What does Google’s Favorite Places mean for your small business?

Window shopping is the practice of the discerning shopper trying to find the best possible deal or trying to make the most informed purchase. The Internet has made “window shopping” even easier through our ability to quickly compare prices between different online stores and find information about companies and products. Google is now improving the process of actual window shopping through Favorite Places on Google.

Based upon the amount of searches through Google's Local Business Center and Google Maps, Google has designated over 100,000 local businesses throughout the US as Favorite Places. Each of these locations will get a sticker which includes a unique bar code (QR code) which can be read by mobile devices. When scanned you will be taken directly to that business Place Page. In other words, potential customers see the sticker, take a picture with their phone, and have instant access (through Google) to information about the business.

What does this mean for your business?

If you are not currently a part of Google's Local Business Center you should be. It is a free service that can be a great way to advertise your business locally. Your Place Page can have information about your business, pictures of your business or products, reviews from customers, links to your actual website, and more information that can help bring a window shopper through the front door.

If you are using Google's Local Business Center you should keep your information updated and encourage people to post reviews. The more active your Place Page, the more likely your business can become one of Google's Favorite Places.

Simply having the sticker in your window from Google will show window shoppers that many people are interested in your business. It's free advertising from Google, one of the most recognized names out there.

This simple bit of advertising creates more interaction and potentially stronger relationships between customers and local businesses. As a customer you may be more inclined to leave a comment or review of a business if it has a Favorite Place sticker, or if your favorite spot is not listed as one of Google's Favorite Places, you can try and help promote it by going and leaving a review on their businesses’ Place Page.

This increased interaction between businesses and consumers in turn will create more valuable information which will help Google further their philosophy of providing the most relevant, personalized search results.

To learn more about Google's Favorite Places check out Google's Blog.