For what it’s worth, I’ve been top of Google maps in my local area for my therapy for the last 6 months now. There are plenty of people searching for my therapy in my area but looking at my analytics I see from my refferrals that I get a steady flow coming through to my website from the Google natural search results. I’ve only a 4 so far from the maps.

So I would agree, free to do so don’t knock it but don’t think it will deliver a surge of new business.

Love the site btw.

I agree with you that people are totally missing the point about Google maps and think it is a cunning way to get a high profile page 1 presence. There is no guarantee or way of getting included in the list and no-one knows how it is ordered and when it will change. Even if you are on the Google map list as per your example I don’t believe it delivers a stream of new clients. For example when do you ever click on a Google map link? Basically it’s just a big block of links on every page that people scoot over and drop down to the search results or the right hand side of the page to the sponsored listings.

I totally agree that the one and only real benefit is as a link on the page alongside an organic (natural listing) or sponsored listing. If you appear 2 or 3 times then it triggers with people that you are coming up all over the page and must be on the ball.

Take it for what it is, free but don’t expect your phone to ring off the hook. If that is the sum total of your marketing and advertising I don’t think you will be in business for long.