Google reports that one
in five searches is related to location. According to Google Places for
Business, 97% of consumers search for local businesses online. Google
often displays a Google Map in the organic search results when a searcher looks
for a product or service by location
Google business listing gives more authority to a website because they know it is a real business, giving you better search engine ranking for your keywords. Anytime someone uses Google to search for either your specific business name/location, or even for a business category related to yours in your area, your business listing is likely to appear in the return results across the entire Google network.
The Google Maps Listings
allows the public to add reviews to your listing. Google look at the quality of
reviews, so even posting lots of poor reviews will not improve your rankings.
Verified Google
Places business
owners can now publicly respond to user reviews on their businesses Place
Page. This can be a great way to engage with customers, correct or address
certain issues, and, when necessary, set the record straight.
Now the reviewers will have
the opportunity to rate your business more thoroughly and accurately, using the
new Zagat scale. The Zagat scale asks that customers rate your business from 0
to 3, in a number of categories related to your business, in order to calculate
an overall rating of 0 to 30. This
system is much more telling for potential customers, and much more revealing
for businesses looking to improve.
