AV Search Marketing

Have you noticed how quickly things are changing on the web?  Last year Google introduced its local directory called "Places."  It literally changed the fortune of millions of companies. Large national companies that used to dominate the first page of Google have been replaced by local companies that are providing the same service.  This creates an incredible opportunity for companies that do business on a local level.

If people search for something that can be provided locally, Google now serves up local results before national companies.   This gives local businesses the opportunity to get in front of thousands of people.   How many people?  Here is a small list from some of the industries we serve for High Point, Greensboro, and Winston-Salem NC.

• Lawyers (all search terms) - 42,158

• Restaurants- 100,697

• Retirement centers - 9,911

• Churches - 56,663

• Dry cleaners - 2,789

• Carpet cleaners - 9,789

• Auto repair - 8,265

• Body shops - 15,911

Because Google Places launched in 2010, many of your competitors still do not know about it and have not taken advantage of this opportunity.  That may be where you are at right now.

To find out, go to Google and type in the service you provide and the city and state.  The results should look like this.

If you do not see the teardrop symbol, that means that Google has  decided the term you used cannot be provided locally.  Click on the Places button to the left of the search results  and you will see the local results. If your company is not showing up on the front page, come back and read our offer.

Wouldn't it be great if Google listed your business  when people searched for products and services that you offer?

We can  make that happen.  Back when people went to the Yellow Pages to find a business, you could get to the front by changing your company name to AAA Company and by spending the most money on a big ad.  But the Yellow Pages is quickly dying, being replaced by the web.

How does Google determine who shows up?

When your company is listed in Google's "Yellow Pages" your business will show up first depending on a number of criteria. The most important are listed below:

• Relevance.  How close what you provide matches what the person is looking for.  Google looks at what is in your Places listing to determine whether you are going to show up.

• How important is your business.  Google determines the value of your business based on the number of places they find your company listed on the Internet. They call these citations and they are found at the bottom of your Places page under more about this business.

• Location. How close you are compared to your competitors and the person searching. Google uses the IP address of your computer to determine where you are. It is not perfect, but they can usually tell within a few miles where you live. If you are using a smart phone for your search, Google knows your exact location.

• Whether your Places page has been verified.   Google has a lot of brilliant people working for them, but even with all their technology they still do not know as much about your business as you do. When your Places page has been verified Google puts more trust in the information.

• Reviews.  These are what people are saying about your company online.

There are a number of other factors but these are the major ones.

We will set up your Google Places page and optimize it so your business shows up for selected search terms. This includes keyword research, optimizing your Places page, adding citations, adding pictures and videos  (we create one video free).

Google is not the only place people turn to find local business, so we set up other local directories also.  We only work with a limited number of businesses in each city.  For a free evaluation to determine whether Google Places can help you, complete the form below.  We will be back in touch with you within 2 business days.  If you are a church, we have created a separate website specifically set up to help churches connect with their community.

Pricing varies depending on how competitive your industry is in the online world.  This determines the amount of work required to move your company to the first page. The average cost is $599 for the first month and $299 for the remaining eleven months.

You will have complete access to your Places account (and all other accounts we create) which will show your statistics, so you can monitor our performance every month.  It can take up to a month before you will see results.

1. People are searching this very minute for products and services that you offer.  If Google is not sending them to you then they are going to your competitors.
2. Google is spending a lot of money and resources to capture people who are searching for local products and services. Why not take advantage of their hard work?
3. Companies that show up first in the early days of Places (which is now) are more likely to hold that position as Places grows.
4. Google is going to start charging for premium listing.  Why not get to the top now while it is free?