All Things Connected – Google Places, Tags & Facebook Deals

This may be old news to some, but a recent development with Google Places and Facebook allows you to post a coupon and share it online through your different marketing channels.

Google Places now lets you create a tag or coupon that customers can view on your “Places” page (for anyone who doesn’t know, Google Places is the little map that pops up in a standard Google search, showing any local business—hopefully your business—that corresponds to the search). The tag shows up on Google with a little price tag-style icon (those crafty Googlites!):

I added the circles and arrows myself, but you probably already knew that.

I believe Google gives a free 30-day trial period of the tagging/coupon feature, then offers it for $25 a month after that (but don’t quote me). And, your Google tag will show up on any GPS system that syncs with Google Maps. So, if your business is, say, disposable gloves, and Walter J. McGillicuddy Jr. (you know him) is driving around looking for somewhere local to buy disposable gloves, and your business’ Google Place page features a coupon tag, it’ll show up on Walter’s GPS screen. Everyone loves saving money, and if Walter knows he can save 5% at your business, there’s a good chance he’ll buy with you over the non-coupon-tagged competition.

You can track the activity/hits of your tag coupon in your Google Analytics page, to see how much of a boost it’s giving your website. You can also set your business’ Google Place as a landing page from your Google Adwords campaign, for a quick and easy connection for your potential customers. And, you can set your tag up as a coupon code for customers to use, or as a scannable QR code that can be read by and downloaded to their smartphones. Technology, right?!?

And, Google and Facebook are now interfacing their local listings, so your Google Places coupon tag will now appear on your business’ Facebook page, for added exposure:

 All you need to do is pay the small, monthly fee through Google Places, and they do the rest for you. It could hardly be easier! If you’re already on Google Places, or if you’re thinking of signing your business up for it soon, the coupon tag is definitely worth the extra money. It’s a quick and effective way to boost your local exposure and drive business.

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