Google – Getting to Page One
If you run a small business, getting found on Google should be a top priority. Why?
- Over 75% of purchases for products and services, start with a Google search.
- There are now 32 billion searches a month on Google, up from 2.6 billion in 2007.
- Yet 90% of people will never go beyond the first page of a Google search result.
Getting found on Google’s page one has always been a huge challenge, especially for small businesses. Google has recently introduced some new tools specifically for small business owners to make it much easier - Google’s small business listings, now called Google Places.
Places is perfect for those wanting to find more customers, locally. It’s probably now easier to get on page one if you’re selling locally, than if you’re selling products or services nationally or internationally. This is a big, welcome change.
How does it work?
Firstly, when searchers put a local modifier on their searched term it has 100% “local intent”. Google “gets this” and this is why they then automatically serve up their Google Places listing, as shown below, with a local map.
All we have to do is make sure your business details are being listed with Google and displayed properly for those types of searches. When combined with a search-optimised small business website, you will be guaranteed laser-targeted leads.
Do not underestimate the importance of these types of searched phrases used by customers. If you are say a plumber in Auckland, it’s best for you to show up for a searched term like “Auckland Plumber” that has a search volume of around 1,000 per month. This healthy figure is typical of most services tied to home maintenance, hair/beauty services, pet care, printing, car parts, accommodation and professional services like Doctors, Dentists, Accountants, Lawyers.
No surprises to find that the king of the local google search (over 40,000/mth for Auckland), is around our leisure time, seeking out good restaurants, bars and entertainment.
Mobile-ready too!
A recent Google Places feature is full mobile-compatibility. And you don’t need to download any special app to your smartphone. Checkout their video, right. Remember unlike Yellow, Google doesn’t charge for this listing service. It’s just needs someone like ourselves to enter the right information, optimise the descriptions, photos and related links.
Part of our service is to help optimise your website as well as get you listed in other directories. This is important to Google, since it’s a validation of who you are, and your online business profile. The better your online business profile, the higher your ‘places’ listing.
These are Hot Leads – These are Buyers!
The bottom line is keyword phrases with local city modifiers have huge buying intent – They have already done their searching and now they are ready to buy LOCALLY. Something broad like “Plumber” could mean a million things like a kids school project, that is not directly related to specifically plumbing services in Auckland the way “Auckland Plumber” is.
It’s a really great service by Google and we want to ensure you get a piece of the action.