Jelly Blog

If you have a brick and mortar business, you could be missing out on a free Google service that could bring many new visitors to your site. It's called Google Local and takes only minutes to set up at http://www.google.com/local/add. Try doing a search that is geographically targeted (for example, restaurants or movie times in your neighborhood), and you'll notice that in addition to the usual results, a map shows up, peppered with businesses in the area that match your search. And if you click on the "more info" link for a specific business, you'll be taken to a detail page just for that business, complete with information gathered from its website. Chances are that you are already listed and will come up on the map even if you never did anything in the first place. That's because Google recognizes businesses that have an address and automatically compile this handy detail page based on the content of your website. But even if it already exists, you can "claim" it as yours to update and enhance the info being displayed. In order to verify that you actually own the business at the address, they will mail a PIN to the address, which you then use to complete the verification process. Once verified, you can edit items such as your store hours, credit cards accepted, add photos, create coupons, add videos and more--all for free. The whole setup process just takes minutes to do, and can increase your exposure on the Web.