Google Tips #3: Google Places (Bing and Yahoo, Too)

There are so many online tools that sometimes it’s hard to know where to add your business. One step you DO want to take is to add your business information to the three primary search sites’ business directories. These are:

• Google Places (formerly Local Business Center)
• Yahoo! Local Listings
• Bing Local Listing Center

Adding your business information in these sites allows you to not only add your business name, address and phone number(s), but also to include your website, a description of your business, and business classifications/keywords to make it easier for web searchers to find you. The "maps" features are also driven off data in the local business directories.

All three sites work in a similar fashion, but let’s use Google as an example. Let’s say your business is an Italian Restaurant in Huntersville, NC. When I search Google using this terminology, the first listings that appear on the page show “Local Business results for Italian restaurants near Huntersville NC”, complete with a map for the first several listings.

Note that you are limited to the number of classifications you use, so you must choose wisely. Your competition will likely be there, too. These local directories sometimes offer related features you can find useful. As an example, Google allows you to post status messages with your listing, so you might post a message about an Italian festival your restaurant is hosting. Google also offers online coupons you can link to your account for web visitors to download.

So, go check it out! Two cautions for you: (1) all three require validation of the listing before it appears, which can take a couple of weeks; and (2) keep a list of all the places you have added information, including your user ID’s and passwords (sorry, they can’t always be the same!) so it will be easier to make changes at a later date, if needed. Good luck!

Google Tips #2: Alerts

Among the tools that Google offers its users are Google Alerts. The Alerts feature allows you to set up one or more automated content "searches" for specific words or phrases. You choose the frequency (as it happens, daily or weekly) and emails will be generated when your alert is triggered. You can set up the search to just cover one type of update or all updates.

Why use Google Alerts? You can use it to monitor a specific news story or topic, your company or even yourself! The tool is designed to pick up changes/additions to website content, blogs, news stories, etc. Do note that this feature is still in beta at this time, so it's possible you'll see some unexpected results.

To set up an alert:

• Go to http://www.google.com/alerts.
• Enter the search terms following these rules:
  a. Use quotes for a specific phrase, for example, “jeanne frazer”
  b. Separate words or phrases with spaces
  c. Use plus and minus signs to include or exclude words, +vitalink –cable
• Choose the alert type and frequency
• Enter email address to receive the email. NOTE: the user does NOT need to have a Google account to create alerts. You DO have to have an account if you want to manage your alerts OR if you don’t want to have to verify each alert via email. If you DO have an account, you can set the alert up to go into an RSS feed instead of email.

It's that easy! Do note that if the keywords used are common, you may need to edit the alert and add more keywords (or negative keywords) later. As an example, I have several alerts and had to edit my vitalink alert a number of times when I found several other companies and products using this name.

Google Profile Tips

Google offers a profile feature to make it easier for folks to find you on the Web. Here’s how:

Go to www.google.com/profiles and click on Create My Profile. Login using your current Google user login info. If you don’t have a Google login, create one by clicking on Create an Account Now on the right side of the page.

There are three tabs to complete: About Me – Photos – Contact Information. You can enter as much or as little information as you want. You also have the option of controlling how much information others can see within your profile. You might include your current and past company information, education and places you've lived. Include a photo if you choose.

Add a short bio about yourself in the personality section, then add links to the site. You can also add custom links, including any blogs you have, your Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter information, etc.

One of the most important things you can do is add a customized profile URL. If you’re using this to promote your own business, you might include specifics about the work you do. The name must be 6-30 characters and use letters, numbers or periods. As an example:
http://www.google.com/profiles/marketingspeakerauthor

You can add photos to your Profile using Picasa, Flickr, or another photo service. You may also include contact information if you want. You can input only business numbers or you can limit who sees your info.

It's that simple! Once you are finished, publish your profile and Google yourself!!

Are You a Real Person?

By Jeanne Frazer

When we work with clients, we spend a lot of time researching and analyzing results. One of the common denominators across almost every client we partner with is the interest by their website visitors and prospects in them as individuals. Having a bio page on your website is a start, but the basics aren't enough anymore.

Potential clients are searching for a reason to choose you and it isn’t always education and associations. So what do we recommend? You need to become a "real person" in the minds of your prospective clients. Here are a few suggestions to consider:

• Include some personal information along with your education and experience. Why did you choose your current job? Which areas do you like best? What are your hobbies and interests? You may want to also post a photo if you don’t have one there already. Consider adding other pictures that show more personality than the standard head shot. Change photos based on the season.
• Include a personal approach/focus to articles you write for newsletters, brochures, etc. Write about what you learned during summer vacation (related to your business, of course!).
• Create a Google Profile for free at www.google.com/profiles; this has the added benefit of appearing in search engine results.
• Make sure you’re LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com/), with a free personal and company profile. Public profiles are found by the search engines and will pick up new activity. Ask for recommendations.
• Add a Facebook page (personal and business) at http://www.facebook.com/. Make sure you set your privacy settings or don't provide too much personal data. Include a link to your business website, as well.

While you don't want to open up all aspects of your personal life, you DO want to provide just enough information to allow clients and prospects to become comfortable with you and to make a connection.