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Google Favorite Places

By Sharon Simms

Real Estate Agent with Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International

December 19, 2009 02:31 AM

Have you seen window decals like this start appearing this week? The Simms Team at ALVA International was named a Favorite Place by google and received this sticker for the window. It's designed with a QR bar code so that phones with this code reading application can point at the sticker and get photos, hours of operation, directions, information about the business. The you can click through to our website, dial through to our phone, save it on your phone, or email the information to a friend.

As a business owner you can add photos, descriptions, etc., so this is a new way to supplement your marketing efforts.

Google has blogged about this new way to window shop.

There are several QR reader applications for the phone. I chose QuickMark for my iPhone at the cost of 99 cents. QuickMark is one of the 16 most popular iPhone applications and the most popular one in the barcode category.

Additional note: based on some of the questions that came up in the comments, I found this post on Google Favorite Places that explains how they made their choices and what you can do about it.

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Vickie McCartney

Maverick Realty - Owensboro, KY

Broker, Real Estate Agent Owensboro KY

Hi Sharon~ I had not seen this at all. Thanks for sharing this with us. I am off to check into it!

Dec 19, 2009 02:37 AM

Jeff Dowler, CRS

eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA

The Southern California Relocation Dude

Sharon - that's pretty cool. Both the decal and being named a favorite place.Google is amazing.

Jeff

Dec 19, 2009 02:50 AM

Cheryl Ritchie

RE/MAX Leading Edge www.GoldenResults.com - Huntingtown, MD

Southern Maryland 301-980-7566

This is neat. I just bookmarked! Thanks for sharing this information.

Dec 19, 2009 03:23 AM

Li Read

Sea to Sky Premier Properties (Salt Spring) - Salt Spring Island, BC

Caring expertise...knowledge for you!

Thanks for this tip...greatly appreciated!

Dec 19, 2009 03:24 AM

How do you do this as a Business Owner...get the "We're a Favorite Place?"

Dec 19, 2009 03:25 AM

Miriam Bernstei

Rochester, NY

Thanks for posting - hadn't seen this!

Dec 19, 2009 03:50 AM

John Thomas

E3 Green HOMES - Boulder, CO

EcoBroker, MSEE, MBA

Hi Sharon...I read about this but it isn't clear to me how you actually become a favorite place. I have registered my business with Google but so far, not much has become of it.

Dec 19, 2009 04:15 AM

Sharon Simms

Coastal Properties Group International - Christie's International - Saint Petersburg, FL

St. Petersburg FL - CRS CIPS CLHMS RSPS

Vickie, Jeff, Li, Cheryl, Miriam and John - thanks for your comments.

The letter from google said that they awarded us a Favorite Place on Google because of the number of google users who found our listing and requested driving directions or other information about our business, between July 1 and September 30.

Since there's no application form, I'd suggest you register your business with Google, and thenperhaps have lots of your clients search for it. But then again, it may be too late for that. With Google, it may be that they use test periods before they even announce something, so that there can be no manipulation.

In any case, it's fun, and we're pleased. So far no one walking by has commented on it.

Dec 19, 2009 04:32 AM

I just found a blog from google that answers some of these questions on google Favorite Places.

http://www.google.com/help/maps/favoriteplaces/business/faq.html#

Dec 19, 2009 05:56 AM

Ray Saenz

Exit Realty Laredo - Laredo, TX

Homes for Sale in Laredo, TX - Texas, Realtor

Sharon,

Google is everywhere and soon more androids are coming for real estate needs :P I am starting to love it.

Dec 19, 2009 03:31 PM

Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807

HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ

Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Sharon - I had not seen this, but it sure looks pretty cool. It sure would be great to be named a great place on google, wouldn't it.

Dec 20, 2009 06:50 AM

Ray - I love google things, but would have to see comparable applications before switching from an iPhone to an Android.

Troy - any positive google recognition is a good thing.

Dec 20, 2009 11:47 AM

Sam Miller

RE/MAX Stars Realty - Howard, OH

Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist

Sharon - Very cool concept and I need to get my listing tweaked. I read something that Ira wrote about this on the Google Group and he had actually got a better listing initially than his real estate brokerage...I thought that was pretty neat and he did it with very little effort. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas with your family.

Dec 22, 2009 04:44 PM

Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional

Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL

Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

wow - that is really impressive - congratulations on being a favorite place!!!

Dec 23, 2009 06:20 AM

Google Favorite Places

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