How Can I Get Listed on Google Maps?

Good Question - Easy Answer!

You should take advantage of any free marketing tool for your business. Google Maps is one of those outlets that are available to you at no charge.

You'll increase your business visibility and provide your customers with a snapshot of your business in an easy-to-use application.

Simply go to:

Google Local Business Center

Add your business listing and fill out the online form:

1. Required Information
2. Category
3. Hours and Payment
4. Photos and Video
5. Custom

You can also create a coupon with your listing that can draw more customers to your business.

Encourage your current customers who are happy with your services to rate and write a review of your business.

You’ll need to verify that you are the owner of your business by phone verification or having a postcard mailed to you.

In addition you can also list your business on Yahoo! by going to Yahoo! Local Listings and creating an account with them.

I encourage you to add your business listing today and start getting the word out - it's easy and it's free!

Joanne

Small Business Bailout?

Yesterday I posted on Twitter that I’m tired of the big guys getting bailed out.

It got me thinking about how many of my clients are small business owners and they, like every other American are having some difficulties these days.

In fact, I haven’t been blogging because I’ve been out there selling much more than I usually do.

My conversations with potential clients in the past few months have mainly focused on how they can get new business during the economic crisis.

Some consider their advertising to be the number one vehicle and are finding their company resources too low to continue on.

Others see the effects of their website being open 24/7 and want to improve upon conversion by updating their sites.

It is true, your website is one of your most valuable resources.

People are doing research online and at home before venturing out to purchase.

With a website, your presence is open and available even when your business is closed for the day.

Really?

Yes, really.

In fact, let me go have a peek at our analytics so I can give you our numbers – BRB!

OK, I’ve got the data in front of me...

According to our analytics, over the past year 41% of our website visits are occurring after our regular business hours. We are open 8:00 – 6:00 pm PST and quite a large amount of traffic is coming when we aren’t open for business.

What does this information tell us?

People are shopping on their time – not ours.

We receive many contact inquiries from our website contact forms when we aren’t open for business. These are qualified sales leads that are waiting for us in the morning when we begin our workday. Many of these contact inquiries throughout the year have converted into sales.

Who wouldn’t want that?

Maybe if the government was cutting you a check for YOUR bailout you wouldn’t want it…but I doubt it.

What do you think?