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Are You #1 on Goog411?

By
Real Estate Agent with At Home Kansas BR00225772

I just found a new Google tool that I will be adding to my Googloscopy class that I teach.  You call 800-466-4411 (800-GOOG-411) and you will find that Google has a free 411 service.  

Watch http://www.google.com/goog411/ to see just one way of using this tool.   While calling for a pizza place is useful, I was very pleasantly surprised when I called in and identified Lawrence Kansas as the location and asked for Realtor as the category and was told there were 8 options.  It started with number one and said "Realty Executives, Rob Lang"!!!  I'm not sure how Google's criteria put me #1 but I thought that was pretty nice.

I thought it probably rotated through various Realtors but I had different people call to test it and they all found me to be the #1 listing for Lawrence Kansas Real Estate.   You can try variables such as homes for sale, properties, sell a home, etc.

One thing you will discover is that Google is recording all of these calls and identifying your phone number with the call in.  You can delete the associations with your phone number by pressing "*".  

So have fun choosing your location and choosing Realtor as the category and the reporting back here as to where you are placed on Goog 411.  

Thanks and "Don't keep me a secret--I'm never too busy for your referrals!"
Rob (FREE Home Warranty with every home you buy or sell through me!!)
Rob Lang, CRS, ABR, ePro, GRI, CFPS Realtor®
Sellers www.MLSPlease.com (Marketing homes to 3 MLS's, to over 100 websites, "Showcase" Realtor.com listing, and virtual tours)
Property Searches www.LetRobDoIt.com
Places for Rent or Lease www.KSLease.com
Blog www.ActiveRain.com/blogs/langrob
Realty Executives, Hedges Real Estate (three convenient locations)
(Serving Lawrence, Eudora, Baldwin, Topeka, Olathe, Tonganoxie, Leavenworth, Kansas City, McLouth, Wellsville, Ottawa, Berryton, Tecumseh, more)
300 Rockfence Place, Lawrence, KS 66049
1037 Vermont, Lawrence, KS 66044
3300 Clinton Parkway Ct., Lawrence, KS 66047
785-393-2274 (cell) 206-339-3199 (fax)
Voice Messages may be left Toll Free at 866-800-5353
Rob@YouWantHouses.com

Comments(14)

Karen Monsour
Coldwell Banker Fort Lauderdale Beach - Fort Lauderdale, FL
REALTOR, SSRS - Sells FL Waterfront, Short Sale Expert!

Thanks as always for the great info Larry... Can you explain this:  "One thing you will discover is that Google is recording all of these calls and identifying your phone number with the call in.  You can delete the associations with your phone number by pressing "*". "   a little more for me.  I'm not sure what you mean or how you would do that.   Thanks. Karen 

Jul 26, 2008 02:33 PM
Rob Lang
At Home Kansas - Shawnee, KS
Local Expert in NE Central Kansas Real Estate Home

Oh yeah, be sure to save 800-466-4411 in your phone's address book.  You never know when you might need a particular business.

Jul 26, 2008 02:34 PM
Sam Miller
RE/MAX Stars Realty - Howard, OH
Knox County Ohio Real Estate Specialist

I have never seen Goog411 before but I am heading their now for a closer look.

Jul 26, 2008 02:34 PM
Ann Sabbagh
Seacoast Mortgage Corporation, RI (20021119LB & 20031576LL), MA (MC2107) & CT - Pawtucket, RI
President, Sr. Loan Officer

Thanks Rob!  I never knew about this.  I am happy to know my company is number 2 on the list...looking forward to number one...like you!  Great information!  Ann Sabbagh Vice-President Seacoast Mortgage and Home Sales Consultant 508-243-1190

Jul 26, 2008 02:50 PM
Rob Lang
At Home Kansas - Shawnee, KS
Local Expert in NE Central Kansas Real Estate Home

Hi Karen,

When you call 800-GOOG-411 it says "Calls recorded".  Google is doing the recording of the calls.  If you press the star key it allows you to delete the information stored with your cell number by then pressing the number 9.  If you are sure you want to delete that information, it gives you a three digit code to enter and if you do so it deletes the stored information.

Just play with it.  It is pretty easy.

Rob

Jul 26, 2008 02:53 PM
Rob Lang
At Home Kansas - Shawnee, KS
Local Expert in NE Central Kansas Real Estate Home

Hi Sam and Ann,

Thanks for stopping by.  Glad to hear you are number two.  Many Realtors are not even on there.

Rob

Jul 26, 2008 02:56 PM
Rob Lang
At Home Kansas - Shawnee, KS
Local Expert in NE Central Kansas Real Estate Home

Anyone have any ideas how Google selects which 8 business listings are used?  It has been suggested privately that it is for using AdWords but that doesn't appear to be it because there are three prominent AdWords advertisers and they aren't one of the eight.

Rob

Jul 26, 2008 02:59 PM
Debbie Summers
Charles Rutenberg Realty - New Smyrna Beach, FL

Rob - Thank you for sharing!  I'm going to check this out right now!

Jul 26, 2008 03:11 PM
Yvonne Curry
REMAX Preferred - Winslow, NJ
RE/MAX

Thank you so much for sharing!!!

 

yvonnecurry Remax Preferred new jersery nj

Jul 26, 2008 03:39 PM
Vickie McCartney
Maverick Realty - Owensboro, KY
Broker, Real Estate Agent Owensboro KY

Rob~ I went to the website and it looks like a great thing to have in your cell incase you ever need a number.  How do I find out if I am even on there??? 

Jul 26, 2008 03:40 PM
Rob Lang
At Home Kansas - Shawnee, KS
Local Expert in NE Central Kansas Real Estate Home

Hi Vickie,

Call the number, state Owensboro Kentucky when it asks for the location and Realtor when it asks for the business type or category.

Rob

Jul 26, 2008 03:45 PM
Rob Lang
At Home Kansas - Shawnee, KS
Local Expert in NE Central Kansas Real Estate Home

Thanks Debbie and Yvonne for checking this out.  Don't forget to come back and post where you are in the listings found.  There seems to be a maximum of 8 listings found and sometimes, depending on the size of the town, there are only a couple of listings.

It would be nice to figure out similarities to those who are listed as one of the eight to see how GOOG411 is calculating or searching to provide the eight selected.

Rob

Jul 26, 2008 03:49 PM
Geordie Romer
Windermere Real Estate / NCW - Leavenworth, WA
Serving Leavenworth, Lake Wenatchee, and Plain

Rob-

This post showed up in my daily Google alerts for Leavenworth Real Estate.

For Leavenworth WA real estate and for Realtor in Leavenworth Washington I show up as #1 on Google 411.

And I think I know how I did it...

Go to Local Business Center on your Google account and add your business. This is supposed to help you on the Google Local Search and it certainly does for Google 411. My listing on Google 411 is just like that on the Local Business Center.

Hope this helps everyone.

Jul 27, 2008 03:54 AM
Rob Lang
At Home Kansas - Shawnee, KS
Local Expert in NE Central Kansas Real Estate Home

It looks like Geordie has figured it out!  Way to Go!!

Now, everyone, just go to your Google Local Business Center and make sure Realtor is one of the categories your business is listed under.

Thanks Geordie!

Rob

Jul 27, 2008 06:03 AM