Changes in Google Places, Your Business & Local Search
Google are at it again and the effect could alter your position in local search results. They have changed the way Google Places looks. It’s now cleaner and has more emphasis on customer reviews and photos/videos. The ‘Write a Review‘ button is now in red in a prominent position on the page. (Fig 1. Why did I added an arrow to this screen shot? Ed) This demonstrates the importance and weight that Google give to reviews on your Google Places page in local search results. HINT: They want you to get reviews for your business… lots of reviews… the more the better… get the picture? Good read on…
If we scroll down the Google Places page a little further we notice another prominent ‘Write a Review‘ button (Fig 3. What do Google want us to do?) but this is where the story takes a sudden twist.
The Change in Local Search Listings post Google Places Changes
Google used to pull in reviews from third party review sites like Yelp, Qype and Local.Yahoo and feature them quite heavily. Now they have all gone except for a couple of nondescript links at the foot of the page. (Fig 4. Indicated by my 4th and final arrow ; )
Some say that Google built Google Places scraping review content from third party sites using an unfair advantage but now, as ‘Google Places‘ has enough content of it’s own they can stand alone and no longer need the 3rd party support. Google couldn’t have built this service without the 3rd parties and have now abandoned them. Whether this was ethical or morally right or wrong is another debate but they have now changed their policy.
One other thing to note is that you may have had 100′s of reviews on your Google Places page only to see that number now reduced to just a handful as the 3rd party reviews are no longer being counted. We are still investigating how this has effected rankings and place positions. Also take into consideration that only gmail account holders can write reviews on Google Places.
I’m currently beta testing Google + and wouldn’t be surprised if Google Places features in this new social phenomenon in the near future. So what does all this mean to your business listing on Google Places and your position in Local Search?
Google Places Should Be the Cornerstone of your Local Search Strategy
At Blend Local Search Marketing we have always treated Google Places as the primary business listing for our clients. Now more than ever, it is essential to claim your Google Places listing and complete all sections fully including photographs, videos, and a comprehensive description of your local business.
Once your Google Places listing is set up correctly, actively encourage your customers to visit the page and write a review. They need a gmail account to do this.
You can even email your Google Places page to your customers. It’s as easy as 1,2,3!
1) Simply click on the ‘More‘ button (Fig 2.) underneath your business address and a small window appears.
2) Click on ‘Send‘ and add an email address and short message.
3) Press send again.
In the same window you will also find a URL link. You can cut and paste this link into the ‘Signature box’ in your email account. Then every time you send an email, you will be actively promoting you Google Places page.
Remember, Google want you to get reviews and will reward you by giving your Google Places page a higher ranking in customer search results. This is a sure fire way of getting a number 1 ranking in Google local search results.
We want you to succeed in your local search marketing efforts. If you want your business to be found for your local search keywords by hungry customers in Google Places we can help you set it up right now so you can benefit immediately.
To see what we do and how we can help you click here. To contact me or one of my associates click here. Alternatively leave a comment below – Perry.
FYI - Readers of this blog can claim 25% OFF Green Web Hosting with Hostgator with this exclusive code: GreenBlend
Local Search Marketing starts with Google Places





Perry Stevens – Founder of BLEND Local Search Marketing
Type in any ‘service’ and a ‘city’ into Google i.e. cycle shop Lincoln, restaurant Brighton or orthodontist Leeds. This is how your potential customers will find you. Do you want new customers to find you?
Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Perry (that’s me in the photo) I manage the team at Blend and you have my personal guarantee of the work we will be doing for you to get you in the Google Local Map 7 Pack and listed on page 1 of organic local search results. When you make your order you will get my direct line and Skype so you can have constant communicate with me so you know what we are doing for you. I’ll also give you ideas and advice (on and off line) how you can help improve your rankings.
If you share page 1 of Google with other businesses in your field you still only get part of the market share. By completely dominating it you get the lions share. Those who take advantage of this opportunity sooner rather than later will make the biggest returns on investment.




The Post Oscars Party with… Local Search
Local Search Explained Video Pt. 2-2
We hope you enjoyed Local Search Explained Video Pt. 1-2 posted a couple of days ago. Click here And the Oscar Goes to… Local Search if you haven’t.
So you may have won a major award and are basking in the glory, or you may be basking in someone else’s glory. Maybe you’re still at the party but now it’s back down to business of Local Search.
In Part 2 we cover the subjects of photographs, directory, links, blogs, comments, reviews, RSS feeds, mobile devices and reporting.
PART 2
Photograph
We ensure every photograph is named with your chosen keyword phrase
Load photographs to social network sites
Load photographs to photo hosting sites
Load photographs to micro blogs
Include photographs in video slide shows
Directory
Completing all fields in directories and get to the top of Google’s 7 pack in local search results.
Links
We build one way and two way back links to relevant sites like yours.
Regularly test the links to ensure they are not broken.
Blogs
We will design, build, host and maintain your WordPress blog
We’ll ping your website or blog to more than 50 sites systematically.
Comments
We write comments in relevant blogs , posts and forums with a hyperlink back to your site.
We will advice you on how to engage with your customers to add comments.
Reviews
We write positive reviews ensuring they are keyword density rich.
We will advice you on how to engage with your customers to add reviews.
News, Article, Comment & RSS Feeds
RSS Feeds or Really Simply syndication are a quick and easy way to get the news that matters most to you, as soon as it is published.
These feeds contain headlines, links and descriptions and are updated as the website is updated with new stories.
We will optimise your blog for RSS feeds.
Press Releases
We take your PR stories and press releases & post them in the correct format to the appropriate syndication site.
A well crafted press release will be seen by hundreds of thousands of journalists in over 170 countries.
An effective step to reach journalists, editors, newspapers, TV, radio stations and Internet sites.
Increase the SEO of your website.
Mobile Devices
We will create and manage your ad for smart phones.
Reporting
We have an open and transparent policy
Monthly itemised time sheets
Video view reports
Viewed minutes, viewer attention span/drop-off embed tracking, geo-graphic‘s, referring sites & search terms, stream quality , data filter by region, date range, embed and category
Traffic statistics & analytics
Google Screenshots
Alexa ranking
Blog Tracking Reports
Geo-locations
Page Hits
Number of Hits and Unique Visits
In Summary
Blend provide comprehensive service in SEO, Internet marketing and Google Page 1 Domination in Local Search.
Our aim is to:
a) Have your company dominate Page 1 of Google in Local Search - eliminating your online competition.
b) Building quality internet real estate that is deep, long lasting and a company asset.
c) Provide a professional service with an excellent ROI for your company
Blend provide their Google Page 1 Domination in Local Search tactics exclusively to only one company in your business sector. Don’t let it be your competition. Contact us now, before your competition does.
‘those who take advantage of this opportunity sooner rather than later will make the biggest returns on investment’.
www.BlendLocalSearchMarketing.com
Discover the right Profit System for you here Now!
Dominate Google Page 1 with Local Search Now!