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How To Enable Google Places
Google Places is Google’s version of a local business directory. Listings appear in Google search results under Places, with pins that locate businesses on a Google map. Google Places is excellent for online marketing because it’s a free and easy tool that boosts your website’s SEO and increases your chances of getting found online.
Unfortunately, what’s not easy about Google Places (as I recently found out) is figuring out how to enable it on your Google Apps account. Through trial and error here are the steps I took to enable Google Places on one of our clients’ Google Apps Account.
How to Enable Google Places on Your Google Apps Account
If Google Places isn’t enabled on your Google Apps Account, you’ll get the message: “This Service is Not Available. Google Places is not available for [your domain name].”
To fix this, you need to go to the Google Apps administrator control panel: https://www.google.com/a/cpanel/your-domain-name.com (your primary domain name is the domain name you used to sign up for Google Apps).
Go into the Organizations & users tab and click on the Services tab.
You’ll see a list of the core Google Apps services that are already enabled (Gmail, Google Calendar, etc.). Scroll down to the Other Google Services section and look for Google Places. Click “On” to enable.
Next, go to http://www.google.com/places/ and follow the directions to set up your Google Places account.
For more help on using Google Places, read Inc.com’s How to Market Your Business Using Google Places.
Filed under: • Online Marketing Tips • Search Marketing (SEO, Paid Search) | Permalink
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I also found this out the hard way Crissy. Eventually I figured everything out and was able to set up Google Places. This process is well worth the effort as Google Places can really help to drive traffic to your site and revenue to your business. I’ve seen a dramatic increase in local traffic, which has lead to great numbers so far for 2011.
Sometimes getting bulk listings verified is a bit of an issue. I’ve been trying for a few weeks to get 15 business listings approved and Google is still dragging their feet. But enabling it is fairly simple once approved.
I heard of google places but I didn’t realize it has become a powerful tool, not just for location but for SEO as well. Already have a google Apps account so I’ll see if I can get it to work from your tips, thanks.
I’m a little confused here. I’ve been using Google Places for years and I’ve never had to “enable” Google Places, nor have I ever had a Google Apps account.
What are the benefits of using this process as opposed to just going to Google Places and submitting your business information?
Hi Len,
These instructions are for Google Apps users. If you use Google Apps, you want to make sure that you set up Google Places through your Google Apps account so that all of your Google products are connected.
If you don’t use Google Apps, you can just go to Google Places and submit your business info.
Cheers,
Crissy
It might not have been so obvious for those who are older than the computer generation. So thanks for sharing, was useful!