How to Get on Page 1 of Google
I’m amazed at how many business owners don’t know about the free services offered by Google that can put your business on page #1 of a search. If you’re not using Google’s services, the first thing you’ll want to do is sign up for a free Google account.
Gmail
When you sign up, make sure you get a gmail account (gmail is Google’s email service) for your business name or key words, not your personal name. For example:
Get: “victorialawyer@gmail.com” – not petersmith@gmail.com
You don’t need to use this email address and you can simply forward all emails from gmail to your regular email account. The reason I recommend setting up the gmail account is that the more services you have with Google, the higher you tend to rank on the search results.
Google Local Business Center
We’ve all done a Google search and seen the little map come up with the pushpins on it like the one below. Those business listings (A – G) are called Google Local Business listings and they’re free. Your business might already be there, especially if you are listed in the phone book. But is your business displaying on the first page?
Notice that in the search results above for “dentist Victoria bc” that only two of the listings (B and G) have a link to their website. These businesses have set up their listings with Google and “claimed their listing”. Now you can click right through to their websites unlike all the others (A, C, D, E & F) who only have a link to maps.google.com
So how do you claim your Google Local listing?
Simple. Go to google.com or google.ca, create your account, login and click on “Business Solutions” (see below). Then click on “Local Business Center” and complete your listing. With Google Local Business Center, you can add keywords, list your products and services, your business hours, upload photos and videos and collect reviews from clients.
When you’ve finished, do another Google search for your business using your key words and city and you might just find your business listed on the first page of Google! When one of my clients, Dr. Geoff Pratt claimed his listing, his practice immediately went to page 1 and his new patients doubled!
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