19 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}
19 {{ upvoteCount | shortNum }}

Introducing GOOGLE BOOST For Small Businesses!

by jsherloc
16 replies
Well well well.....call me miss Cleo or just paranoid, but I am pretty sure this is the PROOF I've been looking for that signals the true beginning of "pay to play" in the local market:

Learn more about new Boost Ads : Advertising options - Google Places Help

Be sure to check out that link, and CLICK ON "WHERE WILL MY ADS SHOW".....YIKES!

Apparently Google is doing the typical metro rollout first, San Francisco, Chicago, and Houston being the first players. Although, I've actually also read elsewhere that Google left open a loophole of sorts, and that has enabled people NATIONWIDE to try out the service. (it may be fixed now though, i probably wouldn't even attempt it regardless....Places is a cluster of chaos.)

I guess some biz owners changed their Places address (city and zipcode) to one of those three major metros. If you save it in your Places dashboard, apparently an invite to BOOST will become available. You can then setup your budgeting and what not for Boost, then save your original Places information after a few hours. Might be something to play around with if you have some Places listings not doing so well, or you currently don't rely on for any type of income, etc.

Very very interesting folks....thoughts?

- Jim
#boost #businesses #google #introducing #small
  • Profile picture of the author gg282
    I was wondering what they were going to do to try and monetize G00gle Places. I also heard on another forum that Big G stopped doing phone verifications for their business listings and are only sending a postcard for their business listing verification process. Is this true too?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2775625].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Bronwyn and Keith
      Hey gg

      We still do phone verifications here. Not sure how the US runs though.

      Regards

      Bronwyn and Keith
      Originally Posted by gg282 View Post

      I was wondering what they were going to do to try and monetize G00gle Places. I also heard on another forum that Big G stopped doing phone verifications for their business listings and are only sending a postcard for their business listing verification process. Is this true too?
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2775684].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Bronwyn and Keith
    Hi Jim

    We are not all that concerned about BOOST as the ads are still going to be situated in the same "sponsored search" designated areas that Google has now.

    From what we have seen and read the actual "organic search" which includes the Google Places page #1 listings will not be impacted on.

    Thats for now anyway.

    Down the track, who knows???

    Regards

    Bronwyn and Keith

    Originally Posted by jsherloc View Post

    Well well well.....call me miss Cleo or just paranoid, but I am pretty sure this is the PROOF I've been looking for that signals the true beginning of "pay to play" in the local market:

    Learn more about new Boost Ads : Advertising options - Google Places Help

    Be sure to check out that link, and CLICK ON "WHERE WILL MY ADS SHOW".....YIKES!

    Apparently Google is doing the typical metro rollout first, San Francisco, Chicago, and Houston being the first players. Although, I've actually also read elsewhere that Google left open a loophole of sorts, and that has enabled people NATIONWIDE to try out the service. (it may be fixed now though, i probably wouldn't even attempt it regardless....Places is a cluster of chaos.)

    I guess some biz owners changed their Places address (city and zipcode) to one of those three major metros. If you save it in your Places dashboard, apparently an invite to BOOST will become available. You can then setup your budgeting and what not for Boost, then save your original Places information after a few hours. Might be something to play around with if you have some Places listings not doing so well, or you currently don't rely on for any type of income, etc.

    Very very interesting folks....thoughts?

    - Jim
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2775681].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Chad Heffelfinger
    Thanks for the link Jim. Yeah, you knew it wouldn't stay completely free for too long, I guess that time is here. I still think the market is pretty open for google places services to be offered to local clients.
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2775716].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Bronwyn and Keith
      Hey Chad

      Go to the link that Jim sent through and check where the ads are going to be.

      They are in the same "sponsored spots" that they have always been.

      All Google is doing is creating a different buzz around it and a new referencing point. BTW buzz = money. :rolleyes:

      What that means to Google Places folk is pretty much business as usual.

      Regards

      Bronwyn and Keith
      Originally Posted by Chad Heffelfinger View Post

      Thanks for the link Jim. Yeah, you knew it wouldn't stay completely free for too long, I guess that time is here. I still think the market is pretty open for google places services to be offered to local clients.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2775737].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author SirThomas
        Originally Posted by bronke13 View Post

        Hey Chad

        Go to the link that Jim sent through and check where the ads are going to be.

        They are in the same "sponsored spots" that they have always been.

        All Google is doing is creating a different buzz around it and a new referencing point. BTW buzz = money. :rolleyes:

        What that means to Google Places folk is pretty much business as usual.

        Regards

        Bronwyn and Keith
        And just watch how G is moving to mobile and TV... and including there some local results :-)


        Thomas
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2775846].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author peter.max
    BOOST and Tags definitely adds a new dimension to local listings. I can't wait for it to get to Sydney to start testing
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2775736].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jsherloc
    Hi guys,

    Glad to hear your thoughts on this issue! Yeah, I did notice that the BOOST thing seems to only apply in Sponsored areas, but it sure gives biz owners a LOT more visibility/impressions on basically autopilot, any way you look at it.

    With all of the changes in Google Places too, I just wonder if the businesses that choose to run this option will possibly get a "nudge" from Google in that area or others in the local market as well (more sponsored ads areas, different ad layouts/displays/etc)?

    Seems to me that there will be a connection in one way or another. I really do hope that we can continue to do Places listings for a while and not necessarily be affected by these changes in any way.

    - Jim
    Signature
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2779343].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author yianni
    what is interesting from the link you gave
    is when you read further down it says the following....
    "Boost does not affect the ranking of the free, organic business listings in any way"

    so given the changes google places have made local serps

    what are your thoughts?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2787046].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Riz
    With the introduction of Google Boost it looks like Google will be sticking to their new display format.

    For local consultants these changes only open the doors for more services that we can offer :-)

    Riz
    Signature
    NEWBIES - Stuck on Technical Issues?

    Ask me For a FREE copy of my upcoming course that will eliminate all your technical gremlins....:
    SEND ME A PRIVATE MESSAGE NOW!
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2787378].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author yianni
      hi riz

      i agree

      though interestingly if you were doing good seo
      and client was moving up rankings in this move

      with google places now being more prominent

      if you are not in top 3 or 4 organic search results from a few days before
      this went live

      those businesses are now out to page 2 of G results

      effectively buried!

      i'm interested to see how everyone who works
      with offline clients is planning to manage this

      thanks
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2790852].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Bronwyn and Keith
      Hi Riz

      Yep you are spot on.

      As far as we are concerned the market for business just got bigger.

      Regards

      Bronwyn and Keith
      Originally Posted by Riz View Post

      With the introduction of Google Boost it looks like Google will be sticking to their new display format.

      For local consultants these changes only open the doors for more services that we can offer :-)

      Riz
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2791314].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author jkstam3
    can someone take a second to detail exactly what opportunities BOOST opens up for us in terms of services we can provide?
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2791571].message }}
  • Profile picture of the author Zach
    FYI - $50/mo. minimum spend for Boost.
    {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2794619].message }}
    • Profile picture of the author Bazbo
      I don't understand how Boost is any different from Adwords.
      {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2794880].message }}
      • Profile picture of the author Geoffrey Freedom
        Looks like boost will be another service we can provide. The cost just gets passed onto our clients.
        {{ DiscussionBoard.errors[2795049].message }}

Trending Topics