Google Places is responsible for all of the local results you find on the top of Google’s search pages. Businesses that take advantage of high rankings with Google Places are getting more exposure than their weak competition.
So, what does Google Places look for when they rank local businesses?
Many of you are probably thinking backlinks. Many of you are wrong.
The regular Google algorithm counts backlinks as a “vote” for your site in the regular search engine results, but those fancy shmancy local results that pop up at the top of the page are Google Places results and Google places doesn’t give a rat’s a** about backlinks. What they do care about are citations.
A citation is when your business name, address, and telephone number appear on the web. What does this tell you? It should tell you that you need to get as many citations as possible!
(You can learn a ton more about Google Places by watching this video.)
Here is a list of sites that Google Local considers a reputable source when gathering citation counts. so, stop what you’re doing and get listed in these directories…
local.Yahoo.com
Yellowpages.com
411.com
citysearch.com
yellowbook.com
infospace.com
anywho.com
judysbook.com
yellowbot.com
shopcity.com
dexknows.com
magicyellow.com
zidster.com
infousa.com
localeze.com
yelp.com
insiderpages.com
kudzu.com
local.com
merchantcircle.com
cityvoter.com
citysquares.com
foursquare.com
hotfrog.com
rateitall.com
bestofthewest.com
qype.com
Angies List
Brownbook
ziplocal.com
foundlocally.com
citydirect.info
frommers.com
ibegin.com
daplus.us
gowalla.com
urbanspoon.com
zagat.com
tripadvisor.com
ezlocal.com
backpage.com
metromix.com
nymag.com
parentsconnect.com
servicemagic.com
cosmotourist.com
trivago.com
blog.hostelbookers.com
promotionalcodes.com
couponsnapshot.com
avvo.com
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With Local Marketing being such a Hot Topic in 2011 this is a great list of citation sites to get any business off the ground. I currently use most of them, but discovered a few gems in the list.
Thanks E
Love The List, Your Webinars, And Results we get -
using ideas you extoll.
2012 Will be amazing!
SEO is EZ with Local Businesses….and Google Places.
Thanks…Again!
KeithDShrock
Thanks, Keith and Atlanta! Happy New Year to both of you!
I know what review is, just review,
I know what citation is, a mention, and it does not have to have a link back. Review can be a citation, but citation cannot be a review.
How does directories you are recommending becomes a citation? They seemed to me a back link.
You are saying, “Google places doesn’t give a rat’s a** about backlinks”, I think you are totally wrong. I have had great success with building quality back links to local business sites.
Thank you for the list.
Happy New Year.
Kaya, a citation is exactly what I said in the article… business name, address, and telephone number. This is what Google Places looks for, not backlinks. Do some Googling and see what the Google Places experts are saying. They must all be “totally wrong” too.
LOL! I really enjoyed this post. Good ol’ Google Alerts sent me here.
It’s fun to watch people get emotional on a blog. Haha!
I have experience with Google Places over the last 18 months and I notice that many things are very inconsistent while others ARE consistent.
Many people, including myself, will say don’t write fake reviews on your page and then I’ll see a local business, showing up in the 7 pack with what are clearly many false reviews left by the same person on the same day. What gives?
You said who gives a rats a** about backlinks and I agree with you that citations are huge and getting that NAT associated with your business helps increase your credibility in Google’s eyes BUT…
When you build the citation, you also get the back link from that site and some of those sights may be higher page rank. Regardless, those backlinks help you rank higher.
And the more backlinks you build to your main web pages and your Google Places page, the better off you are, wouldn’t you agree?
Thanks for sharing a great list though. Everyone needs to remember that healthy arguments are very productive. Until next time…
Great list Bryan as always you rock:)
This is great information.. Thank you
Great Information.. Thank you very much for the list..