It looks like Google local maps is now allowing users to sort their results by ratings. This was reported by Mike over at Understanding Google Maps and Yahoo Local Search. You can see screen shot examples of this new feature on his blog.

There has been much discussion in the local community about the impact of reviews and review star rating on local rankings. In research done last year, it seemed that the quantity of reviews had significantly more impact on ranking than the quality of reviews.Recently however Google Maps has added a new option in Maps Text View mode that allows searchers to limit listings by the quality ratings, at least in certain highly reviewed categories like restaurants and hotels.

What does this mean for your local business? Start getting satisfied customers to go online and give you a smoking review! Most people are going to be looking for the best of the best, so they´ll be clicking most often on the four star reviews, which means you need to get your rankings up there in order to show up on the refined search!

Making sure that your happy customers are willing to give you a good review is just the beginning. You have to make them happy, too! Offer great service, great prices and they´ll start writing you up and giving you higher ratings that will in turn boost your ranking on Google Local Maps.

The number one reason to use Google Local search is simply because everyone else is. This isn´t a peer pressure thing, it´s just going where the business is. If you have a business, you need to be using Google Local or you´re missing out on a lot of traffic which could be converted into potential clients.

Google local maps are particularly useful these days with all their new features, namely the listing of up to 10 local businesses. For example, if you look up “Las Vegas restaurants”, you´ll end up with Google local map in the first position, along with a list of restaurants that are doing business in Las Vegas. For any local company, this is a great new feature. If you weren´t at the top of the list before, you probably didn´t get a lot of traffic, despite the “more businesses” link. Not many people noticed this link, which is probably why Google switched to multiple listings.

The businesses that are featured on Google local maps are getting number one placement automatically . . . something that we all know is very good. If your website is listed further down on the page of search results, you are really doing well! You can get twice as many hits as before with this new Google local setup. So, what´s stopping you? Get listed today. It’ll go well with your local advertising efforts.

Having your business listed in the Google local search is a big deal. Many people argue that getting traffic to your business website isn´t the same as getting customers into your store, but it can help you out in a variety of ways. Google local search can really help increase your business, directly and indirectly.

People use Google local search when they are ready to buy. It´s something they do after having researched the product or service in a general search and are ready to find a location near them to buy from.

Being listed as a resource in Google local searches will help boost your reputation as a business. This can be invaluable for branding. When someone needs your product or service, your business name will pop into their head.

Sheer traffic volume has to result in some clients. Being at the top of Google local search results will send droves of traffic to your business site and eventually, some of those people will become customers.

There are plenty of advantages of making it big in Google local searches. Your business may not benefit tremendously at first, in terms of new clients, but as you become recognized and appear in more and more results, you´ll find that your business does indeed increase.

With Google local maps starting to show up to ten results at a time, you have a better chance of getting your business into the first result for local searches now. Even if there is quite a bit of competition, it is still far easier than before.

Part of the reason that Google went to the higher number of business results is because most searchers didn´t realize they could view more results by clicking on the link below the top result. Before, getting your business into that top result meant you would basically get all the traffic, so if you were in the first place for Google local maps, you´re now going to have more competition, but for anyone who was appearing in the “more” results, this new format is great news.

With Google growing at an exponential rate, it would be daft to not consider getting your business on this mega search engine. Google local maps are already appearing on i-Phones and is the fifth most visited Google property. Though it only makes up 1.56% of all Google´s traffic in general, that still means a lot of people are looking at those maps in the search results and it can only grow from here. Now there are more options for using Google local maps and you need to get your business on it.  It will only better your local advertising efforts. 

Google local maps have rapidly been picking up new followers. For years, MapQuest was the place to go when you wanted to find a location on the map, but now Google is catching up. According to Hitwise, MapQuest has failed to grow and in fact, is slipping in the number of visitors it has attracted in the past 6 months.

Traffic to MapQuest has remained flat year on year and is down 20% in the past 6 months. Google Maps traffic is up 135% year on year and is up 7% in the past 6 months. The growth for Google Maps is from traffic from the Google search engine.

At this rate, Google local maps will quickly overtake MapQuest, but that´s hardly surprising, considering the lengths they have gone to create an omnipotent enterprise. The question is, are you using Google local maps to help grow your business? You want to be on those maps. And, getting first position for local searches on Google will help your business, as a map will appear beside the search results, with your business location on it. Most people prefer to click on a map when they do a Google local search, so it really benefits the number one position!

Get Listed on Google Local Maps

To add your business to Google local maps, you need to first create an account at Google Local Business Center.

Go to Add/Edit and fill in your business information. Choose up to five categories that describe your business and add special features like photos or coupons that can be printed out. And there you have it, your very own local business listing on Google local maps.

Apparently, Google Adwords ads have been spotted with a full street address under the URL, creating a very specialized Google local ad. Could this mean a change in Google´s normal policy of allowing only the city name?

Source:

Google has allowed local advertisers to put a fourth line of text (location) under the URL at the bottom of the ad. That has been limited to city name or region historically. The inclusion of a physical address is pretty interesting and makes the ad standout somewhat as even more local.

If this really is a new type of Google local ads, small businesses could be in luck. With a street address available, people can see at a glance whether or not you are close enough to them. This could save a lot of empty clicks and create a highly targeted stream of traffic. Definitely something to keep an eye on if you use Google local ads.

We know that the Google phone will be out sometime in April, but now there is an additional feature that should interest local business owners. A recent press release from Thompson has this interesting tidbit:

Thomson (Euronext Paris: 18453; NYSE: TMS), and Google (NASDAQ: GOOG), have partnered to help consumers save money on 411 business information calls by integrating the first ever one-touch, auto-dial GOOG-411 button into many of its latest GE-branded DECT 6.0™ Interference Free phones for 2008. One of many new innovative features for consumers from Thomson, GOOG-411 is Google’s free, voice-activated, business directory assistance service, and the GOOG-411 button will be incorporated on more than a dozen GE phones, which will be available in April.

This could be quite exciting, as it is the first time that 411 has been made into a button. It will make finding a local business far easier and will be used more often now that the Google phone has incorporated the button right into the phone. Instant access to local business directories will be a big help to businesses, as well.

A little news for 2008, Google has recently filed patents that indicate they have the ability to read text in images. The idea behind this could be very useful when applied to local businesses. Robots would take snapshots of the shelves within stores and with Google´s technology, inventory would be virtually instant, taking the names from the images.

Here´s a snippet of what SEL has to say about this new development:

There’s a science fiction element to this world of robots running amuck in supermarkets, but there’s also a lot of science involved in the documents. The descriptions of how text might be taken from street view images describes a number of techniques that account for problems with images, such as those caused by low contrast from shadows and shading. The use of consecutive images from the Street View cameras can also enhance the reading of text that might be blurry or partially hidden from view in one or more shots.

The applications that this technology could be used for are vast. Google local search could become much simpler, with everything indexed. Not to mention, you could easily check to see which stores near you have a certain product in stock. Definitely some interesting ideas!

If you haven´t been added to Google local maps, you might want to consider it. Google local maps pop up now in the results when you do a local search and if your business isn´t in the running for that prized spot, it should be.

Obviously, not everyone will appear first in the search results, with a Google local map beside the business name, but you can certainly try. Larger cities and areas will have more competition, but smaller towns or areas of a city (Burnaby, Vancouver, for example) will be easier to rank for. You´ll need some very targeted keywords and lots of backlinks to make sure your business has the best chance possible to reach the top spot. So if anyone is searching for your city and your business area (Bedding stores in Houston, for example), having your business pop up with a map is a great boost for business.

Since only 27% or so of small businesses are currently utilizing the power of online advertising, now is the time to get in. You have a bit more time to build great backlinks than those businesses who come in during the new year, giving your business a better chance of ranking high in Google local searches. Definitely something to consider.

How could you use this latest advancement in Google Local Maps to help promote your business? While Google has long had multimedia capabilities, they are beginning to incorporate these into Google Maps, giving business owners a huge advantage.

For local advertising, it is quite simple to create a short video, add it to YouTube and then include it on Google Local Maps. You don´t need a video production studio to create your own local business video, it´s quite easy to do so with a Handycam. There are some cheap or even free video editing software that is easy to learn and just about anyone can hack together a simple video that is worthy of YouTube.

The trick here is to set up a YouTube profile for your business. Include your business contact info and name and make sure you have any other details in the profile that you want the public to know about. Then, upload your video and submit it to Google Local Maps. Having more videos available is even better. They can be on anything local, the park, tourist sights, etc.

Now, when someone looks up your town on Google Local Maps, they will find your videos and hopefully will click on them. This takes them to your video page where your local advertising becomes useful. If viewers enjoy your video, they will click on your user name to see what else you have and to learn more about you . . . which will take them to your business profile. See how easy it is?

If you use Google Maps, and if you are a local business serving local clientele then you should, then you’ll love the new features that have been incorporated into their interface. According to a report from Marketing Pilgrim, Google Maps has incorporated the following new features:

• MyLocation for Mobile Phones
• Collaborative Maps
• KML Import
• Streetview in Balloons

I give two of these services a 5 on user benefit and one a 3. KML Import is not as important as the others, but I guess I can nudge it out a 1 or a 2.

The MyLocation feature is based on cell phone triangulation, allowing users to locate themselves on a map. If you get lost or turned around easily then this will be a great feature. If your business is hard to find then your customers will love this feature. You can see a video on how this feature can be used at Google Maps.

The Collaborative Maps feature is the one I really like and the one that I think has the best business application. You can create new maps with the help of your business associates, partners, and employees. All you do is send an e-mail to the people you want to invite to join you in the creation of a new Map. You can even make your Maps public so that anyone can make changes and additions. Great feature for your website that will allow your customers to join in on the Maps creation feature for your neighborhood. This will serve as some great local link bait!

Google Maps allows you to put coupons in your listing. Did you know that?

It’s no joke. Totally free. You can add coupons on your Google Maps listing and drive customers to your local store through Internet search engine optimization. Even if you don’t have a website.

All you do is go to the Local Business Center on Google’s website. To get there go to the Google home page and click on Maps. Then click on “Add or Edit your business.” Next, click on the the Coupons tab at the top of the page. Click the “Add a coupon now” button and add the information for your coupon. Your coupon will then appear on your Google Local listing along with directions to your business. And that’s all there is to it.

The caveat: Be sure to track the results of your ad through a credible analytics program.

(Source) Google Maps has added some new ways for you to find your way using your mobile device. You’ve now got contacts integration and GPS functionality on Windows Mobile, for version 2003 or higher.

This is great news for mobile users, but is it good news for local businesses? I say it is. Increased functionality means more people using the mobile features available to them. As more people use the features, businesses will have more opportunities to use them to advertise to mobile users. I see mobile marketing reaching the same increase in business that local search is currently making. Right now, mobile marketing is still in its infancy, but in five years it will be as commonplace as search itself. Businesses that want to get in on the ground floor opportunities and get a head start on their competition will start right now taking advantage of the local mobile marketing features available at their fingertips.

Many local businesses don’t think about Google when they think about radio advertising. But you can now create and manage your radio advertising through Google. This is a powerful medium for local businesses who want to expand their marketing in their local area.

You have to set up a Google AdWords account, if you don’t already have one. Through your Google AdWords account you can set up and mange your local radio ads. The reporting and tracking mechanism for this is very similar to what it is with Google AdWords ads. You can even listen to your radio ad through your account and if you need to change the ad, that’s possible as well. You can select the radio stations you want your ad to run on, the areas you want your ad to run in, and make other intelligent choices regarding your radio advertising. After making your choices on times, locations, and stations, Google AdWords will tell you what the estimated cost of your radio ads will be.

When it comes to local advertising, don’t discount radio and don’t ignore Google.

Google has a special place in its heart for local business owners. It’s called the Local Business Center.

When you log in to the Google Local Business Center, you’ll see a list of your local businesses, the ones you’ve listed in Google Local, and just above those you’ll see two links. The first link will, when you click on it, allow you to add more listings to your local business listings. The second link allows you to upload files. But that’s not the extent of the Local Business Center.

If you scroll down, you’ll see more links. From the Local Business Center you can open and manage your Google AdWords account. This is one of the most essential tools for the local business owner. But you can also add a Google Checkout feature to your business website and, one of my favorites, add your products to Google Base.

Google Base is a useful tool if you have more than 10 local businesses. You can add them all at Google Base and increase the exposure for all of your local businesses. You do this through a bulk file upload, which saves you time. I highly recommend the Local Business Center and Google Base if you own a local small business.