Google Maps - A free advertising opportunity

You have probably heard of Google Maps and might have even used it to look for a specific business or to find an address. However, have you actually listed your business there?

Google is offering you the chance to advertise the physical location of your business for free. When you register, a map will appear of your home city along with a marker identifying your business location with a comments ‘balloon’ that provides directions, a contact telephone number, fax, web address and email address.

Once online registration is complete, Google sends you a letter by post with a unique code that is used to confirm and verify your physical business location. You log on to Google Maps, input the code and presto, you're listed.

Why consider Google Maps:

• It won't cost you a thing - you can create and display a business listing for free.
• Once your address is fully verified you have full control over your listing. You can add or delete non-address information at will.
• You'll reach qualified prospects - there's a very good chance that lots of people are currently searching on Google Maps for the products and services you offer. Why not make it easy for them to find you?
• You can offer coupons for free - displayed in your listing on Google Maps. Coupons can reward loyal customers and attract new ones. (USA only at the moment)
• You have full control over your listing - With Google Maps; you don't have to worry about publishing deadlines or outdated content. After Google verifies your address, you can edit your listing whenever you like. You'll see your changes reflected in the search results within six weeks.
• You can add all of your business locations from a single account
• You can manage listings for businesses of any size - Whether you have one business location or one on every block, you can manage your listings from a single account. (If you have more than ten locations, you can make updates by sending Google a data file.)

Google Maps Example – Edinburgh Zoo

In terms of organic search engine optimisation, Google has not indicated if being listed on Google Maps will have any impact on the visibility of your website. However, you never know if this might change in the future.

To register follow this link for Google Maps.

Do you have a Google Account?

The Google search engine is the most popular in the United Kingdom and in order to stay on top Google is offering a whole host of add-ons to keep the customers happy.

Google accounts allow you to unlock the world of Google. With just your email address and chosen password, you can access numerous Google services, including some of the following:

• Froogle - a free shopping directory. Something you have to consider if you have an e-commerce website as it is free to list your products.
• Google base - a place where you can post content about your company, product and services. By listing your company here can impact on you visibility on Google web search.
• Google calendar – create appointments and share them online with colleagues.
• Google mail – Fantastic web based email product.
• Google images - searches purely for photos or image files.
• Google video – The world’s first open, online video marketplace.
• Google spreadsheets – store your spreadsheets on the web for others to access and update.
• Google analytics – software that allows you to analyse the performance of your website in detail.
• Google talk – make telephone calls over the Internet to your friends for free.
• Google earth – marketed as “a globe that sits inside your pc. Zoom into a satellite image of anywhere in the world and then fly along to your next destination.
• Picasa – free software that allows you to find, edit and share images

Our favourite is the ability to customise the Google Desktop with content that you’re interested in such as the latest BBC news, RSS feeds or celebrity gossip. This is a great way to keep you up to date on what is happening in the world, as the Google Desktop updates on a daily basis.

The best thing about Google accounts? They are free.