Google Places is the new Local Business Center
Google Local Business Center has a new name: Google Places. New features for local businesses make Google Places an effective way to establish an internet presence and gain visibility online for free.
Place Pages claimed from Local Business Center will be managed from Google Places, and will benefit from “new” tools, currently rolled out in some US cities: Service areas, Tags, Business photo shoots, Customized QR codes, and Favorite Places decals.
Service areas offers businesses without a storefront or office location (businesses that serve customers at their locations) the opportunity to set multiple geographic areas they can serve.
Tags isn’t really a new tool (it was called Enhanced Listings or Local Listing Ads): Local business owners can choose to promote one specific feature of their listing (photos, videos, coupons, directions, menu, etc.) that will appear highlighted with a yellow mark in search results. It’s actually a local business ad that costs a $25 monthly flat fee.
Business photo shoots is a free service offered by Google, that will send photographers to take pictures of the interior of businesses upon request. I can imagine that sooner or later these kind of photo shoots and videos will be integrated in Google Maps Streetview.
QR codes will be available to be placed in business cards and marketing materials, or even better used with the Favorite Places program, in order to allow customers with smartphones to scan the window decal QR code and gain access to special offers (and targeted ads).
Businesses will be able to post real-time updates to their Place Pages, making it easy to communicate with customers about the availability of certain products for instance, or promote special offers using coupons.
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