Archive for Google Places

Local Business: Do Online Reviews Matter?

The other day, while discussing Google Places, we had a client ask just how important online reviews are for his local business. I have seen statistics that say they are important and it is logical that opinions are showing up everywhere on the net: from news media, social media to numerous review sites.

Since you may have the same question for you local business I want to share the information this solid information I found from Nielson Wire.

“According to Nielsen’s latest Global Trust in Advertising report, which surveyed more than 28,000 Internet respondents in 56 countries, 92 percent of consumers around the world say they trust earned media, such as recommendations from friends and family, above all other forms of advertising—an increase of 18 percent since 2007. Online consumer reviews are the second most trusted source of brand information and messaging, with 70 percent of global consumers surveyed online indicating they trust messages on this platform, an increase of 15 percent in four years.” Read More→

These 4 Mistakes Can Cost You Your Google Places Page

Wouldn’t you agree that when it comes to being found in local search results, claiming your Google Places Page is an absolute must. And claiming your Google Places the right way is even more important.

Local businesses will often hire someone like our Utah web design company to set up and run their Google Places Listing. In setting up Places for clients we run into mistakes that are hard to correct and some that are impossible to correct.

Don’t Make These 4 Major Mistakes

Mistake #1 – Letting the management service open your Google Places listing under their own Google account. Now they have full control of your Places. They control what is on the place page and can keep you from making changes. Even worse they can hold your Places Page hostage or take it down.

You want easy access to your Google Places page for: owner reply to reviews, owner video uploads, owner picture uploads. And to changes to your account, like moving your Places or changing to new Places management.

Make sure your Google Places management uses your Google account to set up and login to your Places account. Or open he account your self before you turn it over to a management team. Read More→