Consider subscribing to my blog's RSS feed. It's sticky
Google Maps (Google’s local directory) has recently started showing user reviews in it’s business directory listings.
First, off if you haven’t listed your business in Google Maps - go here now and do so. Even if your business is in the listing take the time to sign up for a free account and enhance your listing. You can add product photos, hours of business, forms of payment, product lines. Great stuff for local searchers.
Now, you can also add a review. (Or have some of your raving fans do so) Just surf to any local listing like this one for Duct Tape Marketing and take a look at the bubble on the map. Click on the “write a review” link and you can add your review of a local business. Initially it appears that they are also pulling reviews from other social sites like Insider Pages and Judy’s Book.
Managing your online reputation through these social directory has become an increasingly important tool.
Comments
This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 31st, 2007 at Jul 31, 07 | 12:41 pm and is filed under Google, Local Search. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I’m really surprised Google didn’t do the reviews before.. now they truly have the upper hand in the “local” search as well. Well, I guess they already did, and then they made it better. I wonder if they’d ever pull reviews from Yahoo local?
Great Tool! Good Post John!
Don’t forget to add your “coupon” too! Or if you loathe discounts like I do - simply make it your “Free” offer. You can add quite a few. Also, since I have a B2B Services Firm, My “pictures” are the logos for my Products and Services.
It’s amazing how something as simple as this can have such a killer impact on business. We have had a huge amount of clients directed to us through Google Maps!
Thanks for the reminder about the new reviewing feature. I saw it a little while back but had forgotten about it. We need to encourage some of our best clients to get the reviews rolling.
Whoa! Share my wisdom?
I was just going to say that this is a real “double-edged sword”. What happens when a small minded competitor bad mouths you?
Or even worse, the highly technically literate teenage kid of the rival business owner?
Just questions.
David
[...] ducttapemarketing These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web [...]
David - all the more reason to get in there and take charge of it yourself.
Also, there is an arbitration process for most of these so if you have an account and are participating you will have a good shot at telling your side and keeping sill stuff out.