Optimizing Google Places Listing - Please Help!

[PMC-312087]

I claimed the Google Places listing a few months ago - added a description and all the necessary information. Finally got the page to show up in the places category on the 5th page for the search "vet las vegas". Then on some computers it likes to show up on the 8th page and on others the 5th page - weird!?.

I need some help on the following:

• How can I get Google to put my website as an link in the "More About This Place"/citation section? The old website which was at a different domain is present but not the new one (the new one has been live for 2 months).

-Am I missing any key information to help with my ranking? The 8th page is a pretty poor ranking and holds no value whatsoever.

• The description I typed out on Google Places does not display in the search results. - I am assuming adding citations is essentially just about adding backlinks that Google can pull to add to the "More About This Place" section - any surefire ways to get more citations there?

WEBSITE: http://www.petmedicalcenter.com

PLACES PAGE: http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&prmd=ivnscm&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1187&bih=649&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=vet+las+vegas&fb=1&gl=us&hq=vet&hnear=0x80beb782a4f57dd1:0x3accd5e6d5b379a3,Las+Vegas,+NV&cid=13431404354265657899&ei=5Bf1TdvWLIey0AGe-M3sDA&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=placepage-link&resnum=4&ved=0CEIQ4gkwAzhG

Any other feedback or ideas would be really appreciated. Thank you to all the SEOMOZ members would have helped me over the last month - you guys are awesome!

Thanks again,

Brant

[DonnieCooper]

Howdy Brant,

You can update the website url by logging into your Google account, then clicking "account settings" at the top right. After that, click "Google Places", then update the listing(s) of your choice.

Citations aren't necessarily links to your site. SEOs more use the word to represent 'mentions' of your website, along with address, phone, etc throughout the web.

Here's a recent video I highly recommend you watch.... The Basics of Local SEO.

Also, David Mihm posted an updated version of the Local Search Ranking Factors, which I highly recommend you read. All of it

Don't forget to read every word in the Google Places Help Center as well.

I know it's a lot to study, but you're engaging in the optimization process, so it's crucial for you to understand as much as possible.

If you're still having trouble after all of that, I'd be happy to help you with some specific advice, just let me know (free of course). Otherwise, I'm sure some other mozzers will post some great ideas to this question as well

Does this help Brant?

[dignan99]

Hi Brant,

AS Donnie mentioned, The More About This Place area are not links per se, but are mentions of your site around the web.  This can include your current site and old site.  Your new site will more than likely be mention the next time Google updates its info for Google Places.  The more citations(mentions of your website the better.

The BEST thing you can do at this point is make sure the directories and review places have your proper NAP, also known as Name Address and Phone number.  Again, Donnie mentioned reading David Mihm's website to review the local factors for SEO.

Make sure your NAP and website match ACROSS the web, everywhere you can list it appropriately.  So there may be some major updating on your part, and that can help gel your info across the web together so your site becomes more powerful.

[DonnieCooper]

Great advice sir, thumbs up!

[PMC-312087]

Thanks Donnie! I appreciate the feedback. Those resources are going to be very helpful. I don't know why but out of the whole SEO process, optimizing Google Places seems to be the most frustrating.

Thanks again!

[PMC-312087]

I agree, great advice. I have been updating every possible directory I can find online. What a mess!

Do you know if Google Places update as often as the normal search results?

[BedeFahey]

In addition to the resources already listed, I'd also recommend checking out the learning center at http://getlisted.org/resources/

Specific to the, "Any surefire ways to get more citations there?" question...

Check out your competitors places listings, too. See if they're getting any citations from local sites, resources, or lists. If Google is indexing these citations for your competitors and adding them to place pages, it will probably tie them to your places page too, if you can get listed.