Google has introduced two new Google Maps features to entice local firms to ‘claim’ their businesses through Google Local Business Center.

Firstly, local businesses can place promotional text for new events and offers on their Place Pages. A business owner can log in to their Place Page and, within minutes, upload, change, replace and remove updates via their dashboard.

Secondly, local businesses that claim their businesses in the Local Business Center can display verification badges. According to Google, these convey credibility and trustworthiness to consumers by identifying listings that have been updated and improved by business owners.

Source: Jana Urban, Nick Dower, and Lori Meiskey, “Make Google Place Pages your business’ megaphone,” Google Lat Long Blog, January 14, 2010

Related Articles:

• Google Entices Small Businesses To Claim Their Google Local Profiles
• Is Offline Consulting Really The Opportunity Everyone Says It Is?
• Consumers’ First Impressions of Local Businesses Come From Online Reviews
• Google Provides Templates For Mobile Websites
• Facebook’s ‘Email Killer’ is Facebook Messages – An All-In-One SMS, Chat, Message and Email Tool

This entry was posted on Sunday, January 31st, 2010 at 6:58 pm and is filed under Kikabink Lab, Search Marketing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.