Google Places for Business puts you on the map & gets your phone ringing with new business!

August 5th, 2013

So, you have signed up for a SwitchboardFREE account, your business has never enjoyed such a professional phone presence and your calls have never been this organised.

Now how can you use your new numbers alongside Google Places for Business to attract new customers?

See the quick guide below and use the handy links to get your phones ringing today…

Google Places for Business

We live in the age of the web where more than 30 million people in the UK access the internet daily. Recent statistics show that 93% of all internet traffic comes from a search engine and more than 65% of all searches are carried out on Google. Finally, Google says that more than 73% of all online activity is related to local content.

What do all those statics add up to? A Big opportunity to promote your business effectively at a local basis.

Up to 82% of people who conduct a local search follows up with a phone call or a visit to your business. Therefore, it really makes sense for your business to have a local presence on Google.

Enter Google’s Places for Business, it’s easy!

Places for business allows you to register your business’s details so that they will show up in local search results. By doing this there is a good chance your contact details will appear on all of your search listings. This can include a button to phone you, a button offering directions on how to get to you and a link to your web site. All of these features work seamlessly with smart phones which makes finding your business and contacting you really easy.

When a potential customer searches for something related to your business and depending on how much competition you have in your local area, your contact details will probably be on the front page of Google search results.

With the rise of mobile internet usage threatening to overtake PC based web browsing sometime in the next year, there has never been a better opportunity to push your company to the people in your area.

SBF Top Tip

Customer Reviews

Google Places for Business allows your customers to review your service.

Results are generally ordered via location to the searcher combined with how many positive reviews your company has received. If you get 26 reviews or more you will probably be above the average review number and you will start to move up higher in the search results ensuring your business can be more easily found. So don’t forget to ask your customers to review your business.

To start making use of this today all you have to do is click here to go to Google Places for Business and register your business. It takes less than five minutes and Google have a simple step-by-step process that will help you get up and running fast.

Use Geographic Numbers (local numbers)

If you want to get your numbers ringing even more then why not sign up for one of our Geographic Numbers?

Geographic numbers are perfect for a local presence. You get all of the SwitchboardFREE features available with an 084 number but attached to a number that is local to your area.We find that people who are looking for a local company are more likely to call your business if they see a local number rather than seeing an 084 number.

Click here for more information or to sign up for a geographic number today.

Put your Second Free 084 Number to Good Use

Please remember you can have a second 084 number free, so you may wish to use this second number just for Google places.

This would allow you to track exactly how many calls this service is generating for your business. We even have a customer ‘whisper’ available which will whisper to you that the call is from Google Places for Business each time your phone rings.

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