Google places.

[TheGoat]

Anyone have any tips for improving my lawn service (http://maps.google.com/maps/place?cid=10414635217491956595&q=hungry+goat+lawn+service&hl=en&ved=0CGsQ-QswAA&sa=X&ei=W8gxTcnlJo_wowTlktHOCg)'s google place ranking?

[TheGoat]

Guess not huh?

Well, I'm try some different things. I'll post here how they turn out.

[steveparrott]

I checked your listing content and the source code on your site. Seems like you've done everything right. It's a mystery why you don't show up in the google map results when your town and "lawn service" are listed.

I'm guessing that the other companies that show up have a longer history with Google, and may have web sites that rank higher.

It is good to note that your business still appears twice in the top ten organic listings for the above search - that's excellent.

Things you can do to improve results overall - work on back links to your site, continue to add new content to your site, use google adwords.

[mdvaden]

From what I've researched, Google Places is one of the hardest sections to figure out for "ranking". Although that's a poor word to describe placement there.

Even regular SEO is an angle that few will share the best secrets. If people share the best secrets about SEO, then they really don't care about it or know about it. Otherwise why even bother, but tell the whole world what is counter-productive to the study and effort.

So with Google Places, I see even less information squeeking out from those who really understand.

If it looks like someone is helping you, either they are not in that game anymore, or the advice is so generic, it does not hit the nail on the head.

Just keep researching.

[steveparrott]

Here's google's explanation on how they determine rank of local business (map) listings.

"All Google search results are based primarily on relevance, and Google Maps listings are no different. Google Maps ranks business listings based on their relevance to the search terms entered, along with geographic distance (where indicated) and other factors. Sometimes our search technology decides that a business that's farther away from your location is more likely to have what you're looking for than a business that's closer.

Google Maps and Google Places are a free service, so there's no way to request or pay for a better ranking. We also can't provide additional details about our ranking algorithm. We do our best to keep the details of the algorithm confidential in order to make the ranking system as fair as possible for everyone."

It's anyone's guess as to how they determine what business to list and in what order. Maybe they know what car you drive, what restaurants you eat at, what kind of gas you buy, where you buy your clothes, and the type of people you share a beer with - that could determine where they send you!

[earthly]

I have thought about using google pay per click but heard that can get expensive. Has anybody done this or know anything about pay per click. I have heard it can get you twards or at the top but I dont know if it is true.

:confused:

[TheGoat]

I've been using Adwords for my lawn service (http://www.hungrygoatlawns.com). I was hesitant at first because I was worried the ad spending would burn through my budget, but I have found the level of spending control to be very precise.

you can set it to either bill you or you can choose to do it on a prepaid basis. I think google is still running their $75 credit promo. I signed up using that promo.

they require a $10 minimum initial prepaid balance but that got me $85 in credit on the account.

go give it a shot, it's only ten bucks.

as for where your ad ranks, that all depends on what you bid for specific search terms.

some will cost more than others to get into the top three paid returns.

[walker-talker]

I would recommend you know what you are doing and know exactly what search terms you want to use. No sense throwing your money away....and it can be done very quickly.

[THEGOLDPRO]

im no expert in this at all but the best advice i can give you is to backlink your site to as many relevant sites as possible, i started my website 2 months ago, and whenever i get time i go and add my site to search engines, i can basically type in any variation of landscaping southbury/southbury landscaping/ landscaper 06488. ect ect into google and a link somewhere will place me in the top 3 of google. as well as have more then one link to my website.
http://www.mazdas247.com/members/THEGOLDPRO/google.jpeg

[mdvaden]

im no expert in this at all but the best advice i can give you is to backlink your site to as many relevant sites as possible, i started my website 2 months ago, and whenever i get time i go and add my site to search engines, i can basically type in any variation of landscaping southbury/southbury landscaping/ landscaper 06488. ect ect into google and a link somewhere will place me in the top 3 of google. as well as have more then one link to my website.


That's the general advice that's been available on most website forums.

But one thing is certain, a town of 20,000 is pretty easy to be in the top few spots.

Even in Medford, OR, which is near 60,000, my site reached #1 there just a few weeks after moving there in 2005. Although we are back in Beaverton now, as of 2008.

Guess it does not matter to the person in on the first page though. Whether a big city or a little city, they are happy to be on the front page, especially the top few spots.

[THEGOLDPRO]

yea honestly i never actually did any research, i basically typed in southbury landscaper, and went to all the diffrent links that popped up from other landscapers and added my listing there as well. im sure it would have been easier to pay someone to do the seo for me but i figure i saved the thousand bucks the website wabted to do the seo by just taking some time and doing it myself.

[TheGoat]

im no expert in this at all but the best advice i can give you is to backlink your site to as many relevant sites as possible, i started my website 2 months ago, and whenever i get time i go and add my site to search engines, i can basically type in any variation of landscaping southbury/southbury landscaping/ landscaper 06488. ect ect into google and a link somewhere will place me in the top 3 of google. as well as have more then one link to my website.
http://www.mazdas247.com/members/THEGOLDPRO/google.jpeg

What was/is your experience with manta?

[nr7pro]

Lets see if I can tackle some of the comments and questions here.

@TheGoat,
Honestly, you have a poorly optimized Google Places page - but don't worry that only means there's room for improvement.
1. Add more categories
2. Add better longer description, use more keywords.
3. Add better pictures.

That should get you off to a good start.

On AdWords,
Whoever said you can easily run up your bill is correct! and that's also with minimal results.
A few years ago AdWords was a lot more affortable. Its gotten very competative since
then and in turn its higher cost per click.

Bottom line is if you're spending money with adwords you better have a well optimized landing page.
Sending people to your homepage (in most cases) simply won't cut it. Sending people to the
homepage has very very low conversion rates - that's the number of ppl that call/email you for a quote.

I hope this helps

[walker-talker]

I found the information below on Google's website.

All Google search results are based primarily on relevance, and Google Maps listings are no different. Google Maps ranks business listings based on their relevance to the search terms entered, along with geographic distance (where indicated) and other factors. Sometimes our search technology decides that a business that's farther away from your location is more likely to have what you're looking for than a business that's closer.

Google Maps and Google Places are a free service, so there's no way to request or pay for a better ranking. We also can't provide additional details about our ranking algorithm. We do our best to keep the details of the algorithm confidential in order to make the ranking system as fair as possible for everyone.

[brian1425]

yea honestly i never actually did any research, i basically typed in southbury landscaper, and went to all the diffrent links that popped up from other landscapers and added my listing there as well. im sure it would have been easier to pay someone to do the seo for me but i figure i saved the thousand bucks the website wabted to do the seo by just taking some time and doing it myself.

Can you explain what you mean by adding your listing to all the different links that popped up from your search? How do you do that? I am attempting to learn about SEO and it sounds like your process was very simple. You can pm me if you prefer.

[THEGOLDPRO]

basically what i did was i went on google and searched for lawn care/landscaping/landscaper/whatever in my area, and looked at what popped up, then i went to all the sites that i saw other landscapers had there business name on and added my name to the same sites, i underlined the diffrent sites that came up so you can see http://www.mazdas247.com/members/THEGOLDPRO/googlesearch.JPG

[brian1425]

basically what i did was i went on google and searched for lawn care/landscaping/landscaper/whatever in my area, and looked at what popped up, then i went to all the sites that i saw other landscapers had there business name on and added my name to the same sites, i underlined the diffrent sites that came up so you can see http://www.mazdas247.com/members/THEGOLDPRO/googlesearch.JPG

I am going to be stupid here, but how do you add your name to a competitors site? For instance, the first result looks to be a competitor. Is it in the keyords or meta?

[THEGOLDPRO]

well obviously if its a competitors site then you cant add it, i just underlined all the links so you could see,

I know you can ad your name to manta,yellow pages,merchant circle ect ect. i just clicked on them all and looked for a add your site button.

[walker-talker]

He's just talking about adding your site to other local directories which is good for back-links linking to your site.

[THEGOLDPRO]

you are correct walker.

[brian1425]

Gotcha! Thanks for the help!