Google Places: Free location specific SEO

Google Places is the section on the Search Engine Results that shows location specific links to stores within the vicinity. This is really good real estate that you can capitalise on if you haven’t already.

Typically, Google Places appears when a keyword and its location specific identifier is put together. For example, if I were to search for “bubble wrap Melbourne”, then it is very likely that Google will display Places listings there.

So who should use this service?

If you have a physical location that you’re happy to share with your customers, ie. an office/storefront, then this is great. Simply get started at https://www.google.com/places/.

If not, you can still do so, but be prepared for unexpected visits from your customers.

A quick tip when setting up Google Places – make sure to sign up the account when your phone is available and you can answer it straight away.

Too many errors with phone validation will mean you have to validate your account via postcard which takes three to four weeks to arrive to you.

This will also cause you difficulty if you want to change your listing details in the future.

Finally, when setting up Google Places, remember to include all the products and services you provide in the form of readable keywords in the description.

Use some nice images to show your products/store and if you’d like. These all serve to make your listing stand out more credibly.