Three Keys to Unlocking Your Google Places Potential
It is clear that over the last year, Google’s search results pages have changed. Instead of simple, straightforward organic listings, the search engine giant (as well as its Microsoft counterpart, Bing) now displays local listings quite prominently.
Not only do these local listings appear above the organic ones, many times there is also an accompanying map with pins at each point of interest, labeled “A,” “B,” “C” and so on. For most major metropolitan areas, the closer your office is to downtown, the better your chances are of ranking high on Google Places.
What should you do if your law firm is NOT achieving visibility within Google Places? The search engine experts at Consultwebs believe that three important factors must be addressed.
- Citations: An online citation is a reference to your business on the Web via a trustworthy website. The citation will include basic information such as your firm name, physical address and telephone number. This information must remain consistent across different Internet channels in order to maximize the number of citations that Google, Bing and other search engines count. In general, the more high quality citations your firm has, the more credible it appears to the search engines. Our service, ProfilesPlus+ will help your firm acquire additional high-quality citations.
- Reviews: With the onset of review sites such as Yelp & Hotpot, which integrate social reviews into the search engine landscape, the importance of having multiple (positive) reviews is paramount. Positive reviews of your law firm on Yelp, your firm’s website(s) or social media sites can dramatically improve your Google Places rankings. Learn how to respond to both positive and negative online reviews by reading Consultwebs’ Marketing Director Tanner Jones’ article.
- Google Places Page Optimization: Just like your firm’s website(s), your Google Places page should be properly optimized. Make sure you choose categories that most closely match your practice areas. Also, be sure to include the most common keywords that users type to find a lawyer like you. Keep in mind that you can use your Google Places page to point users to a city-specific landing page when applicable.
You have an excellent opportunity to obtain cases by ranking well in Google Places and the normal organic rankings. To do so, be proactive and ensure that your online citations, reviews and Places page are working for you.
For more information on optimizing your Google Places listing, read Dale Tincher’s article about maximizing your local business listing online.
As always, if you have any questions or would like to talk to the legal marketing professionals at Consutlwebs.com, Inc. call us at 800-872-6590 or e-mail us at info@consultwebs.com.
