{"id":719,"date":"2011-09-12T01:41:13","date_gmt":"2011-09-12T01:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rojaweb.com\/?p=719"},"modified":"2011-09-12T01:41:13","modified_gmt":"2011-09-12T01:41:13","slug":"google-places-optimization-tip-is-your-business-closed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rojaweb.com\/google-places-optimization-tip-is-your-business-closed\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Places Optimization Tip: Is Your Business Closed?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Jason Rule, who owns and operates Coffee Rules Lounge<\/a>, a coffee shop in Hays, Kansas, was surprised when he learned about the news that his business was listed for a few days as \u201cpermanently closed\u201d on Google Maps. This happened in the middle of August.<\/p>\n In reality, the business is still very much alive and operating in the area. Unfortunately, within that period, those searching for products which they offer, a latte for instance, would have thought that the shop was no more. Since they are not far from Interstate 70, Mr. Rule was sure that many people running up and down had skipped their place.<\/p>\n <\/a>This is also true for other healthy businesses running across the country, which in recent months have expired for hours and at other instances, for weeks within Google Places. They were marked either as \u201creportedly closed\u201d and when a certain number of users clicked on it, will eventually be marked \u201cpermanently closed\u201d. This happens primarily because of how surprisingly easy it is to report a business as \u201cclosed\u201d in Google Places<\/a>, the search giant\u2019s concept of the local Yellow Pages.<\/p>\n The typical listing on Google Places includes the address of a business, a description supplied by the owner and links to reviews, photos and Google Maps. There\u2019s also a section that says “Report a problem” wherein one of the problems to report is \u201cthis place is permanently closed\u201d. The business will be labeled \u201creportedly closed\u201d after it is clicked on for a certain number of instances which will eventually be “permanently closed” after Google\u2019s review. Google remains silent about the review methods they use.<\/p>\n Bing Local<\/a>, Google Places’<\/a> rival, also allows users to report the same problem. But since both are still in no fair share of the search giant\u2019s traffic, they are still a place away from the problems encountered by a growing number of businesses.<\/p>\n At present, Google Places has millions of listings and the site was designed to be interactive.\u00a0 Thus, when owners close without updating their profile, the customers are permitted to keep the information current. However, with this open-source system, there\u2019s a big possibility for abuse. According to search engine consultants, \u201cclosing\u201d a business in the online marketplace is becoming a common technique of wayward competitors.<\/p>\n This problem is also a running issue in online forums, according to Linda Buquet of Catalyst eMarketing<\/a> in California. Google Places Optimization is becoming a growing concern of businesses. In Google Forums alone, dozens of postings are about asking for help with \u201cpermanent closings.\u201d<\/p>\n Nobody is sure about the extent of this problem, but it could possibly represent a fraction of productive businesses that have been cyber-padlocked. Search consultants further said that many owners have no idea that they\u2019ve been shut down online, and others simply fix this issue on their own.<\/p>\n Google said that they are aware of this and they\u2019re working on some changes, which will be implemented in the coming days, to solve incorrect labeling. Their spokesman said that they know how important accurate listings are for business owners.<\/p>\n