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Is Offline dead because of Google Places?

by Jeremy James
18 replies
Hey guys,

I am looking into getting into Domain speculation for offline businesses. However, with the advent of Google Places - is this still viable? If so, how can I still make it?

Jeremy
#dead #google #offline #places
  • Profile picture of the author Chad Heffelfinger
    Why do you feel google places would change anything regarding domains? Domain names and websites are not going away because of google places.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeremy James
    Well, I may pick up a domain name that is not taken, i.e., newyorkdentists, but, when I go to Google and type in New York Dentists, the first thing you see is Google Places. Even though I may be on the first page of Google, I am scared that not being in the top 7 would be a hindrance to my offer.
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  • Profile picture of the author rodie151
    No, google place won't change this, you can still speculate in domain names.
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  • Profile picture of the author Chad Heffelfinger
    Google places may take the top spots, but that still doesn't change the fact that someone or some domain and website still has to be the top spot in the organic listings. That top spot is still very valuable to whoever has it and whatever domain occupies it.

    Why not be in the top spot in organic and also be in the google places box? Most businesses would love that I would think.
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  • Profile picture of the author Scott Voss
    Nope, it won't make it any worse. In fact, you can do a major upsell to them if you offer google places optimization as an upsell
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeremy James
    I hope no one minds, but, I have a potentially dumb question to ask. How do I find out if Google Places has been optimzed for a particular keyword? For instance, if I type in Chicago Roofers, and, the top 7 find up, how do I know if Google put them automatically, or, if someone optimized that?
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  • Profile picture of the author Chad Heffelfinger
    When you click on the google places listing if the business owner hasn't claimed it and put it up themselves there will be a link on the top in the middle that says "Business Owner?" That means that is hasn't been registered and claimed by the business owner, and thus isn't being optimized by them.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeremy James
    What do you guys charge for that?
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    • Profile picture of the author Scott Voss
      It all depends on what it is worth to the client. What value will you bring to the table?

      How many customers will it bring, how much is each customer worth?

      Then you can work from there with them. However, I will typically charge from $0 (foot in the door strategy) to $500 without any problems.

      Originally Posted by Jeremy James View Post

      What do you guys charge for that?
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      • Profile picture of the author Charles Harper
        Originally Posted by Scott Voss View Post

        It all depends on what it is worth to the client. What value will you bring to the table?

        How many customers will it bring, how much is each customer worth?

        Then you can work from there with them. However, I will typically charge from $0 (foot in the door strategy) to $500 without any problems.
        I am hearing exactly that $0 up front.

        $500 when I get you in the 7 Box.

        $200 to maintain.

        For those that have big budgets and really benefit, many charge more.

        I think the key is not to commoditize what Places does. We should be charging on the basis of the value that places creates. If you are going to cause a lawyer to get a $25,000 client, you need to get PAID for that.

        Now to the OP, I think that you need to use places as an open door, but not only places but ALL of universal search other than the 10 organic slots.

        1) Images
        2) Video (Google Video Sitemap)
        3) Audio (Blog Talk Radio)
        4) The Blogs on some page of Google
        5) Google News (Even if you don't think much of the new craze over google news)
        6) PPC
        7) Organic Press Releases

        I was recently very surprised to find my Daily Blog Talk Radio show on page one in my city for Internet Marketing Service.

        CT
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  • Profile picture of the author Scott Voss
    No such thing as a dumb question.

    Here is the deal, Google ALWAYS automatically puts them there. The optimization part is just making the separate listings for the businesses have what Google is looking for.

    When the Google 10-box pops up, just click on the 'more' or 'reviews' link for each and see how much information is listed for the google places listing. Also, check to see if it says 'business owner?' at the top.

    If there is next to nothing in the listing or if the business is not claimed, then it hasn't been optimized.

    -Scott
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeremy James
    Very good. I think I just learned more in this 5 minutes than I have learned in the previous few weeks regarding Google Places.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeremy James
    Are you guys using a Site Rental/Lease or just selling model?
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  • Profile picture of the author Scott Voss
    I'm a greedy b@st@rd and like the upfront cash, so I don't do the rental model. However, their is maintenance and continued SEO for residual income.

    But, there are certain markets where you just cannot convince them to drop the cash up front and the rental model works better.

    However, if you are just starting out, you might be better off with the rental model. I say this because you will quickly be able to build up a portfolio to show off to potential clients and you can "learn" on your sites instead of a client's.

    -Scott
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  • Profile picture of the author Jeremy James
    Cool.

    On one hand, I love the thought of residual income. On the other hand, I know that this whole IM can change at any point/time. So, that being said, the upfront cash may be better.

    I had thought of using this pricing model, depending on niche:

    Rental -
    $100-$250 a month
    $1000-$2500 a year (up front)
    $$3,000-$10,000 to purchase.

    I am about to return to college for a degree in Psychology/Counseling, and, need tol be building a house soon. So, if I could get 50 clients, I think I may be sitting very good.
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Ho
      Originally Posted by Jeremy James View Post

      Cool.

      On one hand, I love the thought of residual income. On the other hand, I know that this whole IM can change at any point/time. So, that being said, the upfront cash may be better.

      I had thought of using this pricing model, depending on niche:

      Rental -
      $100-$250 a month
      $1000-$2500 a year (up front)
      $$3,000-$10,000 to purchase.

      I am about to return to college for a degree in Psychology/Counseling, and, need tol be building a house soon. So, if I could get 50 clients, I think I may be sitting very good.
      Dude.. you need to charge higher than that.. I've found the sweet spot in pricing for SEO site rental is about 400 to 500 a month.. In fact, there are others out there that charge thousands to big companies for the exact same service.. so don't be afraid to charge more..

      This is, of course, best used for high priced services like lawyers, plastic surgeons and so forth.. wouldn't make much sense to charge 500 bucks a month to a florist etc..
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  • Profile picture of the author RioNomad
    I think you are seriously undervaluing your monthly rental price. It depends on the niche and traffic, but what is $100 a month to a dentist? Each new client to a dentist has a very high lifetime value, in the thousands or possibly tends of thousands of dollars. If you own CityDentist, and it is bringing in even 5 hits a day, how many phone calls is that? Probably a pretty good percentage. The large majority of people Googling City Dentist probably need a dentist very soon.
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  • Profile picture of the author jsherloc
    Charles,

    You are absolutely right about the uber-importance of universal search now. Google has basically given us a ton of different avenues to reach our primary goal: dominating page one for our clients. Google Places still bothers me in the sense that I do see it going completely "pay to play" in the future, but I could be wrong on that one and I've been wrong many times before in this whole SEO game.

    The $0 upfront is the best approach in my opinion, and will lead to the quickest "go for it. we'd love to see what you can do", vs cold calling 30 businesses and trying to "sell them" on Places listings. Once you amaze them and get paid, it will be VERY difficult for them to not inquire about more options, packages, services, maintenance plans, etc.

    - Jim
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