This is probably the single most powerful FREE Internet Marketing and presence creation tool that ALL small brick and mortar business owners can and should take advantage of…regardless of their online skill level. Like it or not, Google is the most prominent search engine on the web (by far) and they’ve created a tool specifically for local small businesses called the “Local Business Center”. Long story short, it serves as a quasi-bare bones website, giving all the pertinent details about YOUR business…and even what others are saying about your business elsewhere on the Web. Hence, it is also becoming the prime “reputation management” tool that small entrepreneurs would be wise learn about and take control of, as reputation is one of the most critical assets that any business possesses.

I just happened upon a helpful and concise article written by one of our neighbors across the pond. Here is a link to that article entitled:
Set Up Google Local Business Center in 5 Steps

One of those 5 steps involves choosing the most appropriate “categories” to list your business under. Please don’t make the mistake of choosing only one. You are allowed to choose up to five (5) categories…and they are choices worthy of careful consideration. It’s like being given 4 (four) extra front doors to your business bringing traffic and customers you otherwise could’ve easily overlooked and lost forever.

Another respected writer went to the trouble of listing every single “category” on one page (a luxury not offered inside the Google Local Business Center) and posted his insight in this short article:
Google Local Business Center Categories – The Complete List

Remember, you don’t need any special skills to fill out your business profile in the Local Business Center. All you need is a free Google Account and an email address (GMail is free too) and you actually create both in one fell swoop when you use that link. Now you’re ready to knock out the crucial hub of your online business presence.