How to improve local searches for your website

Add your business to Google's Local Business Centre

Millions of people search Google every day, looking for businesses. By registering on Google's "Local Business Centre", when potential customers search for local information, they'll find your business: your address, hours of operation, even photos of your storefront or products.

Before you can register your business you need to have a Google account. If you don't have one, it's easy to set one up. Just go to https://www.google.com/accounts and click on "create an account now". Enter your email address and a password.

Once you've registered/logged in, go to http://maps.google.com/. Follow the link to put your business on Google Maps.

Enter details into each of the fields. The map on the right should update to correctly show your location. If the marker is not in the correct place, click on "Fix incorrect marker location". Using your mouse, drag the marker to the correct location and click on the "Save Changes" button. Once you've filled in all the details, click on "Next".

The next page checks if their are any existing businesses that already exist on Google Maps. We'll assume that your business does not match an existing listing, so now click on "Add Listing".

On the next page you can enter some more details about your business. These details are optional and can be amended in the future. In the category box, enter a category that best fits your business. As you type, suggestions appear for possible categories. Next, enter your opening times, if this is relevant for your business. Fill in the other fields if required, the choice is yours. Click "Submit" when finished.

The final stage is to validate you listing. You can choose how Google will contact you to confirm the details you have entered (phone, text message or postcard). When done, click on "Finish".

Once your entry is validated it will appear on Google Maps and also in local searches related to your business. If you need to edit your entry you can do so easily by logging in to your Google Account, going to the Local Business Centre and clicking on "Edit" next to your listing.