First of all, what is Google Places? It’s a free service developed by Google that allows business owners to edit the content of their existing local listing, or to add a brand new listing to Google’s local database. (more) It allows you to post information about your physical location to help searchers find you. There are a number of steps to setting up your account and putting your information into it. These are covered in this article.
Once you’ve completed the process as given below you will have created what Google calls a “Place Page.”
According to Google, a Place Page “helps users find the best sources for information across the entire web, including business listing details, reviews, photos, nearby public transit, and more. Place Pages include such ‘places’ as a business, a park, a point of interest, a transit stop, or even an entire city.”
The First Step
The first thing you will need is a Google Account. If you already have one, skip to the next section below. If you don’t have one you need to set one up. Go to this URL:
https://www.Google.com/accounts/newaccount
Fill in and submit the form. Keep track of your username and password. You now have a Google Account!
Setting Up Your Google Places Page
Go to: http://places.Google.com/business
Log in using the username and password you created when you set up your Google Account. Click on “List your business” and follow each of the steps to input your information.
Be sure to add the maximum amount of categories in the “Category” section of the form. Click “add another category” after each category entered to add another category. NOTE: you MUST select one of the categories suggestions it brings up as you are typing.
When you’re done click “Submit” on the bottom of the page.
Now you need to validate your listing. Select the “by phone” option and make sure you are available to answer that phone number. Fill in your Contact name and click finish. It will take you to your Google Places Dashboard. Your phone should ring and it will give you a five-digit PIN. Write it down and enter it in under “Enter your PIN” and click Go.
You’re done. Celebrate with a bottle of champagne!
PS: If you get into this and it seems a got too confusing or you get lost, call us. We offer a Google Places Set-up Service for a small fee.
