Google has created a new marketing campaign focusing on getting local businesses online with their small business services. The campaign is called “Let’s Put Our Cities on the Map.”

On their web site they state that since 2011 “only 37% of businesses have claimed a local business on a search engine.” They then go on stating that 4 out of 5 people search online to find local businesses for business hours and directions. If your business is in that 63% then you are missing out on a lot of traffic!

This program provides each city with a custom web site where you can check to see if your business is listed within Google Maps and within the SERP’s (Search Engine Results Page). The site grabs your IP Address when you first visit but if it does not list your correct city you can change the city in the top left and then search.

They have tools and information to assist with getting your business online, via a free web site for a year with Google via their partner Starlogic, equipping local partners with free training and customized city materials to run workshops, and of course if you do have a web site best tool is setting up your web site with a Google My Business Page.

Google has provided a step-by-step guide for local business owners to assist them to get online with Google My Business.

Consumers can participate with the program by creating postcards to support their local businesses. Then share these cards via Google+, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. But to note, these postcards do not help with their local business ranking within Google.

This is a great resource for new business owners that are new to building a web site, listing their web site within Google’s My Business pages and joining the Google Small Business Community to gain advice from industry experts and bounce ideas with other business owners.

If you have any questions about how to list your web site with Google My Business pages and better positioning within the SERP’s contact VisionSnap today!