Brian O'Connell, President

The holy grail of online marketing is a top listing on the search engine results pages (affectionately termed “SERPs”).

It’s surprising how important the top position really is. Being in the first, second, or third position versus even fourth or fifth can represent a lot of new prospects and a healthy chunk of revenue.

Why? Studies show that consumers looking online are remarkably predictable. They consistently go for the top several listings and automatically devalue those lower down.

So how do you get your CPA website up there?

The bad news is, it can take a lot of time – anywhere from 6 to 18 months of continual SEO effort.

The good news is…

…there is an easy, 100% legal way to get a top listing – and it works in days, not months.

Enter: Google Places.

Register with Google Places

Google is now emphasizing local search. That means -

Google favors listings with a presence on Google Places.

(And of course, since Google rewards businesses that have signed up for this free service, any location-specific websites without a Google Places profile will be pushed down the page.)

To get in on the action, just register…

1. Go to Google Places.
2. Follow the prompts through the sign-up process.
3. Be sure to include a few of your keywords in the title of your firm and description of your services.
4. Don’t pass up the chance to add a picture and/or a video. It can really help you stand out.

And here’s a little tip:

Make sure your company’s address is listed on your CPA website’s footer. This helps Google verify your information – so you’re more likely to reach that holy grail of a top spot.

A couple weeks after taking these easy steps, you should find yourself at the top of the page.

Here’s an example of the local results that come up for “Cincinnati CPA”:

And Then – Make It Even Better

The ninja trick to making your Google Places profile even better is to get some of your clients to write reviews of your firm.

When they do, your listing is accompanied by the number of reviews and how many stars that person gave you. And it goes even higher in the SERPs.

Don’t pass up this opportunity! Ask a favorite client or two to write up a review. To do so, they just need to click on the letter balloon next to your entry, which takes them to your profile page. Once there, they choose the option for “rate and review.” It should only take 5-10 minutes of their time.

It’s worth it to urge them to do this – because when they do, you not only have an even greater chance of making it to the top, but you also build up your online reputation.

And online ratings and reviews are skyrocketing in importance. You want to show your potential clients that you’re trustworthy and competent, to maximize the chance they’ll click on your listing.

Reviews are the way to do this.

Here’s what a profile with a review looks like…

Claim Your Local Listing Today

Seeing your website at the top of the SERPs feels great.

And with Google Places, getting there can be fast and painless.

Best of all – we do it for you.

When you sign up for our Local SEO package, we take care of your Google Places profile (as well as Yahoo and Bing Local and 95 other local listings – just to make sure your online reputation is as strong as can be).

To get started with Google Places, sign up for our Local SEO service today.

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