Google Adds Bells & Whistles to Mobile Apps – Are You Location Optimized?
Google announced yesterday that it’s rolling out two new features for their mobile iPhone app.
It’s actually a pretty cut & dry announcement:
- The Latitude iPhone app now includes the ability to “check-in” at local businesses.
- Google Places are now in 30 different languages.
The announcement is simple – and so are the implications for businesses trying to figure out web marketing in Baltimore and any other metro area in the US. Google is the go-to source for finding businesses & services. Think of it like the phone book, except this is a phone book that you can search, carry in your pocket, read & leave reviews, and interact in new ways. Facebook might still be running circles around Google when it comes to social media, but Google’s had Google Maps for a long time, and it’s starting to learn how to leverage business listings in better ways.
Still not sure what this means for your business? The bottom line is that this is a new kind of SEO. Your web site needs to be designed & developed for top listings in Google Search results to be found by likely customers – we knew that already. But you also need to be found in searches of Google Places, found on Google Latitude, etc. Is your web listing optimized? These users have cash in hand; they’re ready to buy. But are they finding you, or checking in with your competition?