How does a site get listed in Google maps? I notice on some searches that a google map will be displayed with icons indicating where businesses are located. How does this come about?
I believe you can simply register for google local, and then submit your website in the backend. Should be listed in a few weeks.
Cool, did it! How does the order of the listing come into it? Does that then follow the SERP rankings?
Its also a potential exploit, I had a couple of websites register as a business when they had nothing or little to do with targeted keywords. For in my sig "Victoria BC Tourism" that key phrase was registered under Google business or "local" by one of those sites and ended up high in the SERP's, booting me down a few notches. However, I'm sure Google will correct it over time.
it sucks thats its an easy way to rank higher in the serps for example when you search for my anchor ' motorcycle parts ' in google. there are local shops that appear that have zero seo work done. but yet they are placed on the first page in google. Not very fair for those who had to work hard to get there.
Try registering with google local. If I remember from my real store days though, you need a local address. The question for local businesses, does serps change the order in listings? I thought it was based on distance.
i got by using a po box before. http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&source=hp&q=astawerks&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl they send you the post card in the mail.. fill it out and you will be listed they also get info from PR sites. check this out http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&source=hp&q=astawerks&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl it says the source is free-press-release.com
I actually verified by SMS. I had the local address in the main CBD of the town I was targetting. Seems to work fine!
You have an option on how to be notified. If no phone # was provided, then obviously the card will be your only option.
Usually, any search that has a city and state within it will activate the google map listings. The key is to make sure that when you set up your business within Google Maps to list your company under a category that contains the keywords for which you want your business listed under.
For one thing, Google Maps uses a different algorithm for ranking. 2 things that are critical: zip code and category that your business is listed under. A week SERP showing can be overcome if your location is located closer to the city center. Is "motorcycle parts" the category you listed your business under?
Superpages . com seems to be a popular directory from which supports your Google Maps listing in Google's eyes.