Why You Want to Claim Your Business on Google Maps: An Object Lesson
February 9th, 2012 by
Recently, I decided that life would be simpler if I got a Mohawk — but a nice Mohawk, one carefully mown and primped into shape by a professional. I looked up my options with Google maps. This way, I could see where the salon my friend recommended me was located, how far it was out of my daily route, and what other closer options were. Google Maps gave me a pincushion map of the New Orleans area, and I started browsing each salon along my route from work to home.
Some listings had scant information and required me to turn to a Yelp page for the pertinent information. It’s not a huge inconvenience, but really, there aren’t many reasons you shouldn’t claim your business on Google Maps and fix up the listing with all the basic information. Most people turn to this tool for directions from point A to point B, and many take it for granted that whatever they need to find in the world will somehow be notated accurately on there already.
For example, Osama Bin Laden’s Hideout got its own little thumbtack on Google Maps’ canvas almost instantly its location was revealed to the public (yes, Google finds everything). Its corresponding Places page, though not a business, has acted as the Internet’s gathering point to gaze upon the building in question and post roughly 1600 snarky reviews about its interior and past owner.
However, if Osama’s hideout had been a business of inviting snipers to give their best go at him, he would have had a tough time getting any visitors to his locale. Here is a side-by-side comparison of what his location tag looks like compared to a bonafide business listing.
Three things to note. First, Osama’s hideout does not have his street address listed. This would make (and did) him very hard to find. Second, he has no contact information. How would potential customers ever know his business hours or rates? They can’t even visit his website, since that is the third thing he does not have listed.
If Osama had felt like optimizing his search results, he would have probably endeavored to go through the admittedly involved process of claiming his business on Google Maps. The effort is worth it, since most people looking for a business will inevitably want to know your location and get driving directions. Might as well make it convenient for your potential clients before they even set foot through the door.
Hannah,
That’s a really interesting comparison between Osama’s hideout and an actual business, but you are missing a few notable facts.
Without entering into discussion on the reasons why the US would invade other countries, I would like to focus on the reasons why a listing like Osama’s Hideout might not give you all the information you request for:
1) If the listing is not claimed, the problem is not Osama’s. It’s Google’s because it posts business information on their property without the knowledge and the agreement of the business owner. They do not even notify the business owner that their information would be displayed there. So… maybe Osama just doesn’t know he has this listing on Google Maps?
2) Imagine that Osama doesn’t want to actually have a listing on Google Maps. There is no opt-out program for that. Even if Osama is already out of business, somewhere in Southern Argentina, this listing for his business in Pakistan will still be displayed. If he decides to delete it, it would pop up again, unless he deletes all the information from his business at that ex-location.
3) Let’s say Osama decided to claim his listing. Maybe he doesn’t serve potential clients at that location, because he travels to their location (say, the United States, although as far as I know he has never been there personally). Maybe it’s his home location, but he is still forced to put it on Google Maps, because the verification process is by postcard only and Google does not accept PO boxes. Then his only chance would be to hide his address once his listing is verified and to set a service area. But wait, Google does not currently display the service area even if the business designated it.
4) OK, Osama claimed his listing and hid his address. He decided to set the working hours, mostly because of the time difference Pakistan – USA. But wait, Google does not display the working hours in many occasions even if you set them.
Final question: who is the bad guy? Osama or Google? 😉