Google Places Question

[TheGrid]

When you are optimizing Google places campaigns what do you find to be a better way to appear for more searches?

No, all customers come to the business location

or

Yes, this business serves customers at their locations

(45 mile radius)

**? **

[imageworks-261290]

just do whatever it is the business does. Then use Yext or Whitespark &  localeze to get your citation game tight. Go to yext right now and use there free citation grader tool. You will not regret it!

[TheGrid]

I have never heard of Yext. I will see what that is.

[DesignbysoapLtd]

As far as I'm aware it doesn't make any difference when it comes to appearing more frequently for local based searches - we've picked one or the other with dozens of clients and seen no noticeable difference.

Just pick whichever one is most applicable to the business you're creating the page for.

[RankStealer]

Would you recommend Yext or Whitespark for UK customers I have never heard of them, personally.

[BedeFahey]

I agree with imageworks...

Your service area settings on your places page should reflect how the business actually interacts with customers. Prior to something like 18 months ago, hiding your location seemed to negatively impact listings. These days, my experience is that there is little, if any, penalty to doing this.

That said, even if there is a slight penalty to hiding the location, I'd do it anyway. As recently as February and March of 2012, Google seemed to be enforcing this particular guideline by actually calling some businesses and asking. A minor penalty is better than having your listing vanish along with all traffic.

Miriam Ellis wrote a post about this in March: http://www.seomoz.org/blog/why-you-may-need-to-hide-your-google-places-address-asap

Hope this helps!

[MiriamEllis]

Hi Kynduvme, Definitely follow the link Bede Fahey has provided. This was a major policy change that I would recommend you take note of and comply with in signaling to Google the correct business model. By being accurate in your settings, you will hopefully avoid future penalties of your listing.