Place search optimisation

local onebox optimization

[driller41]

Hi, for a new search term I am looking at I am getting results back titled "places for term near place" - where term is my search term and place is the local place.

I understand this is google local search kicking in - of course the normal serps are now lower down - so how do I get my results up into this local term part of the serps?

[goodroi]

i would start by making sure you have submitted your local business to google local (www.google.com/local/add/businessCenter). i would also work on getting positive reviews for your business listing.

[driller41]

I was thinking that logging into google was going to be the only solution - I always try to keep my sites away from any google accounts.

[Silvery]

"...always try to keep my sites away from any google accounts."

First of all, it's not technically necessary to register with Google Places in order to appear in the Google Places database. There are quite a number of external databases feeding into Google's local database, including online yellow pages, vertical directories and data aggregators. So, if you register with a number of those, you wouldn't necessary need to add a listing directly into Google.

But, to your second point about keeping sites away from Google accounts - I believe that depends. I'm assuming that you're thinking that you have disincentives to give Google more info about your sites than necessary. In cases where you're attempting to exploit some sort of weakness in Google's algos that might be a valid concern. In other cases, if Google has only an incomplete picture of your overall performance or incomplete information about your site, it could bite you.

I'd say that in most instances, this is the case in point with Google Places - Google has to know that your company/site is a local business, or you end up with zero visibility in Google Place Search and Google Maps.