Google 7-Pack Optimization Tips
This blog entry was posted on November 17, 2009.
These are Google’s local directory listings that appear next to the eye-catching map during searches for local businesses. These are known as the Google 7-Pack (formerly the Google 10-Pack). Google displays 7 Local Business results (listed as A through G). These usually appear just beneath the sponsored ads at the top of the Google results page and just above the organic search results.
The Google 7- Pack is considered “prime real estate.” Best yet, it is free for any business to sign up for. Every restaurant, locksmith, dentist, lawyer, florist, hair salon, dry cleaner, plumber and car repair should have its own Google local business listing. A business does not even need to have a website to appear in these results.
You will require a Google Account (GMail, Analytics, or Adwords). From here you can access the Google Local Business Center. If you don’t have a Google account, it is easy to create a new one.
The Google 7-Pack local business directory has its own Local Search algorithm. Use these tips to optimize your ranking.
- Company: This is the title for your listing. Your listing should match the business name. Keywords here do help, but be careful. It is thought that soon Google will detect this and eject these listings. Do not include phone numbers or URLs in the business name.
- Categories: You can enter up to 5 categories to describe your business. Including keywords in the categories improves rankings dramatically
- Description: Use keywords in this 200 character text field to describe your services or products.
- Location: This is your actual physical location (not a PO Box) in relation to what Google considers the center of the city.Don’t expect to rank well for towns and cities where you don’t have a physical presence (service area doesn’t count). Do not create more than one listing for each business location.
- Other Directories: Sites like bbb.org are highly valued by Google and a listing here seems to improve your ranking.
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- Get your business on Google Maps!
- myTouch 3g – T-Mobile's "Google Phone" and How It Impacts Your Business
- Google Sitelinks
- Where to Submit Your Site for Local Search
Filed under: Internet Marketing,Local Search,SEO Strategies
This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 4:58 am and is filed under Internet Marketing, Local Search, SEO Strategies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.5 Comments
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Comment by Melih Oztalay — November 18, 2009 @ 7:46 am
Thanks for the great posts. I have been following you for a while on my rss reader, thought i would make the effort to say THANK YOU today.
Comment by johnny — August 13, 2010 @ 10:30 pm
I just want to say that I discovered your site via Google and I am glad I did. Continue the good work and I will bookmark you for when I have more free time away from the books. Thanks!
Comment by smokeaces2010 — August 17, 2010 @ 5:51 pm
[...] Google Places: Sometimes called the Google Map listing or Google 7-pack listing. Listings are free for any business; you will just need a local business address and local phone number. Fill out your listing completely including business hours. You can choose multiple business categories. You do not need a website in order to have a Google Places listing. More on 7-Pack optimization. [...]
Pingback by Web Design, Seo, Blog Marketing Tips » 7 Ways to Promote Your Local Business on the Web — December 27, 2010 @ 2:51 pm
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Comment by cocoway — June 28, 2011 @ 10:40 am