Google announced today that its “Get Your Business Online” (GYBO.com) initiative is expanding to a city-by-city program with the slogan, “Let’s Put Our Cities on the Map.” The GYBO.com URL that previously re-directed a user to a statewide message, now redirects users to a version that features the name of the community of the user. And rather than focusing the resources of Get Your Business Online on a wide array of services, the new focus is on the importance of having a completed listing on Google maps.

Upon the first click, the business owner is greeted with Google’s powerful “geolocation” technology as he or she encounters local messaging (30,000 different cities and towns are included in the program).

For example, if a user is in the town of Abbeville, Alabama (the first town in the alphabet of the first state in the alphabet), the message is, “Let’s Put Abbeville on the Map.” Google uses other data to generate local messages like how many local businesses are listed on Google Maps.

google maps gif

How important is this to Google? As we’ve shared before (including a how-to for listing your business on Google), the long tail of local businesses represent a major segment of Google’s advertisers (national brands being the other). Seeing threats from Yelp and TripAdvisor.com (and Facebook) for local advertising budgets, Google knows it can’t stand back and watch that marketplace erode.

So it commissioned research that shows the power of filling out the complete business listing (PDF). Findings included:

  • Four out of five people use search engines to find local information, like business hours and addresses.
  • Businesses with complete listings are twice as likely to be considered reputable by customers.
  • Consumers are 38 percent more likely to visit and 29 percent more likely to consider purchasing from businesses with complete listings.
  • Only 37 percent of businesses have claimed a local business listing on a search engine.

“If we want to help every business in the U.S., we need to reach businesses where they are,” said Soo Young Kim, Head of Marketing, Get Your Business Online.

Another part of the strategy is to form partnerships with local organizations—like chambers and small business development centers—and equipping them with free trainings and customized city materials to run workshops. “These local partners know the challenges for local businesses more than anyone—and they recognize the value of getting businesses online,” Soo Young Kim said.


On the SmallBusiness.com/WIKI, visit our project called SmallBusiness.com Local Resources WIKI, where you can find information on 20,000+ communities, including Abbeville, Alabama.

Related Articles

5
Visit Your Google My Business Account Regularly or Risk it Becoming Unverified

Regularly log into your Google My Business account to confirm that your business information is current and accurate.

6
Updated Android, iOS Google Maps Street View App Let’s You Shoot, Upload 360-degree Business Interior Photos (Review)

Google Maps Street View app makes it easy to create interior or exterior 360 degree photos of a business. And uploading it to Google Maps is a snap.

7
Google Promotes Power of Photos for Small Business Online Holiday Marketing

To help small businesses spruce up their online presence, Google has created a special version of its local-marketing hub.

8
How to Update Your Google Business Listing Directly on the Search Results Page

You can now edit your Google business listing directly on the desktop and mobile versions of the information preview boxes found on a Google search results page. Here’s how.

9
Alert: Fake Locksmiths Using Google Listings to Scam Customers, Harm Legitimate Small Businesses | 2016

Sophisticated scams using thousands of fake Google small business listings are conning customers and driving them away from legitimate small businesses.

10
Provide Your Website Visitors What They Want The Most: Answers

Google knows people don’t want a search engine, they want an answer machine.

11
Google Maps Tweaks Design, Adds Business Photo Carousel | 2016

A cleaner look and more information about your business.

12
4 Things Google Wants You To Know About Mobile Advertising | 2016

Even when Google is promoting itself, it’s worth paying attention if what they are saying is directed at small, local merchants.

13
The Eight Top Customer Complaints About Local Merchants | 2016

Handling customer complaints is one of those areas where most local businesses drop the ball.

14
Google+ Data Exits Google My Business Dashboard, Replaced With Data from Search, Maps Listings | 2016

Google adds more data on how people find your Google business listing

15
Google Rolls Out Anti-Interstitial Penalty | 2017

Announced last year, Google starts penalizing interstitial ad

16
How to Get a ‘Temporarily Closed’ Message on Your Google Business Listing | February 2017

Help for those who need a seasonal “temporarily closed” tag on your Google business listing.

17
Google’s App Can Tap Customers Straight to Your Business | 2017

Another reason to make sure your Google business page is up to date.

18
Google’s Mobile App Gets Personal, Local | 2017

Google’s mobile app uses information like location and previous preferences in providing search results.

19
How to Add More Information-Specific URLs to Your Google Listings | 2017

Google listings now offer your business the ability to have multiple links for setting up an appointment, reserving a table, placing an order, etc.

20
How to Manage Your Business Listing Without Leaving Google Search

Now you don’t have to use Google My Business to update your listing.

21
How to Display Special Holiday Hours on Your Yelp and Google Business Listings

Anytime you have a change in date or time, be sure to update your Yelp or Google business listings.

22
On its 20th Anniversary, What Google Sees in the Future of Search

In a celebration of Google’s 20th anniversary, it announced its “next chapter” is driven by three fundamental shifts

23
Google is Shutting Down the Consumer Version of Google+, What You Should Know

Be sure not to confuse you Google+ profile with your Google business listing.

24
Google Search Adds More Tools to Ease Business Profiles, Location Updates

Create posts, reply to reviews, add photos and update business information right from Google Search and Maps.