Google 7-Pack for Local Business Boosts Business

While many people think a six-pack is the greatest thing ever, there is one type of pack that is far better, especially for those who own a business; the Google 7-Pack. Google 7-Pack refers to the top seven listings that come up when a local search is conducted. So, because I live in West Palm Beach, Florida, if I conduct a search for 'plumbers, West Palm Beach, FL,' then I would see the Google 7-Pack first, just under the paid ads. Why is this important?

When it comes time to find any business, especially a local one, more and more people are turning to the internet. Search engines such as Google, Yahoo! and Bing are the big three, but the majority of those searches go to Google, so every business should do their part to become a part of Google and a great place to start is with Google Places.

Google Places is where business owners can go and, for free, enter in all the information about their business. This in turn will put them in the cue and if done properly, a business that has been entered into Goggle Places may in fact end up in the Google 7-Pack.

Getting a Business into the Google 7-Pack

Before a business can become a part of the Google 7-Pack there first has to be a Google Places listing created. This is an easy and straightforward process, but those who do not follow the rules will not have their listing go very far. For example, Google only wants to see one business address with one listing. So, there can't be multiple businesses listed using the same address even if the same owner owns all the businesses. Before any information is entered, it is certainly in any business owner's best interest to read over the Quality Guidelines for Google Places.

Tricks for Leaping into the Google 7-Pack

While nothing will help you more than following Google's rules for getting into the 7-Pack, there are some easy to implement tricks that make the process seem to go just a bit faster. These include

1. Consistent contact information in Google Places and everywhere else online where a particular business is listed, whether by a business owner or otherwise.

2. Positive customer reviews added frequently for a specific business listing.

3. Gaining citations. Citations are other places where a business' name, phone number, e-mail address, address and the like appear. When gaining citations special attention should be made to ensure all contact information is accurate and identical.

Play by the Rules or be SPAM

I can't be stress enough that in order to flourish with Google their rules must be followed. When a business owner decides to try to get around Google's rules and regulations, the end result is often being labeled SPAM and that will result in the expulsion of any Google listing and kill any chance of ever seeing the Google 7-Pack.

Sources: Google, Google Places User guide '" Google Places Help, Google.com

Google, Quality guidelines: Google Places Policies - Google Places Help, Google.com

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