When optimizing your website for the search engines, sometimes details get ignored — one being the Google LBC (Local Business Center). Some businesses either don’t know how to post their business on the LBC (www.google.com/local/add), or have already seen their business listed when searching (sometimes Google does this automatically when it finds a business through online listings) and they don’t think much of it. Well we are here to let you know that you need to put more energy than you think into your business listing, as there are tricks (just like anything else) to get you higher on the list.

1. Pay Attention To Your Name

Rather than just posting your company name, try to insert a keyword(s) into your name as well. For instance, if you sell computers, rather than listing your company name as Johnny’s, list it as Johnny’s Computers. This not only lets Google know that you are relevant (besides your tags), but also lets the person browsing know that you at least have something to do with computers. This will help you stand out from your competition, while still being ethical.

2. Domain Name

When you list your domain name, rather than listing as http://www.graticle.com or www.graticle.com — list your website as Graticle.com. This will help you maintain your “brand,” while becoming more clear for someone looking at your domain name. You can find some great information for listings on Adwords (which is very similar) in Perry Marshall’s book Ultimate Guide to Google Adwords.

3. Phone Number

Your phone number should be local as people browsing your website tend to gravitate towards local businesses — depending on your industry. Sometimes when Google automatically enters your business on it’s LBC, it might find your information from an old listing in YellowPages.com that you forgot to update. So your company might not have a phone number listed, or even worse, your previous phone number.

4. City Center

Although no one (besides Google’s engineers) knows the excact procedure how the LBC or any Google listing system works — but this tip has a lot of weight. If your company’s site is optimized to a certain location, your address to that city center is crucial. Now we won’t give you a way around this, but just know that this factor is crucial — so keep it in mind if you have an opportunity to move to another location, or even if you are just starting out. Again, remember it’s more than one factor that plays into their equations — so if you can’t get any closer, don’t sweat it.

5. Forms of Payment

This is another factor that Google will not automatically insert for you — if they have entered your company into the LBC. Hopefully your company already accepts payments for any medium used, so listing these on the LBC will help give your customers confidence in your company. If you only accept checks, it would also be a good idea to let your customers know this up front.

6. Hours of Operation

Again not something Google will automate. Regardless of the hours that you list your company open, make sure you stick to them.

That sums up the tips for the LBC for now. Also, don’t forget to add to the rest of your listing including Tags, Description, Coupon, Picture, and Video — anything to set yourself apart from your competition and you will do great.

*Enter your business into the Google Local Business Center here:

www.google.com/local/add

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