The most successful service businesses in just about any field are the ones who establish an identity combining superior quality at a reasonable price. By the way they run their business and the way they present their products, they establish their own unique brand in the marketplace.
No matter how superior your service, you cannot be successful if your target customer cannot find you. In the past, we relied on standard paper advertising like the “Yellow Page” type publications to reach the largest part of our market. As we all know, those days are over. If your business information is not available on line, it may as well not exist for a large portion of your target market. Even my 80 year old father-in-law uses Google to find local services.
Google controls almost 80% of search on the internet today. With that type of market control, you cannot afford to just hope that Google will find your company, and list it properly. In 30 minutes or less you can submit and confirm your information on Google Local search.
Here’s how to get your company listed in the Google Local listing with the information that you want people to know about your business. In addition to your basic business details, you can even include coupons that your customers can print or use from their cell phones.
The first step in getting your listing is to set up a Google account. This is essentially setting up a GMail account if you don’t already have an address for your business. All you need for this is some basic information like the email address you’d like to use, and an existing email address.
Next, you should get together a short description of your business. You should also make a list of Categories you’d like associated with your company. Categories include names like Plumber or Electrician plus specific types of service like Water Heater and Drain Cleaning. It is important that you list your company with Categories that your target customers might use.
If you don’t know what Categories to use for your company, do a Google search and find your competitors’ listings. See what categories they are using, and use the ones that apply to your business.
Then, get together all of your contact information like phone numbers, email, Facebook pages, etc. If you have a logo or pictures you want associated with your business, locate them before you begin the registration process. They can be on your computer or stored somewhere on the web. Google will be able to grab them all, and use them for your new listing.
Now you’re ready to get listed. You can follow the process below, or click on the yellow buttons to see some screen shots of our registration process.
Go to www.google.com/local and click on the Put your business on Google Maps link. You can watch a short video about Google Local to get a quick overview of the process. When you’re ready to go, click on the Add new business button.
From there you simply fill in the forms. You can click on the yellow numbered icons above to see some samples of the forms that you will need to fill out.
If you do not have a retail or storefront business that customers can go to, it makes sense to just list your target market city in the address form. This will improve your page location where you want to work.
Google will confirm your listing either via phone or mail. Once you have confirmed the PIN number they send to you, your listing will be ready to be processed. It can take a few weeks for it to appear in Google Maps. Once it does, check it for accuracy. If you need to make changes or add coupons, you can update your listing at any time.
Even if you have properly Crunched Your Numbers, printed your Flat Rate Price Books, stocked your trucks, and trained your techs, your target customers need to find you. It just makes sense to use free tools like Google Maps that provide access to a huge segment of the market. Take a few minutes to get listed. It’s easy, and could have a big effect on your bottom line.
NSPG software tools can help you compete on price in the situations that call for it. They also help you to properly price and to sell your services so you can build your own profitable, high quality business niche. Now, it’s time to spread the word on line.