The Google Local Business Center
If you have not heard of the Google Local Business Center and most of your customers come from your local region, then you now have a high priority task today. When prospects search for suppliers, Google will often now attempt to give them a list of local suppliers. That’s particularly true if the searcher is using google.com and it is presumably only a short time before it applies to other Google searches like those done with Google.ca.
It works for all the common products and services where you might be looking for a local supplier. You will usually find a block of ten local suppliers that is listed at the fourth position in the Google keyword search results for the particular product or service. To an extent it may mean less business for Google as fewer people then click on the Sponsored Link (Adwords) advertisements at the top and down the right-hand side through which Google makes its money.
If you were previously relying on your natural occurrence in the Google search results (what is often called the organic search results), then your entry is pushed even farther down the page unless you can guarantee to be in the top three. Perhaps that is the lever that will push many local businesses to buy sponsored link AdWords ads in order to appear on the initial screen (above the fold).
Google has now added a Local Business Center User Guide, and it includes a short video introduction to the service.
Mike Blumenthal is a keen watcher of the Google Local Search scene and he offers the following assessment of the Local Business Center User Guide.
The Guide is a step in the right direction, is well organized and provides additional useful information. That being said, Google needs to “step it up” to bring the LBC into the realm of usable by the small business person it is intended to serve.
It is true that there is a degree of confusion here and for Google it clearly is a work in progress. If you need any help in ensuring you are visible to your local customers then please contact SMM.
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April 16th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
I dont know why but I still feel only big business get benefit from this service
April 17th, 2009 at 12:53 am
well this does make sense. If I’m looking for a dentist I’m not looking for the one on the other side of the country.
April 17th, 2009 at 11:31 am
It would be nice to have something like that for those bloggers who are willing to write posts and articles for other blogs. Apart from this Google Local Business Center is of no or little use for regular blogger
April 18th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Google local is probably the best way to be seen online in terms of how easy it is to get on the first page.
April 19th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
This would be very helpful especially for businesses who are targeting local customers. And I think even small and medium businesses will also benefit from this.
April 20th, 2009 at 4:10 am
This strategy helped a lot one of our clients who owns a hotel in San Diego. So we at Wisitech give this particular strategy a lot of weight when we want to concentrate on the local traffic.
April 24th, 2009 at 6:09 am
I have been wondering how to get listed in to those local results. I think that I have it all taken care of. I did get a kick out of “Google” calling my phone…..
Nice Post, thanks.
April 27th, 2009 at 6:46 am
i havent heard about Google Local Business Center
it look really good
April 27th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
While it is nice to see local results that are relevant, such as the example of finding local dental websites, it is scary that Google keeps track of clients so closely. And it can be annoying when you are trying to do research on another locality.
May 4th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Good info. I’m going to need a VA to keep up with all the Google apps.
May 16th, 2009 at 4:13 am
The Google local directory is a good idea, I am going to list my b&b on it.
June 3rd, 2009 at 5:09 am
Google local is a good tool for user if looking for something locally, such as restaurant, clinics, b&b and other local business. But if the location is huge and have similar businesses, the search result will be competitive and end up to be similar like ordinary organic search. Any way it is just a thought.
June 8th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
I disagree. This has me worried in that sure local services should come up for certain daily business like retail stores near you, but for me operating a travel business I need to rely on a nationwide search for certain keywords. If they are going to automatically pass it off each time to the travel agent down the street from the consumer I would never stand a chance.