Whats the point of Google Places

[Nightwing]

Hi from minus 3 degrees C not snowing yest wetherby UK

Ok imagine this scenario....

Me: I'm going to register your business on  Google Places www.google.com/places/

Client: Oh yeah dont bother who needs Google places ive got a website

Me: Ok here are some benefits

•helps visitors find your address, even when they're not looking at your web site
•Results from Google LBC show up for searches on Google and on Google Maps
•attracts visitors who click on photos and content gleaned from your site
•your business profile presents directory-style information to visitors is a sensible format all in one place, such as services, directions, phone number, opening hours
•clients can write reviews - a good place to gain independent credibility
•offers a small side box to promote your current events

But seriously this is the sort of dialogue you enter when facing clients and rightfully justifying what their paying for.

But is this true, if you dont lock down your listing with the pin number Google sends you on a postacrd is it invisible via the Google places app?

Reason I ask is that via the google places app (on an iPhone) I could find a business that was locked down but a site that had not verified was invisible, has anyone else had this experience?

Any insights welcome

[jenadams]

What upsets me the most is that for many local listings, it would be impossible for a local company to only exist in that given market.  There simply isn't enough business.  Then you see these foreign owned companies come in that are often in terrorist harboring nations where the tax rates are very low, rent mail boxes in every city and claim to be operating locally.  Of course, they have no US employees and pay no US taxes.    With lower operating costs, they can afford to offer cheap prices, buy up Google advertising and pay for many SEO initiatives.  Of course, Google couldn't be happier.  Something has got to change to level the playing field.  How about requiring all web based businesses operating in the US to report a DUNS or list their EIN or TIN and ensure credit cards are being processed through a domestic company?  That would be simple enough, the government would start seeing more revenues, US e-companies would grow and hire more employees.

My guess is that something like this will soon happen in the EU as google's conduct is investigated. Here in the US, most politicians can't even figure our out how to turn on their computers.

Oh to address one of your thoughts, most of the reviews that I see are fakes.  The worst of the worst companies always seem to have the most reviews.

[RankSurge]

I've has this same question asked before. There are a few answers that should easily justify the creation of the page.

1.) At the very least, it's a link from Google and we all know how much Google loves itself.

2.) A better reason is that one never knows when Google will change up what it considers local. I have a client that used to rank in the top 3 for their Google places page for a service related terms in their region. Then one day, Google decided to drop Google places listings and instead serve up traditional organic results.Just as Google made this change, at any moment, they could always revert to this type of display again.

3.) As you mentioned, it has reviews and the client can always post a reply to the opinion that was left. Very powerful.

4.) Some words are easier to rank for with a Google Places page.

Will be following to see what other tidbits there are!

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Nightwing,
Thanks for coming to Q&A with your question. I'm the Local SEO Associate here in the forum. Members are giving good suggestions here, and here is one that, while unfortunately based on alarming the client, is absolutely true and almost sure to wake them up:

Whether you choose to participate in Google Places or not, Google can create a listing for your business. Google began their Local effort by creating listings culled from 3rd party sources without notifying business owners. So this is not an opt-in program. Your business may be profiled by Google without any knowledge on your part. Thus, the only way for you to have ANY control over the data Google publishes about your business is to take control of it via claiming and verifying it. Failure to do so increases the chances that a) Google may publish incorrect data about your business, misrepresenting you to the public, b) competitors may take control of your listing and do all kinds of fun things with it.

If the client doesn't get the value of actively participating in Places after this, they aren't a client you really want to work with. We are in the role of educator as Local SEOs, but if clients ignore the opportunities of this education, we just can't help them.

Hope this point helps you to get the right message across to business owners who come to you! Good luck!