As for Google Places Optimization Goes: Optimize business’s title Including keywords in Places page description Choosing a few appropriate categories Making Places page as complete as possible Reviews What could be some other ways to optimize for Google Places. Whereas Yelp citysearch, bing business portal etc. are not available in most of the countries.
Although this may sound as a no-brainer, have an exact match between the physical location and phone number of you business and what you have on your business website. It happens many times with small businesses that they don't have their address displayed on the website.
But you can submit your business information to a local business directory using the information you used in your google places listing and used your google places URL as your website link directories.
6. Post contact details (address, phone, email) as complete and as consistent as possible 7. Encourage satisfied customers to post their review/testimonial about you on Google Places 8. Include call to action in the description
Google Places kills local SEO. I have noticed that when you search for a keyword + place, the top results are on Google Places.
You simply have to use it to your advantage Get visibility on Google Places for all your relevant locations.