Yesterday, Google announced that it added a few new features to its Local Business Center, allowing businesses to enter custom information that shows up on Google Maps. 

Here are just some of the innovations.  Businesses now can

• Add logos or other relevant photos to your company listing,
• Specify custom attributes that further describe your business,
• See how often your listing was viewed in the maps.

Simply put: go to the Google Local Business Center and get listed.  Even if you don’t have a web site, this one is a no-brainer.

With all this talk about Search engine optimization and search engine marketing (SEO & PPC as they’re otherwise called), it’s sometimes easy to overlook the basics. 

Successful Internet Marketing can be summed up with three Bees:

• Be Found:  In Search Engines or otherwise, when people either search for your products and services, or when they are reading about them on related sites.
• Be Convincing: Once visitors arrive on your site, make sure that they don’t just hit the back button.  You want them to take action.  Before you even design your site, consider your target audience: who are they, what do they want, what makes you compelling.  And then make sure that your site architecture aligns, and that call to actions are obvious.
• Be Analytical: I’m always amazed at how many web site owners don’t measure what’s going on.  One of the main benefits of Internet Marketing tactics is the simple fact that you can measure just about everything.  It doesn’t have to be complicated!  You can do Web Analytics in an Hour a Day

BTW – Be Found, Be Convincing, Be Analytical™ happens to be the extended tagline of SearchingWorks Inc. 

Coincidence?  I think not ;->