Never underestimate the power of Google when it comes to improving the visibility of your business. Not only is Google the top search engine, they also have many other features which make them a powerful asset for advertising. And most of what Google offers is affordable by even small businesses.

But keep in mind that there are a large number of companies out there all striving to be at the top of Google returns. That means you need to understand how to maximize your ranking and just what that ranking means for your business.

The Google 7-Pack

You might not have heard of the Google 7-pack, but the odds are that you have had more experience with it than you realize. Google has transcended being just a simple search engine. Now, they have incorporated everything from shopping to global maps and they use these powerful features to return locations, descriptions and reviews of companies to anyone searching for just keywords.

If a search has relevant location information in its return, Google will put up a map like the one below and seven locations that a user might find valuable. These seven listings are what is known as the Google 7-Pack and it is valued by every company who manages to get a spot there.

Tips for Getting Listed

Google probably already has information on your business if you have a website, but getting on the 7-Pack requires that you start up an account with the Google Business Center and fill out some very basic information. Google hasn’t made public what they value in their listings and the odds are that they never will, but there are some general tips that can improve your chances.

1) Get your listing and fill it out appropriately. The listing for Google Business Center comes with several fields that are easy to fill out. Avoid using keywords in the Title so you do not get in trouble. The Categories section should contain the best keywords for your business, so research is recommended. Be sure to fill out every section properly and completely.

2) Get customer feedback. Google wants customer reviews because they know having reviews draws in more viewers. Obviously, your odds are much better if the reviews are positive.

3) Outside site rankings. Directories, especially ones like the Better Business Bureau, can help tremendously with Google rankings. The 7-Pack is reserved for the top businesses within their categories so Google want to be sure you have plenty of solid feedback from reliable sources.

The Google 7-Pack may only seem like a convenience for browsers, but for business owners it is a fantastic boost to advertising. Getting rated highly on a Google search is phenomenal for business, but being listed in the 7-Pack is even more powerful.

But landing in the 7-Pack is a constant battle. It requires that you continuously keep on top of your keywords and reviews to stay in the spot. If you should manage to get into the 7-Pack, you will have to keep up the business in order to stay there, but the benefits can make the extra work worthwhile.

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