One of the important “musts” with Google Places is that you have to fill it all out. There are a number of different options available to you for your business, and when you complete each of the options in your Google listing, your chances of being found online are greatly increased.

Have you noticed that Google has changed lately and when you do a Google search, local listings appear first? Google changed that a while back, so if you’re in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and you’re looking for a chiropractor, if you’re looking for a dentist, if you’re looking for a hairdresser, what’s in your local area on Google Places is what is going to show up first, and you definitely want your business to be there.

Google is a veritable hive of listings.

It’s what comes up first, it’s what people search for, I mean “Google it” is an activity that millions of us do on a daily basis. With Google Listing Score, the more complete your business profile is, the more complete it is, the better your score will be. All the different options they have must be completed.

Accurate business details are critical. This is how people will find you, and this is how people will discover what you do, what you have, what your business is about. Your data must be accurate!

Then there’s the best thing, well one of the best things, is that your customers can go online and write a review. I love my local Bavarian House restaurant. I’m going to go in and write a review every time I go there. It’s a great way for me as a consumer to make sure the restaurant I like appears near the top of Google’s listings and therefore stays in business. Every time I want to go back there and have my favorite dinner, the place is open and still in business.

Customer reviews are critical to your success with Google Places and to being one of the businesses found first in Google search. Jump in and make sure you optimize your Google Places listing for your business.

Once you’ve maxed out your listing, be sure to go back to your existing customers and ask them to go and write a review for you.