's terrific.  You can have as many as five (5) videos on your site.  They have to come from YouTube, though, as you can only add links--not the actual file.

Even after you do all of these, I will not guarantee that you will reach the top of the Google Places listing.  However, if you do these, you'll have a much better chance of it.

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