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Is Google Local Killing Your Offline Biz?

by jhiggins
9 replies
Greetings,

I'm looking at getting into the local offline biz scene, however I have become a little discouraged. Google is now serving up those list of 10 local bizs every time you do a local search.

Are you doing offline work? How are these effecting your biz?

Can these local results be manipulated?

Thanks,

Jonathan
#biz #google #killing #local #offline
  • Profile picture of the author Gene Pimentel
    Hey Jonathan,

    You can get any business on that list of 10 local businesses. You need to submit the business information at maps.google.com. Doesn't guarantee anything because it depends on how many businesses are signed up, but that's where you start.

    EDIT: I think I misunderstood your question. If you're asking how you can compete with the fact that a business is already on the Google map, that's not an issue at all. As GoGetta has mentioned below, there are so many ways you can help one particular business outrank their competition. You can pretty much have any local business dominate most of the organic results for each keyword they wish to rank for.

    Originally Posted by jhiggins View Post

    Greetings,

    I'm looking at getting into the local offline biz scene, however I have become a little discouraged. Google is now serving up those list of 10 local bizs every time you do a local search.

    Are you doing offline work? How are these effecting your biz?

    Can these local results be manipulated?

    Thanks,

    Jonathan
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  • Profile picture of the author Vikuna2009+
    Originally Posted by jhiggins View Post

    Greetings,

    I'm looking at getting into the local offline biz scene, however I have become a little discouraged. Google is now serving up those list of 10 local bizs every time you do a local search.

    Are you doing offline work? How are these effecting your biz?

    Can these local results be manipulated?

    Thanks,

    Jonathan


    I'm not quite sure I understand your question enough. Where I live, google maps is absolutely swamped. 99% of businesses are already on there.

    What is it that you are trying to do?

    One of the gems that I did find, is a restaurant in Sherman Oaks, California, called Spazios. They have 4 Youtube videos on their google map listing and it is BEAUTIFUL!

    My thinking is, show THAT to other restaurants, make the videos for them = you make money.

    Just my 2 ores...
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  • Profile picture of the author J. Barry Mandel
    I'm really not following this either...

    How is having MORE exposure going to kill your business :confused:
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    • Profile picture of the author Sapphire69
      Vassago is currently following the fortunes of the White Tiger Martial Arts Academy, an offline business that promotes online and has doubled it's membership and productivity through doing so.

      If you check out Vassago's Warrior Blog, he's posted all his investigations and conclusions. It's a fascinating insight into this subject.


      Sophia
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      Sapphire
      Sapphire's SFI Blog
      The Stork Internet Marketing Forum

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      • Profile picture of the author rlpruitt
        Originally Posted by Sapphire69 View Post

        Vassago is currently following the fortunes of the White Tiger Martial Arts Academy, an offline business that promotes online and has doubled it's membership and productivity through doing so.

        If you check out Vassago's Warrior Blog, he's posted all his investigations and conclusions. It's a fascinating insight into this subject.
        Sophia

        Thanks for the heads-up.

        It is interesting to follow a real-world example of this.

        Ralph
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        Tell me if I'm dumb, stupid, or just feakin' out of my mind!
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    • Profile picture of the author George Wright
      One of the objections when we get from some business owners when we offer to get them online is, "I'm already online, I'm on google/yellow pages/local search or any number of other directories.

      My answer, "Now you need a web page for that listing to go to instead of just a small classified type ad in the directory."

      George Wright P.S. well that used to be my answer, I'm not doing that right now. Maybe later.

      Originally Posted by Justin Mandel View Post

      I'm really not following this either...

      How is having MORE exposure going to kill your business :confused:
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      "The first chapter sells the book; the last chapter sells the next book." Mickey Spillane
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  • Profile picture of the author GoGetta
    I think I get where your coming from, you are wondering how the marketers that are selling online marketing and consulting services to offline business owners are getting around the potential obstacle of the company already being on Google Maps!

    If so, here is my answer to a similar question on another forum:

    Thats simple!

    You have many selling points!

    Firstly, with organic SEO you have the ability to just about control your positioning, with Google Local, you don't.

    With organic SEO, you also have the ability to gain more than one position on the top page which does a lot when trying to brand your business!

    With organic SEO, you have the feature of having a title and description to use to entice people to click, with Google Local you don't, you are just a regular JOE in there along with all other companies!

    With organic SEO, you give your Google Local listing more power allowing it to thrive and solidify in the Google Local listings aswell!

    Also, its proven that the organic listings get more traffic than anything else on that top page, so rather than missing out on this, do both, Google Local and organic SEO, this makes sure you are seen, wherever the user looks!

    Theres a few to use! ; )

    HTH

    GoGetta
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  • Profile picture of the author rlpruitt
    Originally Posted by jhiggins View Post

    Can these local results be manipulated?
    Yes, they can.

    The best resource regarding how the local results can be affected:

    Local Search Ranking Factors | Google & Yahoo Local SEO Best Practices

    Ralph
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    Tell me if I'm dumb, stupid, or just feakin' out of my mind!
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    • Profile picture of the author MarkR
      Jonathan,

      I think you're asking if the Google Maps "10 pack" is taking clicks away from the organic listings. The answer is yes. The solution is to get listed organically AND on the Google Maps listing. My company ranks #1 in the Google Maps local listing 10 pack for 9 different search terms. But your success is very dependant on the city your business/your customer's business is in and the keywords you target.

      The more competitive, the better you need to be when picking your search terms. "Dentist" is way more competitive than "root canal" or "teeth cleaning" and so on.

      As far as manipulation, yes they can be manipulated, ethically and unethically. I follow all the rules and do very well with my listings and my clients listings.

      Try it, you'll like it! It's very easy money.

      Mark
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