Using Google Maps To Boost Your Website Traffic

Unless you've been locked away for the past few years, no doubt you will have heard, used or possibly integrated a website with Google Maps. Another world class web application created by Google that some say is a masterpiece of mapping handed down from the Google gods to the people. Well I'm not sure about the this, however used wisely this is an invaluable tool to business owners with a limited online marketing budget.

Google maps originally started out as yet another mapping and navigation tool. A website which you enter your location, destination and BAM out spit the directions. It turned out however to be much more powerful than the existing mapping utilities and the advanced JavaScript functionality utilised in Gogole maps set this web application ahead of the rest. Further, Google's intelligent search algorithm has made it so simple for users to use when attempting to locate potential suppliers and businesses offering services locally.

Google Maps is opening the doors of many businesses by enabling them to be found in organic search results by users searching locally for their key services and products. In some cases, businesses that are not search engine optimised are still achieving rank 1 positions in the SERPs for searches containing their services and locality. This is driving qualified traffic to their websites and businesses for free that they otherwise would simple not have had access to.

Why Would You List Your Business With Google Maps?

Hypothetically, if a Yellow Pages representative called up your business and asked, "Hi, would you be interested in listing your business with us for free and possibly list in the top ten listings when users searched the world's most popular search engine for services you offer within your locality. It will only take fifteen minutes or less of your time to setup"? What would you say? YES of course! Personally, I would jump on that opportunity and even ask if there is any way I can get multiple listings and if there is a way to target traffic nationally from other search queries. Free traffic, free leads and more importantly more sales! This is exactly what Google Local Business Center offering by listing your business with Google Maps.

Google Maps also offers the ability to publish your logo next to your listing. This further increases brand awareness by supporting another place for potential customers to come in contact with your corporate identity. Users can also submit reviews about the business listing. A restaurant for example could setup a laptop and request that their customers complete a short review of their experiences before leaving. They could offer some form of ensentive such as a free coffee on their next return to the restaurant for providing the feedback. Reviews can build credability so when people new searches find the listing on Google Maps these users could be more likely to engage that business. A business can even publish coupons through the Google Local Business Center.

TrueLocal used to power the Australian local business listings for Google, however recently Yellow Pages has taken over the supply of business listings. What does this mean? Well you used to be able to create a full profile in TrueLocal including your website address, logo and so much more free of charge. Yellow Pages however will now charge businesses to list their website address and upsell the bonus to businesses that they will also get their website and business listed on Google Maps. What they are not telling people is that you can list a business on Google Maps for free.

So What Are You Waiting For?

What is really amazing about the ability to list your business on Google Maps for free is that even if your business website ranks poorly in the search results for your key services and/or products on Google, a listing with Google Maps can position your website link above the organic listings, above all your competition. I am blown away by the results and increased traffic that some of our clients have received after simply adding their business to Google Maps. A skilled SEO company will be able to construct a Google Maps listing that includes a selection of your keyword phrases. When creating a listing, you can select up to six categories that best describe your services and products. It's important that you select keyword phrases that are actually searched for in Google, not just a selection of keywords that you think are what you want to come up for. For more information on this I recommend reading my article on keyword selection, coming up in the next few weeks.

Has anyone had positive experiences with listing their business with Google Maps that you can share?

- Sean Richards