Google Maps/Places in Organic SERP

[jannkuzel]

This question is regarding having a Google Places snippet consisting of your business location and opening hours appearing in Google SERP when the business name is searched for.

One of our competitors who has a location within their name e.g. 'Widgets of Oxford' have a Google Places snippet appear on the RHS of the search results (where Google Ads usually go) when searched for.

We are trying to replicate this for our business but cannot seem to find any information relating to doing this apart from that this only appears for them as they have a location in their name. This is because we see a similar snippet when we search for our business name in the format "OurBusinessName in OurLocation).

Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

[AlanMosley]

i have this happaning for a couple of clients, I cannot say for sure why it works for them and not others, but it happaned after I added images to their listing. I added cutout images by the way just in case it makes a difference, they certainly look better as local images are a bit small.

[dublinbet]

Hi There,

The main requirement is to make sure that you fill all the textboxes when optimizing your listing. You need to make sure you provide all the information that is required and fill in all the additional boxes.

Categories are really important - make sure you include the keywords you want to rank for here but dont keyword stuff- try adding the location. keep it readable. make it exciting and included some sort of "call to action"

And take advantage of the additional details section. This is where you can actually add in some of your keywords. But please be reminded – don’t keyword stuff, keep it useful and readable for users. Take one field and mention all your service areas. If your products or services can be grouped somehow, then split them up you can list your accreditations and awards, the reservations page on your website, the suburbs you service. Whatever, if your business does it, figure out a way to put it in the additional details section.

Encouraging Reviews. To increase localization visibility a customer review generation strategy is required. Client needs to encourage customers to write and submit reviews to the websites listed above either via facebook, mailers or by offering discounts and special offers in store.

• Send a message to your Facebook fans or email list and ask them to leave a review at your Google Place page

• If you send out follow up, or reminder, post cards (such as many dentists) incorporate a call to action to review your business

• Put a call to action (and link) asking for a review on your web site

• Display a sign by your cash register or hand them a flier with their receipt asking for a review

• Make sure to make the process as easy as possible, provide a link to your Places page and give detailed instructions on what they need to do leave a review.

Hope this helps

Thanks

Ari