Robert_Charlton - 7:31 am on Sep 9, 2010 (gmt 0)

#4 - Save yourself the trouble, Google will list you in time.

That's true for organic, but Google Places involves claiming your local listing. While Google might list you without your input on a Place Page if you're a local business, you should do everything you can to claim the listing and control it. Otherwise, someone else can and probably will change something. It happens all the time.

Here's the Google Places home page...

http://www.google.com/local/add/analyticsSplashPage [google.com]

I'd suggest posting questions about Local Search in WebmasterWorld's Local Search forum...

http://www.webmasterworld.com/local_search/ [webmasterworld.com]

Definitely pay attention to Sgt_Kickaxe's #1, 2, and 3 suggestions. They're at the core of what SEO is about.

[edited by: Robert_Charlton at 7:40 am (utc) on Sep 9, 2010]