Make Money with Google Places- Step by Step Guide
Making money with Google places?… I doubt many of you know about this method. So, read on to find out a simple yet smart way to make money with Google local business places without spending a dime.
What is Google places anyway?
“Google Places allows business owners to update and manage their physical business location information. This information can be used to update their business listing so that it appears correctly within Google Maps and associated Google properties and search and Display Network sites.” That’s a direct quote from Google itself. I dont think I need to add anything else to that!
Many local businesses have already realized how important a listing on Google places can be when it comes to being found easy when customers are searching for them. So,they have a Google places listing.
However, there are hundreds of thousands of local businesses that either dont know about Google places or simply haven’t realized how Google places can help their business grow. That’s where you can come in and make some money by providing a service that any local business owner would love.
Finding unclaimed pages
Start by searching on Google by using industry specific words, like “Barber”, “Dentist”, “Chiropractor”, “Lawyer”, “Floor installer”, “Mechanic” or any other profession you can think of.
Google can automatically figure out your location. And thanks to this technology, when you hit search, it gives you a list of local merchants related to the keyword you searched for. Now, to start researching, click on the “Places” button whcih is located on the left side of the page.
Your goal is to find businesses that have not claimed their place page on Google places. To do that, click on the “Place Page” link to the right of the listing. If you see “Edit this place – Business Owner?” at the very top of the listing page, then you are in luck! That little comment basically means that that business owners doesn’t have a page on Google places. And that’s what we are looking for. Simply go through all of the listings one by one to find as many local businesses that haven’t claimed their Google places page.
Visit your newly found client
When you are done, make a list of all the local businesses that dont have a Google places listing yet. By now, you probably figured out whats next, right?…
Well, just in case you didn’t realize, we are going to visit these businesses to let them know we can claim and set up their Google places page for them for a small fee.
Don’t panic! Claiming pages on Google places is very easy and straight forward. You can use Google Places Help section to learn how to claim a page.
Show them the benefits of a Google places listing
The most important thing you need to remember is that you have to convince the business owner why and how a Google places page can help their business grow and gain more customers.
For example, let them know that these days nobody uses “Yellow Pages” to look up business phone numbers anymore. That most people use computers or “Smart Phones” to search and find local business. And since Google has already set up Google place page for mobile, they will make it easier for customers to find them.
Also, dont forget to mention that a listing on Google places is 100% free. They just have to pay you a small fee to set up their page.
You can charge anywhere from $50 to up to $400 or more for this service. The more client you do this for, the more money you can make. It truly is an easy way to make free money with Google places.
Now that is what I call a brilliant idea for making money. It’s not something I would do because I don’t like going out there talking to people I don’t know but it’s a great opportunity for a confident person to make some money.
@Sire,
Thanks for stopping by Sire and the kind words.
Yeah, I admit, its one of those methods some may not be comfortable with. But non the less, its a very simple and straight forward way of making some cash, specially in an emergency situation.
such a great idea! you can also find unclaimed facebook checkin pages for businesses too. if you have a good pitch, you can get a lot of clients using this method.
Hey Andy,
That is a good idea as well. Never though about that. I guess you could apply the same principle to many different things.
Thanks for stopping by.
This is great. I actually did something very similar a year ago or so. Worked out well. I now actually run a SEO firm where I consult with businesses, and creating a Google Local Listing Page is one of the services I offer. Works out great.
@Ben,
I am glad to hear you had success with it. Thanks for sharing your experience Ben.
Great post on ways to make money. Sometimes you need to go out and talk to people ono on one. It’s becomming a lost art.
@Bill Lawrence,
Thanks for taking time to comet Bill.
Thats true, we got so used to internet and the virtual world, that we forget there are opportunities in offline world as well.
By the way, your url pointed to online-travel-agent-opportunitiies.com (misspelling opportunities by mistake), which resulted in a not found page. Now its fixed.
Just wanted to let you know, so you dont make the mistake on other sites and end up not getting a real backlink.
this is a great idea…. gotta wonder how many of these businesses will just save the money once they realize they can do it themselves… but really brilliant.
@Kris W.,
Thank you Kris.
Well that’s part of it. But, if you dont go out and talk to them, you will never know.
I appreciate you commenting.
Hi Satrap,
What a brilliant idea.Your post just proved a point that I often tell people who complain about not being able to find a “JOB”. Dig deep enough and you will find something interesting to do and possibly be far better than a regular job.
Thank so much.
@Danica,
Thanks Danica. Exactly, sometime you just have to look a bit dipper. Opportunities are out there.
I appreciate you commenting.
That is a great idea! I would send them postcards, since visiting them is pretty time consuming. Maybe even offer them the page setup for free, then try to upsell them on a website or email list later.
@Hugh Kimura,
Well, that may work too, but I believe a face to face meeting works best for this method.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
I had this same idea about a year ago when I was working for AOL as a writer-photographer. I started marketing this service back in June. I’ve been in marketing for over thirty years, so going out and cold calling is in the blood. I offer Places and two other directories. I close about half of the presentations I give. The tough part is you have to go in 10-15 businesses in order to secure one presentation. And, if you are talking to anyone except the owner of the business, you are wasting your time! It is really tough out there right now. I’m barely earning a living at this, but it sure beats working for $8 per hour and having some middle-management punk on your ass all the time!
@Joe Smith,
I am so glad you shared your experience Joe. Thank you for that.
You are right, of course you are not gonna get a project from every single business owner you meet. But, you keep going until you get one.
Hope you are still going strong with your business.
I think when you make the approach they would kinda get the idea and do it themselves.
@Antony Pratap,
That could be said about lots of opportunities Antony. If every entrepreneur or new business had this kind of mentality, lots of fortune 500 companies wouldn’t exist today.
Thanks for commenting.
Now, that is one good step by step guide. I am amazed at how easy it is to actually use this method. Thanks for providing this step by step guide, I really mean it.
@Sam, Thanks for the kind words Sam.
It truly is easy. It just takes courage and taking action.
Thanks for commenting.
I don’t have a website yet. I have to say that I have been trying for a long time to make a living on line, due to my situation at home. You see I live in Tennessee in the middle of nowhere, I must say its beautiful but jobs really are scar
ce, and with the economy the way it is it sure does not help! I have been doing surveys for cash and have not got a penny yet, of course you must have to do surveys for a year probably, well anyways, I thought maybe someone could help me with a real on line job, most of them want money before you make money! What’s up with that?
How about a job assembling products from home? Hey I will do anything that is real and not scams.
Thanks
@laura fredericks, the problem with assembling stuff from home is that there is very definitely a limit on how much you are ever going to learn – as opposed to websites that are theoretically boundless.
@laura fredericks,
I am so sorry about your situation Laura. Have you tried freelance work?…
There are a few good ways to make money online without a website. Here is a post I wrote a while back about a few ways to make money with no website:
8 Easy Ways to Make Money Online Without A Website
I hope it will be helpful. Good luck and please do keep us updates.
I appreciate your post a lot highlighting on the ways to make money. Sometimes you need to go out and talk to people ono on one. It is really a brilliant idea and I agree in you that it’s not something we would do because we don’t like going out there talking to people we don’t know but it’s a great opportunity for a confident person to make some money.
@Jane,
You are welcome Jane. I am glad you find the post helpful.
Thanks for commenting.
I have claimed my own event photographer place page on google and did it for the benefits of SEO. Its a great idea to help businesses to claim their own page- I suppose you run the risk that they might go on to do it on their own, but its a small risk as they should go with you as you have the experience of the process.
Congrats on claiming your place Grant.
Yeah, but that could be said about lots of business opportunities. You have to take your chances.
Thanks for commenting.
Hi Satrap!
This is a really great idea. There are so many small businesses in my area without an online presence and this would give me an opportunity to tap into some extra cash. :)
@Carla Easley,
Thanks for the kind words Carla. Yeah, does provide a great opportunity for making some quick cash and also helps you build relationship for any future projects.
I appreciate you taking time to leave your comment.
Am going to put this to work now. Lets see how much i can make from it.
Thanks for sharing this method.
Best of luck to you. Let me know how it goes.
I am a business honor. I was trying for Google places for few days. But I didn’t know about it. So may be your step by step guide could help me. I want to try it now.
Portable Amplified Speaker
I hope this guide helps you set up your Google place.
Wow, that sounds like a great way to make money! How come nobody else seems to be doing that? I would guess you have to have some sales ability, just to convince owners that it’s a real solution to their problems or whatever. Thinks it is very worth it though!
Well Derek, as a matter of fact some people are doing it! Yes, of course some “sales ability” would help, but with the right attitude and commitment, anyone can do this and make some money.
Thanks for taking time to comment Derek.
I haven’t really thought about this. It’s amazing how negligible knowledge can make one some cool cash.
Surely some good marketing skills will not hurt to close more deals.
Thanks for sharing.
This would go under offline marketing, which is almost competition free.
Anyway, nice tips.
Yeah, it is an offline marketing method that is tied to online marketing. Thanks for your comment Eugene.