Missy

THis is exactly why we have to keep abreast of consumer behavior, since it continues to evolve and change. It can be risky to make assumptions. I am trying to ask people what they searched on to find me, or just in general when looking for real estate - it could be a real eye opener.

Heading off to be local on Google. THANKS!

Jeff

Missy,

Like usual, very interesting, very useful, news for thhose who never heard of it, and good reminder for those who new, but did not set it up.

Good stuff, Missy. There are a ton of ways for (potential) clients to find us, this being a good one.

Missy: Thanks for the heads-up!! I ahd heard of it but had  no idea where to go to do it!!!

Great help to many Missy...I know my site tells me what they type in also and we do a Spring Fling here in Fishers and about this time of year I will get "Easter Egg Hunt in Fishers" about 100 X.  I have so many people on my drip from last year this way...no clients yet...but I'm a patient person!

Great to see your Face on the Featured Board!

Cindy in Indy

Thanks for being so generous with your research Missy, you are a class act. I was surprised to find folks also search "------- homes 4 sale", that surprised me. We must keep up as you point out.

This is a great tip and I look forward to finding some of my own to share. Thanks again!

I have noticed the 'house' search results before - is that a southern thing?  lol  I lived in Mississippi before, and no one said they are 'going home' - they said I am 'going to the house.'  Google maps are huge, now, Victoria Stankard has some SEO posts about adding them to your pages.

It is interesting to note that some company kept calling me to try to pay them to optimize my google places account that I have had for years without any problems....and for some reason it is been pulled for 'lack of quality', even though I had multiple pictures, videos, customer rewviews and etc etc etc.

Coincidence, I think not. It is in review so hopefully it will be back up.

Hi Missy,

The talk on the SEO circles is also that google profiles may be getting even more emphasis in the future. I think I caught that on SEOMoz blog a couple of days ago.

~Rita

There is so much information we need to know it seems the more we know the more there is to learn. I am working with an SEO guy and to be honest I do not know how you can lead gen and SEO at the same time

Great information, google can be tough, this is helpful

Hi Missy...It's good to check your Google ranking in more than what we think is logical.

Thanks for the heads up.  I enjoyed the read.

 

Patricia/Seacoast NH & ME

You know we've been getting more and more hits and leads from here.  Due to all my blogging, my company is coming up in many towns.  I didn't realize we could see the search terms.  i will need to check that out.  way cool!

Missy:  What great information... and thanks so much for doing the detective work, and then for sharing it.

This was also a big theme at Raincamp. Google local results are working for me as well. And very few brick and mortar traditional places get it, which is perfectly fine with me. 

Just went back to check...actually I guess I have looked at this before but not for a while so I bookmarked our page.  This yr bs. same time last yr, we are up 4x on both impressions and actions.  Actions is slightly up as a percent of impressions.

Thx for posting this.  Very helpful.

Virginia, it might be a Southern thing to put in house. I have just seen it so much. Not the way I search when looking at homes in TN but who can really figure out the buyers mind.

Robert, lead generation and Search Engine Optimization are the same thing IMHO. I don't write for Google, I write for the buyers and sellers and then will optimize a little. I use to be a little obsessive about it, but now I just write and don't worry about it.

Fred, I am pretty fortunate on my Search site AS it gives me the link string people found me on, so not much work. That is where I started noticing all of this.

J Philips, Free is good, huh?

Hey Rita, the Google Profiles rock, I use it in my signatures on my emails. Then they can see all the social media sites I am on.

 

Another great idea that I wasn't aware of.  AR is such a great place to find out the latest tips. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks for the heads up.  I am going to have to find out where to add my information. Wonde4ering if there is a link.

Missy, you are great to bring this up. I got hip to this a few months ago and made sure to post my office's on google local. I also asked a few clients to give me reviews so I also get some credibility when people see my info. Good stuff!

Missy

Thanks for sharing a very informative post.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Missy it is important to keep up with consumer behavior and  thankfully their are many helpful tools and someone like you who share a discovery.

Missy, I'm excited about your Gold Star. I'm even more glad that more people in my area don't know this. Shhhh....

Missy, Thanks for the information. 

Missy - I think that I'm on Google local, but I need to go verify and will do.

I've intended to do this for quite some time. I guess there's no better time than right now. Thanks for the reminder...

Missy:

Thanks for the advice.  I am heading for Google local as soon as I finish this comment.  Great info. I need all the help I can get.

Hi Missy,

You have a lot of information. How do you keep up with it all?

I did check my google.com/local ad and it is running.

Thanks for the reminder

Phil

Great tip to leverage the tools within Google. More leads is always a good thing!

Missy:

I just tried to go on google local and the site says they no longer have that option.  Did I do something wrong?  Help.

Joining the parade over to Google...Thank you, Missy.  And Google should thank you, too!

I didn't even know what Google local was.  I do now.  Thank you, Missy!  I just signed up for it...another FREE tool for lead generation.

Missy - Google has so many amazing tools.  Thanks for the great tip.

Missy, Thank you for the information. I think I have a profile but will check it out.

Evelyn, they changed the Name to Google Places.

GOOD MORNING MISSY!  I am "here" now!  Thanks for the reminder to do this!

I have a HUGE HUGE problem, tho, with Google Places.  Places displays Yelp reviews.  And we've already had that conversation about how a disguntled tenant or a buyer-who-lost-out-on-a-deal can skew a business rating on Yelp.  It really and truly sucks.

In all honesty, I would rather not show up in Places at all than show up with the tenant review that currently shows.  Sigh.

Missy...thanks for this great information. It's one of the many things we need to think about as to where we can be found!

I'm already on Google Places (altho I need to update a picture!) and glad you reminded me of this important tool.

Thanks!

Missy, discovered this awhile ago & it took some tweaking to get me on it as I'm not a broker but people see it and tell me 'i'm everywhere'  ...so happy to hear that after a year of blogging...i followed you like crazy way back then & you steered me well...many thanks!

Cheryl, my Yelp Reviews do not show up on my Google Places or Maps.

Did you accidentally add it?

I guess I am unclear.

Hi Missy,

This is great information.  I am going there now to claim my business.  Thanks!

Nope.  Haven't done a thing.  I google for the company name and there they are  And I'd sure like to make 'em go away.

 

I'm googling right now to see if I can learn how to REMOVE my business from places...

Going to head on over right now and check this out. Thanks for the reminder.

Thanks for the tips!  There is so much information on AR this morning (as usual) that it makes my head hurt!!  LOL

I am headed for coffee and then on to Google local.  Thanks again!

Missy , once again great tips that I just implemented !!!!!!!! THANKS !!!!!!!!!

I notice that Jeff asks people what they search for when they call him. This is funny because they could probably search donuts or karate in Carlsbad and find him. Google Places is awesome. I already have a profile, but this is a great reminder to others about all the little things you can do (that only take a minute or two) and can drive business your way.

Thanks for the information, Missy!  I'll be researching Google local this week!

Missy,

I am on Google Places and get a lot of calls from people assuming I am the receptionist at my office and asking our office hours, location, and for a specific agent.  LOL.

Missy, 

This is a great topic.

Do you know how I can be found in nearby towns on Google.com/places?

I've noticed that some people are being found in towns near the office.

Thanks,

Ray

 

Thank you for the information

Thanks Missy.  You know when I was with a larger broker and someone searched by office name - I showed up before the actual real estate office and I was asked to change my keywords and placement so that the office would rank BEFORE me.   I left that broker.....

Nice advise missy, I like it. 

Thanks for the info...I had it but forgot i had it ! best wishes, mike

Great Stuff Missy! I'm like Phil, how do you keep up with all this stuff!!

We put our brokerage on Google Places a while ago, and now we're up to well over 100 hits a day on our listing there. Not sure if that's good or not, but we're getting seen, and getting business, so that's OK with us!

Missy : Thanks for the great tips - will give it a try...

been using Google places for some time! Have to admit I love it!

Good morning, Missy, Excellent advice. Thanks for sharing your observations/experiences with Google Places.

Side note to Cheryl Johnson:

I would not remove your listing from Places, but I WOULD go to Yelp and post a reply to that comment, either stating what steps were taken to resolve that reviewer's complaint, or stating why you believe the review is in error. It may get pulled to your Places site along with the review. It never hurts to see BOTH sides of the story. There is also a 5 star review of your company on Yelp, I'm surprised that one is not displayed on your Places site, but the negative one is. 

Anyway, just my two cents...

I'm there!  Love the calls from there too--it's definitely worth getting your information out there.  You can also have your clients give you testimonials there--we've got a few great ones on Yelp and love that link love from the search.

Missy.. Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention.  I went to go sign up, but didn't realize that they would be calling the office with the PIN number.  I'm setting this up at my house.  I now have to wait 2 weeks for the pin via SNAIL mail.  Just thought others might want to know this before proceeding.

interesting and thank you for sharing.  Google Analytics can tell you everything you need to know about your website traffic. 

I've done this & it worked great. Google messed it up somehow & now I am starting over. Thanks for the reminder to check it out. This also has analytics with it so you can see how many hits you are getting.

I've done the google places- but youvhave me some other ideas as well. Just love your profile picture- Kathy

so much to learn. I am going there now to see if I can do it. Thanks.

Great post!  Thankfully, people like yourself who understand all this techie stuff, keep trying to explain it to us who tried to avoid pagers in our adult life.

Also, not bad for a "Wildcat" from Kentucky!  They almost made it!

Thank you so much for the reminder about Google Places.  I remember having a note to do it and,well. You know!

Great information ~ thank you for sharing!

Great tips Missy!  I am on Google Places and will add some of the search terms that you have mentioned here.  I've been asked to teach a class this month in our KW office on ActiveRain and what it is and why agents need to be on it.  I'm a little reluctant to share that info :~), but in the spirit of sharing here on the Rain, I've agreed to do it.  I will add this to the agenda.  Thanks!

Missy, I do have a Google account and profile. I will go over and check this out. Thanks for the reminder.

Missy, I'm on google places. I place in the top 3-5 on certain key word searches.

Thanks Missy, we have been talking with Google about additional advertising. Good tips here!

Sandy

I signed up for Google local and was then rejected as not a valid business. I don't understand why,

I like the tip Missy, thanks.  I have been building mini-sites just for lead generation for my national referral business.  I learned how to do it from a young kid who makes a bunch of money and built a course that he sells for $47.  I built one website that makes me a few hundred a month in advertising fees and now I am building buyer lead-gen sites that are getting me several opt-ins per day.  If you want to check it out, here is his course:  http://gsniper2.com/?hop=wheelndeal

 

Nick

I don't believe I've signed up for this - because my copywriting business definitely isn't local.

Imagine my surprise then when I pulled up a map of my area and found my business name on the map! I'm not really sure I want it there, since I work from home.

They did mess up just a little - they have me at a neighbor's house.

Marte, you can claim your Google Places page as the business owner and then delete your location as you are a copywriter and not a "brick and mortar" business where clients need to know how to locate you.

Good information.

Thanks! I just added myself to Google Places!

Pat & Wayne,  I have debated with myself for the last couple years about posting a reply to those two negative reviews. 

Both were written by tenants that did not receive a full refund of their security deposits. I'm not sure what I could reply without actually posting an itemization of what repairs were deducted.  And proof that the tenants accepted the amount that was refunded.

I suppose if a property manager or landlord did that, it would probably be considered an invasion of privacy and/or libelous ....

I just keep hoping that subsequent good reviews will push the bad ones out of sight.  But it does not seem to work that way.  :-)

This is a good way to measure how you are doing SEO-wise, and a good thing to do weekly!

Thanks for the reminder to do this!  Great prompt to get moving!

We're on there, and people are findinig us a lot this Spring!  More than before on internet search calls.

Time to go take a look at my account and make sure I have it all set up properly.  Thanks for the reminder

Missy: thank you so much for this post....I'm learning more & more today. THANKS again!

So much to learn...

Woo-hoo, Missy! Now I have something to do on Sunday evening floor time...

Missy, as always you are tremendously helpful and informative!  You have taught me so much through the years!  Thank you!  So many times I'm thinking "that's something I need to look into" and then there's your post, telling me how.  Thanks again!

Cheryl, I just found out that two of my reviews are showing up on another KW agents profile. Now how to get that changed. I tried to copy it to mine, but then it will look like I did it.

I wonder if I can do it from another computer, I looked the people up...past clients and the Review Title has my name Missy Caulk Team at Keller Williams but the actual review went to Andy Pipers page.

 

Hi Missy...thanks for the tip.  I searched for Dockside Realty agent and I was the first one to come up.  I'm on the first page twice although only once on page one for Lake Anna house.

Kate

 

Hi Missy, Very interesting ! Like you, I would never search that way. Hmmm Thanks also for the reminder about Google Places.

Great advice!  I love hearing what's going on that I don't know about.  Thanks for the tips.

Thanks for the tip I will keep that in mind.  There are a number of things I need to update.

Missy,  I would be surprised if you could make any alteration to a review posted by someone else.  But let me know!

Of course, you could always create a throw-away email address, and create a .....  hmmmmm....  ... ahem ... bogus ... Yelp user account ... and then copy and paste the misplaced review  .....

A place I definitely want to be.

Thanks

Just to clear up a few things.  Google creates a places page for you automatically. That's why you see A LOT that say "are you the owner?"  What you can do is verify and enhance the listing.

You can not add or remove reviews from places.  Again google does this automatically.  If the reviews aren't yours they will remove them.

You want reviews on your places listing.  If you are competing with other places the reviews will give weight to your place page.

 

Steve, I have 2 clients that reviewed me and they are showing up on anoter agents page. I Reported a concern but haven't heard back.

Any suggestions?

Missy, 

Love the sharing here.  I added my info to Google Places after learning about it here.  I am amazed at how many folks find me from AR.  LIfe is good.  

All the best, Michelle

Missy,  google list a phone number for help getting tags on places,  You could use that number to get into the google phone system.   877-613-4501

If that doesn't work take the survey on your places dashboard.  Give some low ratings and fill in the comment section.  That will usually get a response from a human at google.

Other than that if you reported it you will be contacted.  I've waited months for answers from google but always did get one.

 

It worked well for me for a few months until everyone and their brother piled on at my 300 person office.

Thanks for sharing the tip. I had signed up a thousand years ago but never did anything with it. Just updated the info and added a photo of our storefront. So thanks again for sharing some useful info.

Missy, this is useful information.  Thank you for sharing.

Thanks Missy for the tip!  Knowing how people search for you is a great tool!!

This was a great tip and useful infoiormation that benefits our communicty. Thanks!

great info!

Great information, it just took me 5 minutes to complete the process...thanks!

Great info Missy!  I claimed my place on Google last month.  It does seem that the more I learn the more there is to learn!!!  Good Luck with your reviews! 

Great post Missy! Very helpful information!

Great post, my new company getUnoticed.com does this for businesses. I took one client from zero, not having a google places presence, to over 600 views and nearly hundred action, and loans in the pipeline All in a very aggressive city of indianapolis.

I've had some problems with this one...Google Places is a little tricky. If your company has claimed it, you cannot.  In addition, the pins are not always accurate and I've had to contact google to research it. Obviously the from the post above, there's a trick to it!

You are always in all the right places Missy, thanks for sharing this others, it's wonderful to see all the great things members are doing to help other members survive in their local markets.  Not being listed on Google is like not having your business in the yellow pages when they were around.....   does anyone remember yellow pages?  <big smile>

Thanks for the info. Very useful!

Great post. Thanks for sharing it.

 

Mike kazi

www.atoztasks.com

thanks for sharing the wonderful idea. I'm gonna do it today!

Thank you for sharing such great info with us!  And I love your picture with the Google exclamation point!!

I recently conducted a seminar at a local real estate office teaching them how to list on Google places, Yahoo, and Bing...there is a right and wrong way to set up your post...for example you can put your company name first, comma, and your name- for example XYZ Realty Inc, Jim Smith. If anyone has any questions or need help contact me for more information.

<A href=”http://www.yourdenvermortageguy.com”>DenverMortgage</A>

Missy I just need to update my place on Google. You never know where your next client is going to come from. Thanks for remainding me. Great post.

This makes me laugh because I get people calling me all the time that are looking for others in my company. When they search online because they have misplaced the # they get me. I am constantly given people the main # to our office:)

Great advise!!  Thanks for sharing.... I need all the help I can get on online promoting.

My google places used to rank good and then I switched brokerages and have been fighting to get back up there!  I need a location with less competition :-/

Thank you Missy!

Missy,
Thank you for the great information and to all the comments, I too have added Google work to my list of things to do today! I am all about getting my business and name out there!

Thanks for sharing!
Jamie

My name is there now I just need a lead!

Great information here Missy!Good job in sharing this.Stay the best Ann Arbor Short Sale Agent.