Google Places on Google Maps! Claim it. Own it. Rock it!

Your listing on Google Places affects the information provided on Google Maps. Google Maps obtains information from many different sources; as Google states, "our listings combine information from our web search results, data submitted directly by local business owners, and third-party sources such as publicly available Yellow Pages directories."

By claiming your Google Places listing, you can instill confidence in internet users visiting your listing because the information you provide will be marked as 'by owner' and displayed at the top of your listing on Google Maps. This information includes the following:

• location: street address
• phone and fax numbers
• email address
• website
• short description
  
• categories for your business
• business hours
• payment options
• photos
• videos
• additional information: type of parking available

See the two sets of instructions below to claim your business listing on Google Places and start adding high priority results to Google's search engine!


How to Claim Your Business Listing in Google Places on Google Maps

1. Go to http://www.maps.google.com. Search for your community using the search engine. Click on ‘more info’ to the right of your community’s name. If Google Maps cannot locate your community, click the ‘Report a problem’ link under the list of search results and follow instructions titled "How to Create a Business Listing with Google Places on Google Maps" later in this post.
2. Click ‘Business owner?’ located at the top right of your listing.
3. Login to your Google Account or click ‘Create an Account Now’ and follow the instructions.
4. Choose ‘Edit my business information’ and click ‘Continue.’
5. Enter the requested information and click ‘Submit.’
6. Choose to verify via phone call, SMS or text, or postcard. Recommendation: phone call.
7. Verify ownership by entering the PIN.



How to Create a Business Listing with Google Places on Google Maps

1. Go to http://www.maps.google.com. Search for your community using the search engine. If Google Maps cannot locate your community, click the ‘Report a problem’ link under the list of search results.
2. Choose ‘A place is missing from Google Maps’ and click ‘Continue.’
3. Login to your Google Account or click ‘Create an Account Now’ and follow the instructions.
4. Click ‘Continue to add a location.’
5. Enter your community’s name, click and drag the marker to your community entrance if needed, and click ‘Next.’
6. Enter all of your community’s information: Place Name, Phone Number, Homepage (if applicable), Categories (apartments, apartment building, furnished apartments etc), Hours, and Address. Click the checkbox next to ‘Send email when this edit is reviewed…’ and click ‘Publish.’



Troubleshooting

If you haven’t heard from Google in a couple of days, go to http://www.maps.google.com. Search for your community using the search engine. If you find your community, follow the steps on Page 1.

Your Online Presence - Claim it. Own it. Rock it!

Online listing services and search engines can determine a lot about your business from various sources. These services and search engines are clever, but sometimes they find outdated or incorrect information about your business.

You will be able to provide more information, deals, photos and videos, and links on your claimed listings which will benefit you directly with better targeting and ranking. If you claim your listings, hackers and spammers will be unable to hijack your online presence, and internet users will trust your provided information.

This week we will be posting daily instructions on how to claim your listings on various sites and search engines. Our schedule is as follows (If you're uncertain about a site, click on the name to view our listing on the site):

Schedule of Instructional Posts
May 2: Google Places
May 3: Foursquare
May 4: Facebook Places (merges with Business Page)
May 5: Yelp
May 6: Bing Local
May 7: CitySearch
May 8: Yahoo! Local


Once you claim your listings, only you will be able to edit the information which will halt the spread of incorrect information and eliminate the risk of hijackers. Some sites and search engines will take up to 6 months in the verification process. Be patient. Once your updated information is online, the correct information will feed to and impact hundreds of listings and search engines.

Have Listings on Other Sites?
Comment and let us know what other site(s) you are interested in claiming. We'll add instructions to this blog on how to claim listings on your choice of sites.

Check In on Your Foursquare Venue! New Category Available!

The day has finally arrived! Foursquare has added 'Apartment Building' as a category option for Foursquare venues. Adding this category to your venue will help your community display in the results for searches by your target audience! To add the 'Apartment Building' category to your venue follow these steps:

How To Add a Category to Your Venue

1. Go to your venue. Click on a link or search for your community on Foursquare.com.
2. Click the 'Edit' button in the lower right corner of your venue information.
3. Select 'Home, Work, Other' from the drop-down menu in the 'Add a category' section.
4. Select 'Apartment Building' from the new drop-down menu option.
5. Click the green 'Add Category' button.

There's No 'Edit' Button?!

If you do not see the 'Edit' button on your venue, then you still need to claim your venue.

We will walk through the steps for How to Claim Your Foursquare Venue on Tuesday, May 3 during our week of "Your Online Presence - Claim it. Own it. Rock it!" You can also email me for instructions at Rachel@CaptureTheMarket.com.

Has Your Red Swingline Stapler Gone Missing? Be Sure to Celebrate Administrative Professionals Day!

Today is Administrative Professionals Day! Take a moment to thank your administrative professionals today. Administrative Professionals keep the gears of your company running smoothly: keeping calendars and offices organized, managing travel plans, scheduling conference calls and managing the phones, overseeing projects, filing papers, running errands, coveting that red Swingline stapler...

The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) began this tradition in 1952 when organizing Professional Secretaries Week and Professional Secretaries Day. IAAP changed the names to Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day in 2000 to keep pace with the expending responsibilities and the changing job titles of the administrative workforce.

Today, more than 4.1 million secretaries and administrative assistants and 8.9 million people work in various administrative support roles in the United States, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics. More than 475,000 administrative professionals are employed in Canada. Data from IAAP's website.

Take a moment to thank your Administrative Professionals for all they do to help your day go smoothly.

Some sites for Administrative Professionals Day!
IAAP: Administrative Professionals Day 2011
5 Things an Administrative Assistant is Better at Than You
Administrative Professionals Day

Raising the Bar Blog
Ecards from 123 Greetings
Gift Ideas: Games
Administrative Professionals' Day Gifts

"Turning Life Into a Game" is going one step further!

Foursquare has evolved to "make cities easier to use" and now offers an Explore tab to help users find specific genres of nearby places. You can now search for 'coffee,' and Foursquare will show you all the coffee places nearby, whether you or your friends have been there, which venues are popular places, and more!

Clicking the 'Explore' option from your Foursquare home page will now take you to the Explore homepage which will automatically display Recommended places in a small area or Trending places in a large area. You can click on the mixer icon in the top left corner of the home page to change the settings: select the search radius (.25 - 10 miles) and specify information sources (everyone, only friends, or only you).



Once you have your search radius and information sources selected, you can search for nearby venues. The more specific your search, the more interesting venues will display. Searching a broad topic will prompt Foursquare to display predictive detailed search options. If you search for "coffee," Foursquare will offer "cafe" and "coffee shop" as search options. The search results will display tips associated with the venue and the following about the venue:

• If you have been there
• If (and how many) friends have been there
• If the venue is popular on Foursquare
  

Are you prepared for this new Foursquare?
Comment with your thoughts on this new direction of Foursquare: the explore tab, new format for the leaderboard, and specials offered to swarms, groups of friends, regulars, newbies, Mayors, or everyone.

Visit Foursquare's blog to read more about these changes.

Celebrate Foursquare Day this Saturday, April 16!

People around the world come together on the 4² day of the 4th month (4/16 or April 16) to celebrate the first "Social Media holiday!"

Cities host swarm parties, businesses offer specials and/or giveaways, and people get involved in their community! Visit the official Foursquare Day Facebook, Twitter, website, or blog!

Foursquare Day is officially endorsed by Foursquare.com. Foursquare has released the official badge and logo for Foursquare Day 2011. Details on obtaining the Foursquare badge are yet to be released.

See what Dennis Crowley, the CEO of foursquare, says about Foursquare Day.



Community Events!

Seattle is celebrating at Gordon Biersch with specials and giveaways. Learn more on their site, Facebook, and Twitter.


Dallas has businesses offering specials such as Dallas Comedy House offering free tickets (more info here), and the city is celebrating with a Swarm party on Village on the Green with several businesses present and offering specials. Visit here for more information.


Portland is celebrating at Whiffies where for every check-in $1 goes to the Red Cross efforts in Japan. Follow the event on their site and on Twitter.


New Orleans is celebrating at Parlay's with drink specials & Fat Molly's with drink specials and a free shot. Follow the event on Facebook and Twitter.


Atlanta has businesses around the area offering Foursquare specials, and the city is a huge party at the West Atlanta Downtown Hotel on the rooftop pool deck and wetbar area. Visit their site to learn more: Atlanta specials here and the Foursquare Day party here.

Don't see your city in the list above? Search for whats going on in your community here.


Company Celebrations!

McDonald's is continuing their participation in Foursquare Day by offering 100 fantastic shirts to crowned mayors in the US throughout the day! Learn more here.

Untapped has created their own Foursquare Day Badge and a worldwide Foursquare Day map where users can share their location and beer of choice. Learn more here.

These are not the only companies getting involved with Foursquare Day. Look around your community for other business offering specials or giveaways this Saturday, April 16.

Let us know, what are your plans for Foursquare Day?

Texas Apartment Association - Launching a New Website and a World Class Event!

TAA has launched a new website!
Check them out at TAA.org. Below is a screen shot of the new website. You can also see the TAA Lease Contract Overview video produced by Capture the Market!

TAA's world class event, Education Conference and Lone Star Expo, begins today! 
Events continue from today until Saturday, April 16 at the Fort Worth Convention Center. The Trade Show begins tomorrow, April 14 and ends Friday, April 15. Be sure to stop by Booth #647 to see the new Video Experts' display and video! Use Foursquare to check in at our booth and win a badge!

Visit with your Video Experts at Booth #647

Come by Booth #647 to check out our new display and video. Remember to check in with Foursquare and earn a badge!