Google Places
A recent study has shown that 30% of all search engine queries contain a city, state, or zip code and that there are 2.6 BILLION local searches done each month. Business used to go to sites like Yellow Pages to do local advertising. Not only are the Yellow Pages extremely expensive, but today they are essentially obsolete.
What killed the Yellow Pages? Google Places.
Google Places is basically the new and improved INTERACTIVE Yellow Pages. With a fully optimized Google Places profile you can include information such as photos of your establishment, staff, or clients, video testimonials or promotional videos, and trackable coupons- to name a few.
Since the Google algorithm has changed, Google Places listings are now often ranking higher than regular websites in search results. This is tremendously helpful because a fully optimized Google Places listing alongside a fully SEO-optimized website gives business owners a greater chance of actually owning two spots on the first page of a Google search as opposed to one!
