Sometimes The Gems Are Hidden On This Site!
In our quest to get Inspired eBusiness to the top of the major search engines for the term "web design belfast" we've been documenting what we have done on this site (and specifically here).The site was # 426 in Google. Now, just 26 days later:
- Google - # 15
- Yahoo - # 2
- MSN # 38
A Gem From Dave
My online pal Dave Starr (GPS Tracking guru) has done just that - and has given a gem, a diamond in the rough, a stroke of genius!
On this post, Dave comments (I have edited slightly):
".....on the main Google SERPs page what should be the first two or three 'real" results are taken up by a nice mapping application served up by; http://maps.google.co.uk/mapsand apparently driven by the local Yellow Pages publisher?
(Click the map to the left to enlarge)
This map 'steals' several results and appears to be strictly driven by the distance a business is from Belfast City center.
I notice on Seamus's site (see Seamus' contact details below) his complete contact
info, which is good.If you follow the trail with Google maps, there may be more specific data being shown that Seamus really wishes to show.
A thought that could combat both issues is:
- do a cost benefit think-through on a "virtual office" or "mail receiving" service in the heart of the city, and
- the cheapest Yellow pages ad that will get "on the map".
Change Address, Take A Yellow Pages Ad & Get To The Top!
What Dave is saying there is that if Seamus changes his address details to being smack bang in the middle of Belfast (by using a mail receiving service) and takes a Yellow Pages ad with those details, then he could be one of those very first results next to the map!
And, in some places, it looks like you don't have to be in Yellow Pages - you can just enter the info direct to Google Maps.
Brilliant thinking.
Easy, cheap and it just may be very, very effective.
Thanks Dave.
Brendon
P.S: Go here to add - http://www.google.com/local/add/businessCenter
Labels: case study seo, web marketing
[ comments ]
In fact, I'm pretty certain this is the case, because I submitted my own company to Google Maps a few months back and within a week of that listing being approved, my site started appearing in those listings at the top of the page for "Web Design Canton" (Canton being the city we are based). We're not listed in The Yellow Pages at all.
I added our site by going to http://maps.google.com/ and then clicking "Add/Edit Your Business" at the bottom of the left column.
Of course, Dave's idea still stands, but I don't think Seamus will have to pay for that Yellow Pages ad.
Jamie
I think you might be right.
Seamus is adding a map listing now.
Cheers
Brendon
http://www.yell.com
The US Google Map results don't seem to have a separate commercial provider, the UK results do.
So you are correct that it may not require a paid ad ... but it requires some action to get his site "on the map". But you are definitely correct that paid advertising is a separate issue, good catch.
This is an interesting line of thought for anyone trying to be found (which is the real reason for ranking to begin with) ... since these mapping services seem to show up more and more on Google results pages and since, by the way Google has laid them out they effectively "hog" the space of the first few results it might be possible to rank (visually of course), _higher_ than number one.
A brief look at the Australian listings don't see to show maps popping up ... but no matter, and guess who comes out number one on publicity, web design, web designer, etc. when you append Palm Beach QLD 4221 to the search? Yep, that Brendon guy.
Certainly shows the "Power of Place".
Tom, Google do verify the submissions to their Mapping/Google Local service. Once you have filled in the details online, they sent a confirmation code via good ol' snail mail to the address that was used. This then needed to be entered in your Google account to approve the listing.
Jamie