So as far as I can tell Google just rolled this update out.
The Google Local Business Center (the dashboard where businesses can edit their local business listings) has added a new feature:
“post to your place page”
It seems to be some sort of blogging functionality for creating posts about your business which then show up on your place page.
Here is what the post editor looks like inside of the Local Business Center dashboard -
Once you post a message expect 5-10 minutes before it shows on the place page. When it shows on the place page it looks like this:
This is an interesting development.
I recently was discussing with a colleague the idea of small upstart businesses forgoing websites altogether (in there initial startup phase) and using their Google Local Listing instead. (Of course, other bootstrapped internet marketing -and offline marketing- would accompany that)
The idea came to me as I noticed (as every local SEO notices) the number of small businesses ranking well locally on Google without websites.
The question that arises now is, with the inevitable convergence of Google’s site creation / blogging software and Google Local Listings, will small local businesses even need a website at all?
As a web developer that worries me a bit (and it ought to worry web designers who make useless flash-heavy websites a lot). As a small business marketing consultant (and a lover of small business) it excites me because it fits into what I teach about bootstrapping.
I think small businesses should have their own website and take a hands-on approach to their own internet marketing, but having a website at the early stages is not a necessity (clever bootstrapped marketing is).
So, what will this new development mean for the world of small business and local SEO?
I wonder what the usual suspects, the Local SEO experts, will have to say on the subject. Mike Blumenthal just posted about the major local seo developments of 2009 and how they point the direction for 2010. I wonder how this effects that direction.
Comments 7
Found this morning today working on a clients site. I like the new feature.
I like your concept of “Bootstrapping”, a SMB could potentially get away without a “website” in today’s local marketplace, but I still think its important to have a homebase for the SMB to drive customers and searchers back to that they ultimately control. A good wordpress site works perfect for most SMB’s. G-Maps + WordPress + a little Social Media + some basic SEO strategies = some great ROI for most small businesses.
BTW, got you on my G-reader now!
Posted 14 Jan 2010 at 3:48 pm ¶Your Website is your store. You can leave the store and try to sell to other people in other places, but you don’t always have everything in your store with you at the time. There is just too much to carry!!! So sending them to a website means many many more sales for you. My partner and I design websites. We will build you a first page for free. You can see what it looks like and go from there. No obligation at all. To see our site go to
http://gaeta.ws
Thanks!
Steve Hall
Posted 14 Jan 2010 at 11:48 pm ¶Donna Gaeta
@ Matthew
Thanks!
I totally agree with you, especially on the wordpress use.
There are so many advantages to wordpress for small businesses I doubt they could be numbered.
Wordpress, even for the less technical, is fairly intuitive. And that is one of the greatest advantages of it. I advocate small businesses holding the reigns of their own websites and having an active hand in their marketing. (Their marketing has to be an extension of them and what makes them unique)
It seems to me that more than any other solution wordpress enables this. And best of all when they need help there is a sea of developers, designers, and marketers experienced with wordpress that they can engage.
As an internet marketing consultant I am trying to establish myself in the minds of my clients as their “trusted advisor” instead of a one-stop shop. I want to point them in the direction of the best solution or service provider to meet their needs/budget/etc.
From having a close relationship with them and deep market knowledge I know what they need and the best place to get it from. It is an ongoing relationship.
@Stephen,
Thanks for your comment.
Of course, I was only suggesting that a startup might forgo a website at the early stages. Absolutely they will need a website as they grow their marketing and they will need a website that ACTUALLY MARKETS THEIR BUSINESS! Most websites don’t. They just sit there. Expensive, flash-heavy, paperweights!
This is NOT what a small startup needs. Actually no one needs a website, what they need is marketing. And, if done right, a website is [part of a] marketing [strategy].
From your website I can see that this is what you are talking about too (a website as marketing) and I agree with you.
Yes, it is just like an offline analogy.
Yes, a website is a store. And what is a store? overhead!
So, for a small startup service business (for example) you probably would be better off starting without a storefront!
In the days before Google you would put an ad in the yellow pages. Customers would call you and you would go to them. No expensive storefront necessary in the startup stages.
Once you have some cashflow, THEN you buy the storefront.
That is bootstrapping. It builds your small business marketing muscles and ingenuity.
Ironically your comment is an example of
Posted 15 Jan 2010 at 12:00 pm ¶marketing that small businesses can do online and they wouldn’t even need a website.
Small businesses can comment on local and industry specific websites and list their google place page in the url.
My point is this: if you are a small business, start as simply (and personal) online as possible and then grow from there.
So many small business try to “look professional” by creating highly polished websites. It seems to me that they would be better off making highly personal websites. Tell your story. Showcase your staff. Engage your customers and the community. Be human.
It’s ok if it is small at the start. It’s ok if it looks unpolished and personal. You are growing and it will grow with you. And your customers will enjoy watching your story (and your success) unfold.
This sends off sirens in my head too. If Google takes over SEO efforts of small businesses that may mean that people like us loose out on the 4.5 million small businesses in America. Having my own marketing company and working closely with some web designers and developers, we’re wondering how this is going to play out. Obviously websites will not become completely obsolete but if websites are less necessary than so is the need for SEO and website based internet marketing.
Posted 17 Aug 2010 at 11:23 am ¶Hi Matt,
Thanks for commenting and I am glad that my post stuck a cord with you.
I would say yes and no to that.
We might very well miss out on a small business’s dollars at the early stages of their foray onto the web. They can do it mostly themselves.
Offerings like Google’s lowers the barrier to entry tremendously. That is a challenge AND an opportunity.
In a good number of cases these DIYers would not make decent clients anyway. They cannot afford you. At least not your seo and website development services.
But there is the opportunity to catch those clients by somehow become their “trusted adviser.” Most small businesses have no clue when it comes to the web and are (rightly) afraid of being fleeced. If internet marketers take on a “trusted adviser” role (think consulting, but with a lighter touch) and offer to guide small businesses at each stage of their journey on the web and help them get just the amount of marketing that they need at that time (no more, no less) to be successful…
(I think) Not only will people pay for that, they will love you for it.
OR, I could be completely wrong.
But those are my thoughts on it.
Posted 17 Aug 2010 at 4:11 pm ¶I agree that the best approach is to be a trusted adviser and if ” bootstrapping ” is what is called for initially for someone then that’s what should be done . If and when someone feels that they would like a website – good . Then if they wish to learn about Social Networks – good. It is all about them and their business and we need to help drive business for them . Heck try Groupon , that works real well.
Posted 26 Aug 2010 at 7:54 pm ¶Thanks for the comment Joe.
Recently I’ve been reading through Marketo.com’s Definitive Guide to Lead Nurturing and on page 4 of the ebook they say,
I don’t think I have ever heard it said any better.
Businesses definitely need to be creative and not so afraid to try things and make mistakes. Thanks for mentioning Groupon, I had heard of it before but never really looked into in. A group discount coupon site is a great idea – A win for the business (large quantity sale) and the consumers ( discount)
Posted 31 Aug 2010 at 4:58 pm ¶Trackbacks & Pingbacks 2
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