What is the Google 7 Pack for Local Business?

The Google 7 Pack are the local business listings on Google Maps. The 7 Pack shows up when you search for a local businesses and include the location such as… “plumber atlanta” or “plumber atlanta ga.” They appear towards the top of the page, second only to the Sponsored (pay-per-click) search results.

People searching for local businesses are usually BUYING CUSTOMERS in your local service area. This, and because of the prominent positioning on the search results page, is why you should put in the time and effort to get your business listed there.

How to Get in the Google 7 Pack for Local Business

First of all, follow the rules. Google suspends bad players if they discover them. You definitely want to follow Google’s Business Listing Quality Guidelines. Ignore these guidelines at your own peril.

Next, you either “claim” or create your business listing. If your listing is already there, you can claim it and then edit it or you can delete the old one and create a new one. Google wants to see ONE business listing for ONE brick and mortar local business address. If you have multiple office locations, you can create on for each location. But don’t fake a location if you don’t really have one there. At the SEMpdx Searchfest on 3/9/10 I was told Google is coming up with a solution for local businesses like plumbers that maybe have an office in a small outlying area but there business is in the big city. I will definitely write about this as soon as it is rolled out. For now, though, your local listing might still show up for Baltimore even if your office is in Towson if Google thinks your listing is the more relevant. Proximity is only ONE factor in Google’s algorithm.

Tips for Getting Into the Google 7 Pack

• Make sure your contact information is consistent across the Internet. Use the exact same company name, address, email address, and phone number everywhere.
• Use an email address at your domain name on your listing…  @yourdomainname.com
• Use appropriate categories for your business
• Use your keywords in the description of your business
• Add photos, coupons, videos, custom maps to your listing
• Get your customers to review you – the more reviews the better. Have them use your keywords in the reviews.
• Create citations – Business name, address, and phone – across the Internet.
• Create backlinks to your website with your main category and city name in the anchor text
• Create custom maps and or videos with your local coordinates and add them to your site and to your listing
• Add Google Maps to your Contact Us page
• Of course, make sure you followed SEO best practices on your website

If I learn any more tips, I’ll update this post.

Good luck!

Special thanks to SEMpdx and SearchFest and the Local Search speakers Chris Silver Smith, Mary Bowling, and Matt McGee.