Optimizing Google Places Listing - Please Help!
-
I claimed the Google Places listing a few months ago - added a description and all the necessary information. Finally got the page to show up in the places category on the 5th page for the search "vet las vegas". Then on some computers it likes to show up on the 8th page and on others the 5th page - weird!?.
I need some help on the following:
- How can I get Google to put my website as an link in the "More About This Place"/citation section? The old website which was at a different domain is present but not the new one (the new one has been live for 2 months).
-Am I missing any key information to help with my ranking? The 8th page is a pretty poor ranking and holds no value whatsoever.
- The description I typed out on Google Places does not display in the search results. - I am assuming adding citations is essentially just about adding backlinks that Google can pull to add to the "More About This Place" section - any surefire ways to get more citations there?
WEBSITE: http://www.petmedicalcenter.com
Any other feedback or ideas would be really appreciated. Thank you to all the SEOMOZ members would have helped me over the last month - you guys are awesome!
Thanks again,
Brant
-
In addition to the resources already listed, I'd also recommend checking out the learning center at http://getlisted.org/resources/
Specific to the, "Any surefire ways to get more citations there?" question...
Check out your competitors places listings, too. See if they're getting any citations from local sites, resources, or lists. If Google is indexing these citations for your competitors and adding them to place pages, it will probably tie them to your places page too, if you can get listed.
-
I agree, great advice. I have been updating every possible directory I can find online. What a mess!
Do you know if Google Places update as often as the normal search results?
-
Thanks Donnie! I appreciate the feedback. Those resources are going to be very helpful. I don't know why but out of the whole SEO process, optimizing Google Places seems to be the most frustrating.
Thanks again!
-
Great advice sir, thumbs up!
-
Hi Brant,
AS Donnie mentioned, The More About This Place area are not links per se, but are mentions of your site around the web. This can include your current site and old site. Your new site will more than likely be mention the next time Google updates its info for Google Places. The more citations(mentions of your website the better.
The BEST thing you can do at this point is make sure the directories and review places have your proper NAP, also known as Name Address and Phone number. Again, Donnie mentioned reading David Mihm's website to review the local factors for SEO.
Make sure your NAP and website match ACROSS the web, everywhere you can list it appropriately. So there may be some major updating on your part, and that can help gel your info across the web together so your site becomes more powerful.
-
Howdy Brant,
You can update the website url by logging into your Google account, then clicking "account settings" at the top right. After that, click "Google Places", then update the listing(s) of your choice.
Citations aren't necessarily links to your site. SEOs more use the word to represent 'mentions' of your website, along with address, phone, etc throughout the web.
Here's a recent video I highly recommend you watch.... The Basics of Local SEO.
Also, David Mihm posted an updated version of the Local Search Ranking Factors, which I highly recommend you read. All of it
Don't forget to read every word in the Google Places Help Center as well.
I know it's a lot to study, but you're engaging in the optimization process, so it's crucial for you to understand as much as possible.
If you're still having trouble after all of that, I'd be happy to help you with some specific advice, just let me know (free of course). Otherwise, I'm sure some other mozzers will post some great ideas to this question as well
Does this help Brant?
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Image results Bing vs Google
I have a website with a number of images and I have optimized all of the images on both a file name and ALT text level, relevant to content on the page they are published on. I haven't created a separate image sitemap, but the strange thing is that Google has all of my images indexed and they can be found for the right keywords, but when I look in BING! images, there is no image indexed available at all ...
Image & Video Optimization | | ConclusionDigital0 -
Should I create a Google Places listing for an online only store?
We currently run an e-commerce store that is online only. We do have an office address that I could list for Google Places, but it is not open to visitors so I am not sure if this would contravene the TOS. At the moment we are in the process of trying to build reviews and Google's revamped 'Places for Businesses' looks like it would be a great tool for monitoring and responding to reviews. From what I can see, though, it is only available to those with a Google Places listing. I am also looking into independent review services, but typically these cost £100 per month minimum, whereas Places for Business would be free. Is there a way that we can use Google Places to build reviews, given that we do not have an actual shopfront? If not, does anyone have any advice on how an online only store can build reviews in the same manner using Google's own tools?
Image & Video Optimization | | pugh0 -
Google Local landing pages
Just wondering what the best way to handle the landing page from a google plus local profile is. I had changed it to page that I created for the specific location with a citation with correct NAP, but realized that in OSE that my root domain lost almost all its G+'s. I'm torn and just looking for some advice. I've done quite a bit of work trying to correct citations, adding citations, and reading reading reading to learn more about Google Local but the results have been pretty rough.
Image & Video Optimization | | jonnyholt0 -
Ranking well for keywords, but not in Google maps
If the search "criminal defense attorney" or any number of variants, is performed from a mobile device, like an iPhone, Google maps seems to be inserting many local map listings ahead of the normal search results in the Tallahassee, Florida area. These are great - as they have the Call button and the Directions button. However, for some reason, my clients aren't ranking well here and competitors who are seemingly doing nothing are higher in the list. I have created the Google+ page for attorney and business page for the firm and completed the profile, uploading pictures etc and verified the address. I have the local address (schema-proper, I believe) on the linking home page and their address is actually closer to downtown/midtown than others. I've even gotten some positive reviews and +1s, at least enough to be competitive in this field. This was about 2 months ago. Any advice? On a (perhaps) related note, the competition has category descriptions outside of the Google-allowed categories. I can't save settings without fitting neatly into their "Criminal Justice Attorney" category. Help here would also be appreciated.
Image & Video Optimization | | DrewR0 -
Google Product Feed Results
Hi all, I am pondering whether or not to try the new model of paying for the shopping results. I was just wondering what results people had seen and your ideas/thoughts on it.
Image & Video Optimization | | KarlBantleman0 -
Taking control over Google Places and Google+ Pages?
Hi we have a client who has about 40 different stores around the country. Most of the stores have their own Google+ Pages or Google Places. We want to take control of all 40 stores from a centralized location. So we can control their Google+ Pages/Google Places to improve them, and keep them uniformed with each other.How/Can can we do this? Does Google provide any way to do this? Thanks, Mark
Image & Video Optimization | | MBASydney0 -
Video Optimization (micro data)
Hello, people. I have a questions regarding on Video Optimization using microformat. As you all know, Google, Yahoo and Bing now support Schema. I want to use microdata or micro format to add explanation for my video. I am wondering now... that Schema has "VideoObject" micro data. Also Google support "facebook share" for video. Which one should I use for my video? Can anyone tell me difference between above two? HELP PEOPLE~! PLEASE!
Image & Video Optimization | | Artience0 -
* Google Places - "More About This Place" Section
How often does Google update the "more about this place" section on a Google Places page? I have updated the company NAP on all the directories, added company information to multiple sites (using Google Discussions as a starting point), added backlinks, etc. Still, the "more about this place" section remains the same (over 2 months without updates). That section still cites our old website which is petmedicalcenter.vetsuite.com, even though our new website http://www.petmedicalcenter.com has been live for 3 months. Would it be better to wait for these updates or delete the page and completely start over? Thanks for your help!! Brant
Image & Video Optimization | | PMC-3120870