After the Christchurch Earthquake your google local business listing is more important then ever. As you may know every business can claim their free google local business listing or “google places” page. This is a place where you can update customers and potential customers about up coming events, changed hours, relocation and when they can use your services again.

"Restaraunt Beckenham" Search Results for Local Business Listings

If you already have control of your page GREAT – this means you can use it to update:

• Change of address if you have had to shift premises.
• Opening hours if you are operating with light staff.
• Post updates to let people know if you are open, the date you open, if you are waiting on a green sticker or if you are in the process of relocating.

If you have never claimed your google local places page then this requires a little more work:

You need to first find your business on google places and claim it

This can be done by googling your business name, address or phone number.

OR

If it is not listed on google places yet you need to start a google account and add your business listing.

Fill out all your current details and after you have done this you have to verify your listing by punching in a pin code. This can be done in one of three ways if your business was already listed. You can receive your pin code by:

• Post Card – 2-3 weeks
• Phone – instant
• Text Message – instant

OR if you had to add your business name and details manually, postcard is the only way.

After this is verified by entering a pin code,  it has to be approved by google.

What Next?

Once this is all done then you can use it as a important business marketing tool.

For help setting up Google Places & Local Business Listings I have set up the following package where I help businesses claim their page then get it onto the right page so people can find it.

Give me a call today Lucy Ross – Online Marketing Consultant – 027 315 8672