How does Google Places work? In SEO Terms

[mince001]

Could someone please explain how you rank high for google places? Do you just do basic on page seo and off page seo?

[paulgl]

Google places has nothing to do with on page or off page.
In fact, having a website is not even required.

It's about a listing. Like in the yellow pages. All about
relevance, location, and sometimes, ratings. I say sometimes,
because there are only so many of each business in each
zip code, or neighborhood. If you have the only one, well,
ratings don't matter.

When you sign up, which is free, use your true location and
nature of business, and a real phone number.

Then you can artificially pump up ratings on yelp and others.

Paul

[mince001]

Originally Posted by paulgl

Google places has nothing to do with on page or off page.
In fact, having a website is not even required.

It's about a listing. Like in the yellow pages. All about
relevance, location, and sometimes, ratings. I say sometimes,
because there are only so many of each business in each
zip code, or neighborhood. If you have the only one, well,
ratings don't matter.

When you sign up, which is free, use your true location and
nature of business, and a real phone number.

Then you can artificially pump up ratings on yelp and others.

Paul

Ok. But how would you ensure that you rank a business for the keyword plumbers london for example ...in google places

[Fraggler]

This is something I am trying to find more info on as well. Citations from relevant industry directories seem to be important but I don't know how the keyword relevancy is handled when a Google Place can belong to a company with no website.

I'd assume that they still look at a company's website for some sort of on and off-site relevancy but don't know.

The location is a little confusing as well. I have managed to nail it for a company's street location (suburb) but not having the same success for the city. It is obviously a tougher task but I'm wordering how much 'help' Google needs to make a strong connection.

All reports I have read seem to just talk about the citation side of things.

Oh, I really don't want to pay for lies (false testimonials).

[paulgl]

Originally Posted by Fraggler

Oh, I really don't want to pay for lies (false testimonials).

LOL!!! But it seems many places pump up the nonsense.

have you had a little fun reading some?

I love the ones right after an absolutely stellar review says,
"That last review must have been a fake one by the owners because
this place sucks!"

Because google gleans info from yellow pages and other real directories,
they take a lot of the listings as the truth as far as "relevance" goes.

If you are listed under plumbers in a main LA directory, chances are,
you don't even need to submit your site. One reason why franchises
like home depot show up all over the place. And you know they did
not submit thousands of locals.

If people narrow their search down, and you have location and relevance,
that should trump any ratings.

Plumbers London is such a broad search. I have seen results where
they are listed as to the number of ratings on file. The one with the
most, wins top billing.

I know when I do a local search, I load up google maps, go to
the neighborhood and do a search. I can't say how many others
do that, but it narrows it down to exactly where you want. Then
location trumps everything.

Paul

[yukon]

One thing I've noticed about a lot of offline business listed on the net (yelp, etc...) they include Google maps, embeded in their sites.

I think Google likes to see it's own Google Maps promoted on external sites, & linked to the business address.

I have a business directory I'm working on now, Google maps will be included.

[Fraggler]

An embedded Google Map I guess would also help confirm that the locations do match.

[aw]

Try the plugin SEO Pressor. It's excellent for local.

[Gdetonator]

Originally Posted by mince001

Could someone please explain how you rank high for google places? Do you just do basic on page seo and off page seo?

I think it's more of citing instead of backlinking

[paulgl]

Originally Posted by yukon

One thing I've noticed about a lot of offline business listed on the net (yelp, etc...) they include Google maps, embeded in their sites.

I think Google likes to see it's own Google Maps promoted on external sites, & linked to the business address.

I have a business directory I'm working on now, Google maps will be included.

Hey, don't know if that's true, but one S-L-ick observation!

Paul

[Gdetonator]

Originally Posted by paulgl

Hey, don't know if that's true, but one S-L-ick observation!

Paul

Yea, I guess that would all be true cos the well ranked local business sites all have Google maps integrated on their site which is one of the tools Google gives you when you register on Google places and it comes natural with the business address and also learn more about citing, it helps a lot

[mcconnon12]

Citations are important, but it looks as Google is starting to incorporate the place page with the actual site so obviously having good on page and off page seo is important. Make sure to pick proper categories and complete the entire listing with photos, videos, etc... You can geo tag your photos too. Make sure the address in your citations is exactly the same when listing on other sites. No reason to backlink your place page, but backlink your other citation sources. Hope that helps!