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Free Advertising on Google

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Many small businesses do not know that you can get some free advertising on Google, using Google Local or Google Maps.  Google is looking to increase the value of their local search and their mapping application, so they have a simple way for you to tell them some information about your business, and now they are infusing those results into their main search engine.  It is basically a way to advertise your business on Google for free, and everyone loves a free advertisement.  This will help your advertisement show up in searches and can help you get more traffic, leads and customers.  For example, a Boston volunteer organization I work with called the Boston Scholars Program is currently listed at the TOP of the Google search results for searches like "volunteer in boston", "volunteer boston ma", and "volunteer boston, ma".  See the image below.


boston_scholars_google_volunteer


How to Get Free Advertising on Google

Things You Need Before Starting Your Free Advertisement

  • A description of your business
  • Your phone number, address and any other contact info you want to advertise
  • A logo or image that represents your business (some people use a picture of their office, store or restaurant)
  • A coupon or special offer you want to advertise (Google also lets you add a coupon for FREE if you want)

Step-by-Step Guide to Free Google Advertisement 

  1. Go to www.google.com/local and search for your business to verify it is not yet listed with an advertisement.
  2. Go back to www.google.com/local and click on Add/Edit Your Business at the bottom left part of the page.  (See image below.)

    add your business to google marketing  
  3. Follow the steps provided by Google.  They are pretty simple and straightforward.  As part of the process you will need to verify your business either by phone or mail.
  4. Check back in a few weeks with Google and verify your listing.  If you want to update it, you can use the same process outlined here to update your listing.  See image below of the advertisement for the Boston Scholars Program including details and logo. 

    volunteer boston scholars listing in google

    Have you found any free Internet marketing tricks?  Have you advertised your business on Google?  Leave a comment and let me know.

Posted by Mike Volpe on Wed, Jun 13, 2007 @ 11:44 AM

COMMENTS

Holy crap that is cool. Combine that with a free disposable cell phone number, http://numbr.com I will soon be #1 on Google for what I want. Done!

posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 2:11 PM by nate


Mike,

This is a fantastic piece and I will post a link up from http://www.clickbrain.com my web marketing blog. Thanks for the info and great work on the site.

Brad

posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 3:24 PM by Brad Nickel


Thanks for the tip! I just added my company's listing. I had just posted about the AdWords geotargeted "advertise on maps" option for advertisers last week, and updated my post with a link to your useful info here on this blog! http://www.adapt.com/blog/2007/06/04/advertising-on-google-maps/

posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 4:59 PM by Erica Forrette


Thank for the useful tips, every little things you did is a million help for others

posted on Wednesday, June 13, 2007 at 11:32 PM by B.D. Joenoes


brilliant idea mike. every time i visit the small business hub there is something new and interesting .. i love the content here

posted on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at 9:12 AM by Amit Desai


Hi,

Thanks for the excellent info.

- J

posted on Monday, June 25, 2007 at 1:46 AM by Julie


Thanx for the useful tips.This is a great work on the site.

posted on Tuesday, June 26, 2007 at 6:58 AM by Sukhdarshan Sekhon


Where in the world would small business be without the internet. The exchange of tips and ideas is priceless. We are all busy, but to take the time to share is truly american. Thanks Again!

posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 4:13 PM by Tara


Thanks for the info. Hope this helps us grow.

posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at 11:40 PM by Travis Register


Thanks for you tips. Theycan help anyone who is derious about starting and growing a business. Keep those good tips coming.

posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 at 12:42 PM by Fannie Butler


Thank you so much. Anything for free, Ill take it.

posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2007 at 4:59 PM by TPN WEB DESIGN INC.


Many thanks for the tip - will look for the NZ equivalent and post our site http:\\www.constructiondisputeservices.co.nz

posted on Tuesday, July 03, 2007 at 10:32 PM by Construction Dispute Services


help, im very new at this, i have my buisness listed on google local but desperately want to get in the top 3 listed on the map ( i don't mind paying) i just can't seem to work out how to do it, please could someone cantact me if you have any ideas, many thanks.

posted on Wednesday, July 04, 2007 at 10:13 AM by shelly


Shelly - It is hard to get listed in the top 3, and it depends on the search terms a lot. If you are interested, check out www.hubspot.com , it has a lot of tools for search engine optimization and keyword selection. There is a link to request a demo on the website. Also, you might get some info from the free tool at www.websitegrader.com

posted on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 12:54 AM by


Thank you for the great advise. Unfortunately this option is not available to anyone in Asia. I was just wondering if anyone new of a similar option for Asian countries.

posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 at 10:25 AM by Chelsey


Great tip! I provide free classified ads space for monthly parking in North America http://www.parkinghunter.com The service is based on google maps. I am curious to see how beneficial this will be.

posted on Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 12:37 PM by Parking Hunter


Great advice! I would urge all small- to mid-size businesses to take advantage of these free tools. Taking advantage of other sites that focus on listings (as well as ratings and reviews) is also something more businesses need to focus on. If you haven’t heard of us, Kudzu.com is a local business search engine that connects ready-to-buy consumers with local businesses. We’re in the process of expanding nationwide (we originally launched as an Atlanta site, then expanded to a few additional markets last year), and we’re offering FREE Premium-level online profiles (a $900 value) for small service businesses in these new markets…through 2008. A Premium Profile lets small businesses provide detailed marketing information, web site links, email links, photos, videos, special deals, and more, about their business to their local target market. We also allow customers the ability to rate and review businesses, making the site a trusted source of local service pro information. This special expansion offer is FREE through 2008 for any business owner who lists his or her business at http://free.kudzu.com by December 31st, 2007. The faster business owners sign up, the more time they get to advertise their business for free to ready-to-buy consumers who are actively searching for their service. Also, unlike many directory sites, our merchants don't just list their phone numbers — which is still free, by the way — they're able to tell their story in real detail. In-depth information about the services they provide. Photo galleries of notable jobs they've performed. Deals they offer. Their credentials. Even video. Whatever helps them connect to more customers. All the information a business needs to create their free Premium Profile can be found at: http://free.kudzu.com

posted on Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 4:15 PM by Ed Murray


If a business in only an online store how can it be listed in a local listing on google for free?

posted on Thursday, November 29, 2007 at 1:32 PM by Eleanor


That's an excellent article. It's interesting how although most people used Google local, few thought to list themselves :)

posted on Monday, December 10, 2007 at 12:26 PM by Indelible Bonobo


This is so cool! Thanks for the great tip. We're going to add http://www.BestWebsite.com, be sure to visit for step-by-step instructions to building profitable websites.

posted on Tuesday, January 08, 2008 at 10:42 PM by BestWebsite


I have a website and i need to advertise to get traffic to my site please let me know what to do

posted on Wednesday, January 09, 2008 at 4:37 PM by Robertta Reck


i would to say thank you for your advise

posted on Friday, January 11, 2008 at 7:45 AM by Maki Mdlalose


Thank you for the great advise. greets from germany!

posted on Saturday, January 12, 2008 at 10:07 PM by schiffsbeteiligungen


How do I advertise for free nationwide/worldwide on google???

posted on Sunday, January 13, 2008 at 3:55 PM by RD


Great! Thanks sooo much.

posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 at 2:09 PM by Alex


Great information. Thanks!

posted on Friday, January 18, 2008 at 10:40 PM by Betterbizbuilders


hello does anyone no how i can advertise for free over the net to buy peoples old mobile phones
cheers

posted on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at 4:52 AM by daiel


Very good article indeed!!
http://www.freshmedia.gr

posted on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 5:47 AM by masmax


Wow, what a great idea. Everytime that I come to this site, it is full of great ideas. Keep up the great work.
Michael J. Fitzgerald, CPA/PFS, CFP, MST
100% Retirement Income Replacement Strategies
http://www.fitzfp-llc.com will get posted there.

posted on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 1:41 PM by Michael J. Fitzgerald, CPA/PFS, CFP, MST


Congratulation!!
Fantastic blog and website, they are really serious and effective. Thank you for this article.
We have just begun to inform our customers to the Google Local Business Center.

posted on Tuesday, February 05, 2008 at 3:09 PM by Diseño Web Barcelona


I was wondering if there were some inexpensive or Free ways of advertising my website www.ReplicasRock.com on Google.

posted on Monday, February 18, 2008 at 1:38 PM by Clover's Jewelry


i want to do free advertising in google

posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 11:38 AM by hadi


I would like to put a add in for Comercil Cleaning.I live in Falkville,Alabama (256-784-9424)

posted on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 6:06 PM by Donald Eason


Wow this is cool. Wish I had found your blog earlier, better late than never, thanks for the tip!

posted on Sunday, February 24, 2008 at 8:18 AM by Ten


Your article leaves out yet another interesting aspect of Google Maps and their free advertising: REVIEWS from various UGC sites are being crawled by Google and compiled into the Google Maps listing. For an example of this phenomena--- Google the words "Sacramento DJs"

posted on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 at 6:06 PM by Sacramento Wedding DJs


OMG! this place is the newbie's paradise. I just love all the practical tips. Once implemented I get to see results fast. Woo hoo.

posted on Friday, March 14, 2008 at 5:43 PM by Scrapbook Freek


awesome trick...dude i was already in the google's listing on the second...now i will be the topper

posted on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 at 3:27 AM by Sanaur


Pretty cool! Thanks for sharing this information.

posted on Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 7:29 PM by Janice Gentles-Jones


Great resource for the small businesses out there, thank you for sharing will pass it on to othres

posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2008 at 12:44 AM by Albert


Excellent idea for advertising, this is very good, check out my website and move towards your goals.

posted on Monday, April 28, 2008 at 7:46 PM by Aldemac


is this the best place to advertise?new shop in Waterford selling Celtic jewellery,body jewellery alternative clothes @ gifts galore.

posted on Monday, May 05, 2008 at 10:52 AM by www.blackwidow.ie


A+++ Great stuff!! Another good article!!

posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 at 2:20 AM by Lowline


Need tips on how to market new business on the web Gift shop in Waterford, Southern Ireland

posted on Tuesday, May 06, 2008 at 12:20 PM by www.blackwidow.ie


Some good info. Thanks.

posted on Monday, May 12, 2008 at 1:52 AM by Railroad Locks


Such a good info for newbie and me...

posted on Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 11:53 AM by shy guy


Thank you so much for this info. It's wonderful that you guys are out there helping so many with their businesses, especially as a newcomer! Any additional help out there would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

posted on Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at 2:55 PM by Cara


Great idea.. but what would you do if you don't have an actual location.. just a website? Are there other effective free ways to get traffic to your site?

posted on Saturday, May 31, 2008 at 4:05 PM by Althea


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posted on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 at 1:41 AM by Jim Cobb


thanks for nice tricks! my sister will love it.

posted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 4:20 AM by Travel Directory


does any one can tell me how to put free advertise on google plz

posted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 11:40 AM by salim


Lawyer Since 1980 drafting Wills, Real Estate services, title insurance agent, traffic court, etc.
Practicing in Evanston, Il and Northshore.

posted on Monday, June 23, 2008 at 11:08 PM by Robert Pantoga, Esq.


Greetings from Japan! Thanks for a really useful and informative post.  

posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 9:01 AM by David Hurley


Im a stay at home mum,and oh my gosh i must have the most boring site..he..he..any advice on how to spark it up...and thanks guys for all your comments,it really shows im not the only one who doesnt know how to use computers...ill give anything a go...what have i got to loose,right.Have a look at my site and if you can...please give me some advice on how to get advertise for free,thanks guys...I hope you do well...bless ya

posted on Thursday, June 26, 2008 at 9:40 AM by naomi


You don't need any magic or code to make money with Google, but there is a useful formula mentioned in one ebook, which is called S.T.A.R. It probably won't mean anything to you right now, but if you read the <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/google-nemisis-review">google nemesis</a>, it very briefly explains you every step that you need to take to reach your goals. 

posted on Thursday, July 03, 2008 at 6:11 PM by RonBaker


CLASSIC 1959 FORD CONSUL 
 
FOR HIRE

posted on Saturday, July 05, 2008 at 8:23 AM by mark bellsham


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