In recent years the most popular and most widely used search engine, Google has started providing multiple services in addition to its great search engine on the web. Some of the most commonly used Google tools are the Google Business Listing and Google Maps services. You may have noticed or used the Local Google Business Listings yourself when doing web searches for businesses in your local area or nearby for certain types of services.

They function much like the old Yellow Pages did decades ago and provide multiple listings for services that you search for in almost any area, region or city. Since Google began providing the Google Business Listing and Google Maps function, other search engines have picked up on the programming and also offer their version of this service. Coincidently, the business listings on Yahoo show up much like they do on Google. These types of mapping and business listings are completely separate from Organic SEO ranking, and getting your business listed in these spots is a bit more simple than Organic SEO as there are far less rules and regulations.

It is important for some businesses to include their website and information in the Google Local Business Listings because often consumers doing searches for things on the internet may only click on the Google Business Listing links. Of course, businesses without a website that are included on the Google Business Listings are not valued as highly. For example – say your competitor is listed on the Google Local Business Listings and their site and information comes up in this area for searches related to the competitive SEO Keywords that you’d like to see your site ranking for; your competitor is likely to get that lead. While you should not solely rely on coming up for searches of SEO Keywords related to your business in the Google Business Listing area, it is important to many clients and should be considered when you are thinking of SEO Web Design and getting web design quotes.

We get inquiries from time to time from clients that have confused the Google Business Listing with Organic SEO listings. Some want to know why their site is not listed in the Google Local Business Listings and others simply are just trying to get their site included in this area of Google searches. In order to have your site included on the Google Local Business Listings, you must simply add a Google Map to your site. The Google Maps Code is generated by setting up a Google Account, or if you already have a Google Account, navigating to the Google Maps area and adding your business’s address to the data. You must set up an account if you do not already have one, and you as the business owner must properly provide the business’s address and confirm it, typically by telephone. Unfortunately we cannot set up an account in Google Maps for you, but we are happy to walk you through these steps via email or a quick phone conversation. Google Maps will provide easy to understand steps and directions for this process. While it is not a requirement to have a website to be included in this area, it does contribute to increased visibility on the business listings.

Google does provide a few guidelines for adding your site and business information to the Google Local Business Listings, and it is helpful that you read these before trying to get listed in this part of Google. With that being said, it is important to note that we do not control the Google Business Listing section of Google for all searches that are being done. We have no control over whether or not Google allows you to place your business information here, and you must follow their easy steps in their entirety to include your business. In most cases, if you are not being included here but have added the business and Google Map to the website that you have linked the account to, it is by some mistake or omission during the sign up process. You either have not confirmed the site properly, or something was done in error in the submission process. There is absolutely no way that an SEO Web Design company can go into your Google Account and affect your placement in the Google Business Listing space of searches showing up. All individuals online can communicate addresses, phone numbers and incorrect information to Google, however all of this is communicated in information that is sent to your Google Account and must be confirmed by you. Google uses a variety of means to validate your information; if you are trying to “trick” your way into these listings, their advanced programming will recognize this, and it will pull your listing and communicate the reason to you. If you feel that your listing was pulled in error, you can email Google directly regarding this issue.