Are you a local business that trades within a certain location? Have you thought about adding a Google Plus Local listing?
Google+ Local formally know as Google Places can help your business advertise the services or products you have to offer. Google places was launched back in 2009 to help promote local businesses promote their brand and services.
If your business does not have a Google+ Local page I suggest creating a page even if you have not invested in a website yet they are very easy to setup. Google`s own research has shown that almost 20% of all searches are local. You could be getting a slice of that action, infact you should!
Should your business already have Google+ Local listing then I have a few suggestions that may just help you get better rankings and promote your services.
Make sure to fill out all of the listing, specifically the categories you can add upto 5 categories I suggest you make the best use of them all and list the most popular or profitable services you provide. Write a good description about your company and services.
The Google+ local listings randomise, although there is a way you can ensure your listing is shown more often than your competitors for your services.
Ask your clients, customers and even your friends and extended family to leave your business a review, the more reviews you get the higher up the local listings you rank with a less chance of being randomised with other companies.
The Google+ listings URL are not the easiest to remember so another suggestion would be to have an image on your website linking back to your Google+ Local profile such as the image on the left.