Google Local Search
When Google detects a search based on a location, it will return a set of location based results.
This may be in the form of a small map of the area, with local businesses highlighted.
These are often above the other organic search results, so it is a pretty desirable position.
If your business is location specific, you want your business listing to appear in those results.
You have to register your business and verify with Google. This does 2 things:
- lets you be included in local searches
- lets you be found via Google Maps searches
It takes only a few minutes, and you can do the verification over the phone (a Googlebot calls you, and you enter a code).
Tip: When you first register, use a mobile phone number only so that SMS verification works properly. We’ve had trouble in the past with Google trying to SMS a local phone, it messes up the whole verification process. Once you’ve verified, go back and add all your phone numbers in.
Registration links:
Already registered and want to find out how to improve your rankings in the Google One Box? Read Improving Your Rankings in Google Local Search.
