Google is going to give preference when the exact term appears in the name and/or web site. So, it seems they have “backup generator” in their text. Perhaps the business you’re trying to help does not? You can add to the business listing with a better description, etc. and that may help a bit. Give me the client name/URL and I can take a look. Feel free to post it here or email me at the contact info above.

Eric

EX. Google search: generators silver spring md

http://www.google.com/search?q=generators+silver+spring+md&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Is there a way of tagging key words for the local listings? I’m not seeing that. Confused?

Can you explain how one business can come up as the ONLY listing under Google in terms of the “local business” in multiple cities? How is this happening? As I know you’ll need an example, please see links below:

Search under Google for: Backup Generators McLean Va

http://www.google.com/search?q=backup+generators+mclean+va&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Search under Google for: Backup Generators Great Falls Va

http://www.google.com/search?q=backup+generators+great+falls+va&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

ditto for: Backup Generators Silver Spring Md

http://www.google.com/search?q=backup+generators+silver+spring+md&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

I’m trying to help a competitor of this business, and he’s in a city that’s closer to Silver Spring Md for sure. But as you can see, the business listed – Kinzi – is not in the cities searched for but under those search terms he’s the ONLY one coming up??

So, how does another business combat this positioning? How can they get listed there too?

Regards,

Mark

Thanks for sharing this example. I consult with clients on a regular basis on the importance of claiming their local business listing – not just on Google, but on Yahoo, MSN and everywhere possible. I often explain the concept of “listing hijacking” and I get met with disbelief.

DirectSolo.com is a link to help any business claim a universal business listing for only $30.00/yr. The service is a no-brainer because you spend the same time that you spent on claiming your Gmap listing but now you get your data submitted to Google and roughly 50 other directories, search engines, internet yellow pages, GPS etc.

It also allows a business to affect some consistency in how their data is presented all over the web. It benefits a business to be consistent with it’s name, phone number, business address etc. Your public business data is being shared by many of these directories and it’s crucial to get control of these data records. Google for instance pulls a lot of it’s data from InfoUSA. So if data is wrong in one place, it can be pulled and served in many different places – incorrectly.

If you have ANY listings out there that you have not claimed, then those listings may not be accurate (ie old phone numbers, wrong business name, incomplete address) or worse, they may have been hijacked by spammers. Your story is a good illustration of a legitimate listing gone awry.

Claiming your listings is also an opportunity to be found more often, by more people, in more places and by more mediums (think smart phones!) Do a good job and you will establish a much wider and deeper footprint for your business in terms of how searchers can find you.

And people are now searching more than 2/3 of the time online looking for product and business information that they are interested in buying locally. Not all of the search resources used are Google – many other local search engines and directories can be a very valuable – and free – source of new local visitors for your enterprise.

Thanks for this story Eric, I will share it with my clients!

Cheers
–Wilf

Btw – I just followed you on twitter too