How To Get Your Business On Google, Yahoo and MSN Maps
I was looking for a Pizza joint nearest to my friend’s house and decided to use Google Maps to find it. Shortly after finding the information I wanted, I started to wonder how many resumes could I find on a local search. How many? Not so much…
I then began to wonder to myself, “Self, if you had a Staffing Agency, would you come up in a search on Google Maps?”
Well, I do not own a Searchfirm, but I was curious all the same. So, I did a search on Staffing, Recruiting and Executive Search, just to see what was out there. I expected to see red markers designating Searchfirms in every state. However, that was not the case and I am surprised to discover that. Why not? Its free advertising! I also decided to glance at how many firms were listed in Atlanta. In case you did not know, Atlanta has NO shortage of recruiters. Alas, the overall majority were not listed (as shown in the screenshot below).
And then I thought, hey, maybe people just do not know how to add their Staffing Agency to Google Maps? If that is the case, fret no more because I am going to show you how to do just that.
First things first, make sure your company is listed correctly in Google’s Local Business Center.
Its easy to do, just fill out the form and click “Next.” Is that it? Nope! Google is going to mail you (by regular US Postal Mail) an activation code and instructions that will (more or less) say, return to the Google Business Center web page and insert your activation code. Until you do that, your listing will not be included in the Google Maps listing. Is that it? Almost… It takes about 6 weeks before you see your entry in the system, but in the interim you can still use the Business Center to update any information you have already added.
Hey, while you’re in the mood, want to know how to add your business to Yahoo and MSN Map listings as well? If so, read on…
To add your listing to Yahoo Maps, click here (or the screenshot below), sign up and you’re good.
To get your business on MSN Maps, click here or the image below and fill out the forms.
Filling out the form to include your business information is pretty self-explanatory; plus (and I like this), you can add extra data like additional web page URLS, business hours, 10 photos of your business and extra goodies like that. (Thumbs up Microsoft on this one!)
Now after you have input your information, Microsoft is going to send you a confirmation code in the mail (regular postal mail); pretty much the same way Google does it. When the activation code arrives, hold on to it because you will need to add the code to your Local Listings Center to activate your business listing. (But you figure that out already, huh?)
If you find this type of information useful, leave me a comment so I will be encouraged to add more stuff like this on the site. Cool?
Happy Hunting!
-Jim Stroud
Nothing says "Thanks for posting this Jim!" like Starbucks Coffee. Click here to buy me a cup (or two).If you enjoyed this post, please consider to leave a comment or subscribe to the feed and get future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Comments
This article was very helpful .. thank you. Next question is .. how do I get my business address to be recognized on GPS systems?
“how to add business” into google maps at local business center is very helpfull for me. I have got ideas after this article. My company is now listed at google and yahoo. Thanks a lot, Jim Stroud.
MSN and Yahoo do not recognize Canada.
so much for globalization!