Optimizing Google + for your Business
There are many informational websites out there about how you can optimize your Google places business listing. The key components that they all mention are listed in the order as you would enter them in your Google Places account.
- Claim your listing – it is very simple to do and is very important.
- DO NOT use a fake name – make sure the name you or your marketing company are using is your exact business name do not add keywords or locations. If your business (a custom paper and printing company) is called “Acme Paper” list it as that name not “Acme printing and custom paper” don’t break Google’s guidelines thinking you will get ahead. If you get caught and banned it can take months or even longer to just get your business back into Google My Business.
- Make sure you use your correct business address, some of Madison’s digital marketing companies try to tell you that they want to setup fake business addresses. If you get caught they will not only remove that one incorrect listing they may actually remove all of the listings for your business regardless if they are the correct business information or not.
- Input your correct local phone number for the office – add your toll free number as one of your additional phone numbers.
- Input your URL, if you don’t have a website leave this blank don’t make up a fake URL. This URL needs to go directly to your website no fake redirect URLs or duplicate websites.
- Write a compelling description of your business write it for your customers to see don’t just stuff in keywords.
- Create business categories that relate to your business.
- Are you a business that services clients at their home or do they come to you?
- If they come to you leave the box with the no checked.
- If you service your clients at their homes then please check the yes box and fill in the service area where you service your customers.
- If you don’t want to put in your hours of operations you don’t have to and you will not be penalized for doing so.
- Select the type of payments you accept; no matter what type of business you have there is an option that will work for your business.
- Add photos of your business this is simple just browse your computer for images of your business, logo’s pictures of your office, etc.. some internet marketing companies think this doesn’t matter but it actually does cause you need to get your to be to 100%.
- Add related videos if you don’t have any videos and can’t create a digital video and upload it to YouTube see if there are other videos that relate to your business on YouTube.
How much does Search Engine Optimization (SEO) cost?
Most reputable internet marketing companies charge from $300 to $1500 a month if you are paying less look for another company, they are either only doing very little for you and most of the time we find that they are actually using black hat SEO, which can harm your business’ online ranking and reputation.
Asking The right questions to your marketing company.
- Be sure to ask your marketing company if they follow ALL of google’s guidelines when marketing for their clients.
- Ask them for a monthly or even better a real time ranking report.
- If they add a link to your website to an outgoing website be sure it is a nofollow link.
- some companies will add link farms on the back of other clients websites – this is very BAD.
- many companies will add a link to them in the footer of your website. (totally okay as long as it is a nofollow link)
Should I pay to be listed in online yellow pages?
The answer is 100% NO. There are many reasons but the best reason is that you can drive many more customers to your website by spending the same amount with one of our Google Adwords manger. Producing a much higher ROI! Please feel free to read more about the benefits of using an internet marketing company over online directories and online yellow pages.
What are they targeting for you?
Find out what keywords and cities your marketing company will be targeting for you. Be sure they are relevant and not just going to make your website show up for your business name and your city.
Whose account are they going to use?
Many internet companies both here in Madison and around the world will build things in their own account. This means that when you cancel your contract they get to keep their work. Be sure to only use local internet marketing companies that will do their work inside your account for the following websites:
- Google+
How long should it take for you to show up on Google?
Ethical “white hat” SEO is done the American way with hard work. if a company promises that you will show up within a week or two organically they are either lying or using black hat (very BAD) SEO techniques that could harm you in the long and even short run.
Local Results
It takes 3-6 months to show up for multiple keywords in Google Local (not just showing up for your business name) in most US cities. The larger the city the longer it could take.
Organic Results
It takes 6-9 months to show up for multiple keywords in Google organically (not just showing up for your business name) in most US cities. The larger the city the longer it could take.
*There are some exceptions.
- If you have an older website and just redesign or rebuild it these times could be increased dramatically.
- If you are selling a very unique product there may not be any competition for the keywords.