10 Things You Can Do RIGHT NOW To Rank Your Google Places Page

SEO stands for search engine optimization. It is the process of ranking your website on the organic listings on search engines like Google, Yahoo and Bing. Google is the MOST IMPORTANT. If your looking for a “cheap and easy way to get tons of new clients” then this is not for you. It is going to take a large investment of time or money or both. The days of having a website and paying someone a few bucks to get rankings are long gone.

How Can I Rank High On Google?

The game has changed in the past year and old school techniques for ranking your website have changed dramatically. First of all, you need a Google Places page. This will merge with your website and they will rank together.

In the past you needed lots of backlinks (links from other websites) to rank high on Google, and although that is still important, it is only a very small part of the ranking process.

When ranking a Places page Google rewards exposure with exposure. This means the more places (reputable places) you show up on the Internet, the higher Google will rank your Places page and in turn, rank your website. Just like in the “offline” world, the more people that know about your business, the more popular you will become.

Ranking a Places page is an online popularity contest. So go get a bunch of spammy backlinks to your website, write a bunch of fake reviews and you will “dominate the search engines!!!” Right? –Wrong! That may have been the case several years ago, but come on, Google is getting smarter every day and that stuff just won’t fly anymore. The most important ranking factors are now: Reviews, Citations (name, address, phone), local links and accurate information. Remember it’s all about LOCAL EXPOSURE!!!

10 Things You Can Do To Rank Your Google Places Page

1. Information. Fill out your Places page completely and accurately. Lots of pictures, videos, hours of operation etc. Note: if you are constantly changing your address and phone number, it WILL hurt your rankings. Google wants stable established companies.

2. Reviews. Don’t fake it or you could get in trouble. Get actual reviews from actual customers. Develop a review program that motivates people to review your biz. I recommend sending an email after every job and ask for feedback on how you did along with a link to your Places page, Yelp or insiderpages.com. Offer discounts if you have to. And don’t stop. If you get a bunch reviews all at once and then nothing for 6 months, then Google will diminish the values of those reviews.

Google tracks IP addresses so if your cousin three state away leaves a review then don’t expect that one to count for much. Google knows where the reviews come from. They need to be local.

All reviews are not the same. If you open a Google and account leave a review and that’s it, then it may not count at all. However, if someone has a Google account and leaves reviews on a regular basis for different businesses over a years time, then that’s a powerful review and that’s what you want.

It’s best if your reviewers are living in your service area, you want reviews from as many different locations in your service area as possible. This one way that Google determines your service area when ranking.

3. Directories. Register with the top 10 free local directories and encourage people to leave reviews on them as well. Also, put links from your site to your directory pages to make them easier to find.

4. The Chamber. Register with the local Chamber of Commerce and make sure you get a link from their site along with your Business Name, Address and Phone (exactly the same as it appears on your Places page). This is called the NAP. Some people are saying that having links from the Better Business Bureau are powerful, but I have not verified that because I have personal issues with the BBB and refuse to pay their ridiculous fees.

5. Other Businesses. You want links, but you want them to be LOCAL. That means other local business link trades. Call them up explain how it will help both of you. Also include the NAP.

6. Local Websites. Find local blogs and try to get links from comments, advertising asking for a trade etc. Some of them will let you add business info for free. Do a Google search for: “Your City” + “add your business”. You should find all kinds of sites that allow for free submission.

7. Newspapers. Do the same with local online newspapers.

8. Non-profits. Join local subscription non-profits in your area, make donations etc. Just make sure you get links and NAPs listed on their sites.

9. Social Media. Start a Facebook Fan page AND actually post to it on a weekly basis. Get people coming to it by networking or by Facebook ads.

10. BackLinks. Finally, do some old-school link building techniques like keyword research, onsite optimization, blog comments, forum signature links and article submissions. See how to videos for more info. Notice this is last because, although it is important, it is not primary any more.

Can’t Do It Yourself?

I know you don’t have lot’s of extra time to be sitting behind a computer screen, after all your a carpet cleaner, not a Internet Marketing expert. I suggest you take 15 to 30 minutes every morning and do at least 1 thing to help expose yourself online. Do it for a month or two and you WILL see results. If you absolutely cannot do it yourself have a family member read this page, watch the videos and do it for you. Pay them if you have to.

The most important thing is that you don’t pay some big SEO company to do this for you. There is no way they are going to take the time to search out and register with all the local sources mentioned or implement a Review Program. At best they will throw some spammy links at your site and register with a few directories. They are in it to make a quick buck and may try to rank you for search terms that just don’t bring in any business because nobody is searching for those keywords. This is a classic SEO scam.

If you are going to hire someone, then make sure they are local in your city. Do a Google search for “Your City SEO” or “Your City Internet Marketing”. I can’t stress how IMPORTANT this is (this is also why I don’t offer SEO services anymore). A local SEO expert will know YOUR city and have a list of local citation sources and know which ones work and which ones don’t. They will also have relationships with different blog owners, news sources, website managers in YOUR city.

You are now armed with knowledge, ask them if they do the things mentioned on this page. If they don’t know what your talking about, DON’T use them. These days SEO experts are a dime-a-dozen and 9 out of 10 of them are completely clueless.

Also, if you hire someone, you MUST get at least 3 references from current clients. Call these people and ask about their experiences. And get your wallet ready. This stuff is hard work and nobody will do it for cheap. The bigger the city, the bigger the price tag. AND don’t trade price for value or you will be flushing money down the toilet.