Hello and welcome to my first newsletter for 2009!
In
this newsletter I want to explain Google Maps and how you can use this
feature to increase the relevance of your web site in the Google listings.
Help Your Customers Find You with Google Maps!
If you search Google for "Adelaide Hills Web Design" you will see my listing come up with a map, as in the screen-shot below:
This map is particularly handy for someone who wants to be sure the company they contact really is a local business.
So, how do you set you your own web site so that it shows a location map in Google?
Well it is really very easy, but it can only be done by you as the verification process includes an automated phone call from Google where you need to enter a PIN.
To get started CLICK HERE.
This will take you to the Google Local Business Centre and you will see a page like the one below.
You need to create a new Google account first (or sign in with an existing one if you already have one).
Once you create your account you need to check your email and click on the verification link Google will send to you.
When you get to the page where you input your business details there are 2 important things to be aware of:
- make
sure you enter your FULL web address, including http:// so it looks
like http://www.yourdomain.com.au (see screen shot
below)
- you must be physically located beside the phone so that you can answer it when Google calls you to verify your details. The phone you answer must be your main business phone, so this is not a feature you can set up from home - it must be done while you are in your principal place of business.
When you get to the bit asking you if you would like to add a picture, it is easy to add your logo or web site header.
Use the
"Add a photo from the web" option.
Go to your own web site in a separate browser window.
Right click on the image you wish to use and select properties, then,
from the box that pops up, copy the address of the image and paste it
into the form.
...
in this example I copied the Google image, but it works for any image
on the web
The next step asks "How would you like to validate
your listing?".
Select "by phone". I have tried both postcard and SMS and I suspect they are restricted to USA as neither has ever worked, however phone validation works very well.
When you click finish you will be able to select from either "Call Me Now" or "Call Me in 5 Minutes", so select the one that suits you.
Note the PIN on the screen. When the polite, automated, American Google voice calls you, that is the PIN you need to enter at the prompt using your phone keypad. (Note that when he asks you to hit the "pound" key, that is what we usually call the "hash key" with this symbol on it #.)
When Will It Start Working?
As with
most things in the Google world, that's not really clear.
My site listing began displaying the map after about 2 weeks, but it may
take longer.
I hope you found this newsletter interesting.
Future newsletters will deal with:
- setting up a mailing list for newsletters just like this one
- setting up auto-responder emails
- setting up and using Skype
- setting up an online shop
- setting up a content management system where you manage your own site and input text and images
If you wish to add a new email address to receive the Oak Web Design Newsletter or unsubscribe from this newsletter, simply EMAIL ME.
Kind regards
Jane
De Ath
Oak Web Design
Office Phone/ Fax/ Answering Machine: 8339 5728
Mobile: 0438 544 916
Web: www.oakwebdesign.com.au