Unfortunatley it doesn’t surprise me. When a company doesn’t have a physical location Google isn’t exactly clear on how to set up or claim a business. Many smb’s are skeptical of using their home address. Sure you can hide your address and select a service area if you meet clients on-site… But I believe Google could do a much better job.

@Zachary
At home businesses (which admitedly Google does not handle that well) is not really represented in this sample survey. Most of the respondents are bricks and mortar types who would benefit greatly from a stronger google presence.

Since the course is targeted at novice internet marketers and the survey respondents mostly fall into that category, we tried to keep the questions very simple.

It was more a way for us to understand their needs than to ferret out behaviors.

Makes sense. Facebook is a something they likely use for personal reasons, so the extension to their business is pretty simple. Huge advantage for Facebook since the SMB does not have to learn a new ‘system’ or go somewhere new to manage their business on Facebook as they have to with Google Places or any of the other local options (except maybe Foursquare and that is stretching it).

Of all the business owners I know, work with, and speak with, they are universally more responsive to facebook. Of those cases, of the ones I follow, they all get virtually all of their business from the internet, essentially from search; whether they have claimed listings or not.

Facebook is easy for people to digest. Its interactive. A site gets friends and gets comments. Even from the business operators who get information about the volume of business they get from the web versus facebook….all these people respond to facebook.

Its simpler to appreciate.

Its not just that the business owners are unfamiliar with claiming their Places Records….they are unfamiliar with analytics and getting an appreciation for how the internet drives customers to them.

I’ve been astonished by it.

Since I live in GooglePlacesLand and not FacebookLand, this just seems backasswards to me. I mean I believe the data is right and get it, but still just can’t understand how many businesses are clueless about Places.

What kills me is when a Dentist fills out my contact form requesting a Google Places Optimization consultation and they EVEN SAY in the email they want to rank higher in Google Places!

We talk for 1/2 hour I explain everything, checking along the way to be sure they understand. Then ask them a specific question about a problem I find on their claimed Place page. And they say “What’s a Place page?” Just floors me! Not only do they not know what one is, they’ve never seen one and they didn’t even know they already had one and they def are not the one that claimed it. It’s been just sitting out there in space, usually filled with violations and they had no clue.

Interesting survey. Thanks. I wonder how many interact daily or even weekly on their Facebook page. I’ve seen many businesses that set it up and that’s it, no interaction.

As far a Google Places goes, I find the toughest part is getting the small business owner’s attention. They are so busy. Some still don’t have a website. Once I gain their attention and explain what Google Places is, they say “oh yes” and then become extremely interested in how it can help them.

There’s a lot of opportunity for those of us who claim and optimize Places for local business if only 28% have claimed their listing. How do you grab their attention?

Think Linda says it well.

Most business owners have not got a clue that google places exits but because so Facebook is so very popular, (and is always reported as a “game changer, whether accurate or not) it’s natural that the uptake ratio is so different.

Interesting survey.

I claimed my Places Page, but also have an active listing in Google Local that has several reviews and more citations. How can I make my listing into my place page.
My lisitng is owner verified, but it had my OLD address on it. I moved, so I updated my address on my listing, and resubmited it.

Mike…That does not surprise me. With the way the economy is many business owners are too busy working in their business they hve no time for working on their business. Because of this, the majority of business owners have no idea at all what Google has to offer SMB’s or even heard of Places, Google +,AdWords, etc. But that means more business for people such as yourself who are in the business of educating and helping SMB’s get to page one of Google.
It’s also no surprise that more than twice as many businesses have a Facebook page. Let’s face it, everyone has heard of Facebook. Even my nine year old niece and my aunt in her seventy’s are on Facebook. But the sad part is if you would of asked of the 66.7% who have a Facebook page; are you still active on Facebook six months after you created your page? I would not be surprised if you well under half are.
BTW..You,David,Mary and the others involved where awesome in October at SMX in New York! Keep me up-to-date for the next time you have that again in the New York area.

THANKS!