Google places? Seriously?

18 replies
I realize that every other WSO would have me believing that GP is today's Gold Rush, but is this for real?

Look, I live in podunk nowhere and even in MY neck of the woods, it looks to me like most brick-n-mortar types have already taken care of this.

Is this game honesly not over?

Question 2: is there really an honest point of difference to be offered here, or is this just the case of "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king?"

What I'm asking is, are there best practices that honestly will make a substantial difference in results?
#google #places
  • Profile picture of the author rambo9600
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    • Profile picture of the author reactiontm
      Originally Posted by rambo9600 View Post

      Try getting ranked in big cities like LA, NY, Chicago, Dallas, etc... 100's even thousands of companies trying to make page one.
      .
      Perhaps I didn't articulate the question clearly enough.

      What I mean is, I look at dentists or restaurants or chiro, etc., in even a mid-market, and there's a dozen or dozens on the map.

      If Google already has a boatload of listings taken, can you legimately leapfrog the already-established players?
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      • Profile picture of the author beeswarn
        I'm with you reactiontm. Outside the big to medium metro markets and large suburbs, Google Places is a solution looking for a problem.

        Most of what I've read here about Google Places is blue-sky at best. No civilians actually know how Google's search algorithms work. They just think they do.
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      • Profile picture of the author Simoshere
        Originally Posted by reactiontm View Post


        If Google already has a boatload of listings taken, can you legimately leapfrog the already-established players?
        I had this same question myself two days ago...

        I would say YES you can knock people off. Some industries are easier than other though. Not everybody has their listing perfectly optimized. SOme business are just LUCKY to be at the top..

        Google places is a game of citations. If you want to check out an how "established" an industry is I suggest signing up for Whitespark.ca (free account) and playing around with their citation finder. Pick a industry, find the toughest keyword and look it up. It will tell you how many citations are potentially available for that industry and it will list the number of citations that the top listings have.
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      • Profile picture of the author rambo9600
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        • Profile picture of the author reactiontm
          Originally Posted by rambo9600 View Post

          Are you serious? You obviously know nothing about Google Places and the inner workings.
          Hell yes, I was serious and you are correct - at the moment I know nothing about Google places.

          Based on my review of the threads in this forum about topics that I DO know lots about, this place is so riddled with BS, it's difficult to root out the useful information from the crap- which is why I asked.

          Just ask David Miller .

          That's why I really appreciate your answering.

          Thanks.
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          • Profile picture of the author rambo9600
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            • Profile picture of the author Aussieguy
              Originally Posted by rambo9600 View Post

              Let me put this in terms of money. I get between $297 month and $997 per month to keep businesses listed on Page One Places.

              I also charge a set-up fee to optimize their listing. Photos, 5 videos, etc...

              Maybe that will help.

              What sort of businesses rambo9600? Seems a bit expensive to me (for just google places), but I guess it depends on the business.
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              • Profile picture of the author rambo9600
                Originally Posted by Aussieguy View Post

                What sort of businesses rambo9600? Seems a bit expensive to me (for just google places), but I guess it depends on the business.

                Do you realize how much extra business a service contractor, cosmetic surgeon, attorney, can make per month?

                In any large city it can mean an extra $20,000 to $50,000 per month in revenue. You have to price accordingly.

                Small towns with zero population you'll probably get a set up fee and walk away. In NY if you have a Personal Injury Attorney ranked page one 7 pack you can make $1,500+ per month.
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                • Profile picture of the author mikesonfire
                  Google Places can make you a fortune. IF you know what your doing.

                  Placement of your small business customer in the 7 box (preferably top 3) is the cheapest, most cost effective online marketing available.

                  It's not easy and it's always changing so you've really got to stay on top of your game but, if you master the process, it's the best service you can offer to your client and the best income generator you can create for yourself.

                  (At least for now)
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  • Profile picture of the author phpPro
    Google places do work, i have clients in US who tell me they see leads coming in.
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  • Profile picture of the author Aussieguy
    plenty of unclaimed listings in my neck of the woods, without considering ranking.
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  • Profile picture of the author NowMadam
    It is definitely possible to make it a lot more likely a Place page will rank high, and it takes way less work/knowledge than traditional SEO. I've been noticing a lot more reviews and interaction with Places pages from the public lately and unless Google fails completely in the next couple of years I think Places, Maps, etc. are just going to become more and more important for local businesses, and they'll hire people to optimize and maintain them like they do with Facebook.

    It's a branding thing as well as a ranking thing I think, and if you're already optimizing a business's Places page, it's an easy step to managing their Google+ page when those start getting big. I believe it's a good idea to offer services around Google because they are advertising themselves at local businesses too, so you can piggy-back on them a bit. If you can position yourself as an expert on Google's new small business services now, you might find it easier to get clients when those services take off (assuming Google doesn't mess it up).
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  • Profile picture of the author rambo9600
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    • I do believe that the here was not intended as a link but instead to encourage you, or anyone, to actually spend a little time searching and reading the warrior forum, and find some of your answers that have already been answered a million six times.

      Then, find what works for you, and do it.

      There is no connect the dots in real business...
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  • Profile picture of the author KateStevensB
    Google places is cool specially if you are marketing your business locally.
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  • Profile picture of the author rambo9600
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    • Profile picture of the author reactiontm
      Originally Posted by rambo9600 View Post

      I outsource all my Places listings.
      There seems to be a predominant school of thought on WF that you need to do something yourself FIRST and only then outsource it.

      While I see -some- validity to that, no business would ever be built if following that rule was required.

      Did you do it yourself at first, or did you outsource on day one?

      Thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author visimedia
    I saw tons of google places listing in serp these days.... it's probably the trend right now bro.
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  • Profile picture of the author dtaylor
    There is a TON of Places listings to do for clients, even in fairly competitive industries in populous areas.

    I continually find great niches in populated areas where there may be only a single claimed listing in Places. Some of these are truly low-hanging fruit.

    Where the OP may be confused is in seeing the Places listings showing 7 businesses. Often, there will be only a couple that have actually been claimed, many of those have taken no further action beyond simply claiming it.

    There are a couple of WSO's by abundantliving that I got a lot out of.


    DTaylor
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    • Profile picture of the author Simoshere
      Originally Posted by dtaylor View Post

      There is a TON of Places listings to do for clients, even in fairly competitive industries in populous areas.

      I continually find great niches in populated areas where there may be only a single claimed listing in Places. Some of these are truly low-hanging fruit.



      DTaylor
      Exactly! you know whats a really great niche? Neurologists. Think they charge good money for their services. I live in a large city and the places listings for those guys is pathetic.
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  • Profile picture of the author mindfield
    google places is a great tool to attract local customers .

    DLF The Primus | DLF Garden City Gurgaon
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  • Profile picture of the author Kung Fu Backlinks
    I agree that Google Places is a goldmine. The most I've been able to charge for a setup is $1,000, and they couldn't wait to pay me.

    The only downfall with GP, is that dealing with dup listings and other bugs that can pop up can be a pain. They don't happen often, but when they do, it can be a time sink.
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