Google Places – Will it replace White and Yellow Pages?

Posted by admin on Mar 15, 2011 in Online Marketing | 0 comments

Google continues to stamp it’s authority on local business marketing. The release of free Google Places listings for businesses has shaken up the world of free business listing directories such as the White and Yellow Pages.

Google Places listings include:

• Business address/s
• Telephone contact details
• Website URL listing
• Email address listing
• Google Map inclusion
• Company Description
• Payment Types,
• Business Categories

Not to mention, a section for other information that can be used for any sort of additional business information. This is quite a comprehensive list of inclusions for a FREE listing, especially when compared to Yellow Pages, who charge for anything more than a company name, address and phone number.

You Google Places listing is automatically placed on a Google Map and is searchable by your selected listing category. With Google Maps becoming a force in street directories, in-car navigation systems and mobile phone mapping systems, your free listing is bound to market your business name, services and location to the general public.

Best of all, it is not compulsory to have a website when creating a listing in the Google Places directory. This is a massive bonus for those smaller companies who don’t see any benefit in having a web presence, yet they want to be found in the most popular business directories.

The repercussions of the free Google Places business directory will be huge, not only will small businesses get more exposure, the expensive directory services such as Yellow Pages will surely have to re-assess their pricing structures and offer more cost effective listings for small businesses. The world of online advertising is quickly overwhelming print advertising and corporations like Google are definitely ruffling the feathers of traditional print advertising directories.