Lesson #5: FAQs About Google Business Profile Places
I realize you may still be somewhat fuzzy about Google Places and how it works to deliver new customers to you on complete auto-pilot.
You’re not alone. With so many different ways to increase your online presence, it’s hard to figure it all out sometimes.
In order to help clear things up a little bit more for you, here are some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), when it comes to Google Places:
FAQ #1: Isn’t Google Business Profile the same thing as Google Maps?
No, they are not. Google Maps is a service that provides map views, driving directions, contact information, and points of interest.
Places is the service that you can use to put your business on Google Maps, with more content. You can add photos, video, your web address, hours, categories, and more, to help local customers find you.
Google Places helps people find business when searching a specific location. Google Maps helps people explore a geographic area in many different ways, including street views, business listings, etc.
Google frequently tweaks and adjusts these services. For instance, Google Places was recently re-named; the previous name was Google Local Business Center.
FAQ #2: My business already comes up when people search for my business in Google. Isn’t that enough?
First of all, you want to come up on searches that are generated for your product or service – not just your business name – if you want to get new customers. Your goal is to target people who may not even know your business exists.
Also, just because your business comes up in Google Maps doesn’t mean that it’s visible or accurate. Google Maps pulls information on most businesses from the community and other business directories, and aggregates it.
Many times, this information is incorrect and needs to be corrected and verified by the business owner.
FAQ #3: I have some pretty popular competitors and there’s no way I could ever get to the top of Google, right?
This is not true at all. Just because you have a popular competitor doesn’t mean you can not beat their position in Google. Your ranking has less to do with “popularity” and more to do with “optimizing.”
Just by following the steps in the earlier lessons of this course, you can beat out a lot of your competitors because most of them probably are not doing anything at all with their listings.
FAQ #4: I have to have a website in order to be listed in Google Places, right?
This is incorrect. Although it is strongly recommended that you have a website if you want to get to the top of Google Places for popular keyword terms, you do not have to have a website to list your business there.
Google requires a Business Name, Mailing Address and Phone Number. Start with these, and you can make your business visible on Google Maps and Google Places.
Google is the king of the Internet and is constantly making changes to refine the way search results are given priority. The best way to stay on top of these changes is with the help of an online marketing consultant who can help guide you.
If you would like professional help verifying your business listing or optimizing a business listing that you have already claimed and verified, check out our Local Search Optimization/Submission package.
For your convenience, here’s a list of all the blog posts in this series:
• Lesson 1 – What is Google Business Profile and Why Use it?
• Lesson 2 – Setting Up Your Google Business Profile Listing
• Lesson 3 – Maintaining Your Google Business Profile Listing
• Lesson 4 – Getting to the Top of Google Business Profile and Staying There
• Lesson 5 – FAQ’s About Google Business Profile
Glennette Goodbread, Certified Search Marketing Specialist
Premium Web Design
