Google Business Maps Giving Important Feedback!

[dcmeagle]

Google has released a new tool to allow you to connect with you Google Map listings, improve them and help bring you more business.

Last year I told everyone how to make sure you were listed on Google, Yahoo & MSN's local business listings. If you haven't already done this and verified your account, read the article here: http://www.homeinspectorpro.com/Search- ... tings.html to get yourself listed first.

Google now allows all of us to get statistics based on these listings! Go to http://www.google.com/lbc and log in with your Google username and password. If you don't have one, you need to claim your site by following the article above and create an account at the same time.

Now for the fun stuff, once you're logged in.

The first thing you see is a graph of the last month showing Impressions and Actions.

Impressions are how many times your site was shown in the Google Map area in. You're given the overall count for the month (for a comparison our site was shown 1837 times in the last 30 days). This is an important number as it lets you know how active your area is for the searches you're targeting and how often you're showing up.

Actions are how many times somebody actually clicked on something to do with your map listing. This could be them clicking on the link to your website, a link to more information about your company or driving directions to your site. I don't know who it is that wants to come visit me be 35 people got directions to drive to our office in the last 30 days, 40 clicked to see our website and 14 wanted more information on our business. This makes sense as we have had quite a few calls in the lately for people asking for a home inspector. I guess they don't realize the business name says software. I just give the names of some of our local users.

For you, actions are very important. They show the conversion rate of the number of times your site is showing in the maps versus the number of clicks. I would expect your Actions numbers to be much higher than mine (people don't look for software in Rancho Cucamonga, CA but they are looking for home inspectors in your cities).

There are several changes you can make to your Google maps listing. Make a few changes, watch your Actions and Impressions for the next month, then make changes again to try and improve them.

Google also displays the keywords that your listing is appearing for. This is important and I'd like to hear what words your sites are being listed for. This is a great way to finally find out if Google Maps is properly locking into search terms for home inspectors. Most of the terms our site came up on the maps for had to do with home inspections or house rentals (remember they have to be searching the local area for your site to even appear in the maps).

Along the top you can also click on Coupons and add a coupon. Even if it's a $20 off coupon, or a coupon just for seniors and military personnel, it's an extra reason for people to click on your Google Map listing.

On the top right Your Business Info is listed as Google knows it. For me , it showed my information was 82% complete. Since I filled everything out in the past , they must have added more. I'm assuming most of you will be in the same boat. Click the Edit button to complete your profile.

Add a photo to your info of yourself and your business info. This will help you connect and differentiate yourself from your potential client.

If you've added video testimonials to your site like Ben suggested recently, you probably uploaded them via YouTube. Add your YouTube video to your listing to really draw people in.

Make sure to list your business hours. The fact you inspect on a Saturday or Sunday might be the deciding factor to someone.

Make sure to pick the categories closest to home inspections (more than likely real estate).

Watch the video here for more information: http://maps.google.com/support/bin/stat ... uide=21029

So, lets hear it! How many times has your listing been shown, been clicked on, and what phrases are your sites appearing for?

[John Dirks Jr]

I have 3 sites up. I have an impression and action report for only one of the sites. How do I generate the report for the other two sites?

[Mark P]

For the past 30 daze I had 100 impressions & 8 actions

Here are the key words

home inspectors 17

2. home inspector 16

3. home inspection 13

4. radon 11

5. radon testing 10

6. home inspections 6

7. radon test 5

8. inspector 3

9. house inspections 2

10. house inspector 2

Other 9

[hausdok]

Was the "daze" intentional? I can't tell.

OT - OF!!!

M.

[Scottpat]

Past 30 days I have had 110 impressions and 8 actions

Key word list:

1. new homes 33

2. real estate home 16

3. home inspectors 9

4. trace 8

5. home inspection 5

6. real estate 5

7. home, 4

8. realestate 3

9. home 2

10. home inspections 2

Other 13

Shows me at 79% complete. It was 100% a while back.

[Mark P]

Was the "daze" intentional? I can't tell.

OT - OF!!!

M.

yes - just feeling a little funny this am.

[hausdok]

Was the "daze" intentional? I can't tell.

OT - OF!!!

M.

yes - just feeling a little funny this am.

I sea.

OT - OF!!!

M.

[Erby]

Totals

783 impressions

How many times users saw your business listing as a local search result

16 actions

How many times users showed interest in your business listing

3 Clicks for more info on Maps

1 Clicks for driving directions

12 Clicks to your website

[dcmeagle]

I have 3 sites up. I have an impression and action report for only one of the sites. How do I generate the report for the other two sites?

You will only have one site listed per business address. A few guys have used P.O. Boxes they have to get a second site listed.

[dcmeagle]

For the past 30 daze I had 100 impressions & 8 actions

Here are the key words

home inspectors 17

2. home inspector 16

3. home inspection 13

4. radon 11

5. radon testing 10

6. home inspections 6

7. radon test 5

8. inspector 3

9. house inspections 2

10. house inspector 2

Other 9

Nice job! All 100 impressions are directly related to home inspections. I haven't see that yet, everyone else has at least a few unrelated fields.

[John Dirks Jr]

My radon site has 93 impressions and 4 actions.

1. radon testing 25

2. radon test 17

3. radon 7

4. laboratory 3

5. testing 3

6. test 2

7. health test 1

8. medical 1

9. testing for mold 1

10. where is 1

Other 32

Theres also a report on one of my other sites too. Apparently they do more than one site per account. The other one only has 1 action. I think it just got started.

[dcmeagle]

My radon site has 93 impressions and 4 actions.

1. radon testing 25

2. radon test 17

3. radon 7

4. laboratory 3

5. testing 3

6. test 2

7. health test 1

8. medical 1

9. testing for mold 1

10. where is 1

Other 32

Theres also a report on one of my other sites too. Apparently they do more than one site per account. The other one only has 1 action. I think it just got started.

Do you have a separate address listed for the 2nd site, or is it the same as the first?

[John Dirks Jr]

My radon site has 93 impressions and 4 actions.

1. radon testing 25

2. radon test 17

3. radon 7

4. laboratory 3

5. testing 3

6. test 2

7. health test 1

8. medical 1

9. testing for mold 1

10. where is 1

Other 32

Theres also a report on one of my other sites too. Apparently they do more than one site per account. The other one only has 1 action. I think it just got started.

Do you have a separate address listed for the 2nd site, or is it the same as the first?

Same mailing address, if that's what you mean.