Google Introduces Place Pages on Google Maps

Google announced Place Pages on Google Maps, which makes Google Maps even more enhanced than it already is. Using Place Pages, you can now get more information about a place, such as restaurants, retail stores, and other businesses. Place Pages show general information about a place, as well as photos, reviews, web pages and user content.

For someone who is researching the 5th Avenue Apple Store that has never been there, they can already view photos and know how to get there using public transportation, as well as discover that it is open 24/7.


You can even view subway schedules and see what trains run at what station, which could be useful, and avoid an additional step to the MTA website:


If a place page lacks information, it can always be added through community edits or Google Map Maker.

Why You Must Have a Google Local Business Listing NOW

A couple of weeks ago, Google announced it would be providing stats on searches and visits generated via the Google Maps and Google Local Business listings. This information was never available before, and although the current stats offered are basic, the value is immense.

Consider this - people searching local businesses are likely to be in a buying mindset. If a person searches for driving directions to your location, they're likely to be planning a visit soon. Online marketers know that many consumers "search online, but buy offline". Now, we can prove it.

The statistics it provides are rather basic and simple to understand:

• Top search queries people used to find your listing.
  
  
• How many people viewed the search engines' results pages where your listing appeared.
  
  
• How many people clicked through to view your Maps listing.
  
  
• How many people clicked through to get driving directions to your location.
  
  
• Zip codes of the searchers who requested driving directions to your location.
  
  
• How many people clicked through to your Web site.

But, YOU can't get any of this info unless you claim and enhance your Local Business Listing in Google.

By claiming your Local Business Listing, you also gain the advantage of assuring you can control the information displayed about your business (see example), rather than leaving that up to someone else. There is even a feature to offer a coupon built into the listing. And for search phrases that include geographic modifiers, you can appear at the top of the SERPs.

Google's step by step "wizard" and instructional video will allow you to claim and enhance your Local Business Listing and Google Maps listing - and get started today.

Google Maps About To Overtake MapQuest

Although MapQuest is still the leader in the online map space, Google Maps is getting closer and closer to overtaking the market share. Back in January 2008, Google Maps held just over 20% of the market share while MapQuest held strong at over 50%. By February 7 of 2009, however, Google upped its market share to 36%, while MapQuest dropped to 39%. With the two applications now almost neck and neck, MapQuest has been adding new features in an attempt to regain its foothold. With Google maps blended so well in search results, it is not likely that MapQuest will be able to hold on much longer.

What does this mean for internet marketing? Get those local business ads up in AdWords and register your company in Google’s Local Business Center.

Google Helps You Find Out Where You Can Vote

This is my first election voting in Florida and after not receiving my voters registration card, I ended up calling the Supervisor of Elections and was happy to hear that I was in the system and registered to vote. The person I spoke with even told me my voting location.

Google Maps launched a US Voter Info site to help people who are not sure where their voting location is based on where they live. The site was developed in order to increase voter participation and helped by many state and local election officials, the League of Women Voters, Pew Charitable Trusts and the Voting Information Project.

I checked if the voting location the person had told me on the phone was indeed correct and it was, offering me directions, information to Vote by Mail and on Election Day.

So if you’re registered to vote, find out exactly where you have to go and how to get there.

A Decade of Google

Google turns 10 this month and is celebrating the registration of google.com with a timeline highlighting some of the search engine's milestones.

From the earliest toolbars to Froogle, Gmail, Google Maps, Google Earth and iGoogle, take a stroll down memory lane with the Google Timeline.

There is also a section where you can take a look at the most memorable Google Doodles from the past.

Here's to another decade, Google!