Google Local has quietly expanded its functionality, again. Registered companies can now add a coupon to their Google Maps listing for free. Coupons will appear alongside your business listing on Google Maps.
Traditionally, retailers seeking to reach local populations have used coupon services such as ValPak and RSVP card decks to reach their desired target market. Google Local hopes to expand the number of local businesses who use its service (which is free) regardless of whether or not they have a website.
It took me all of four minutes to enter a test coupon, approve my listing and quit the application. Overall, this is a very impressive implementation. Most interesting was Google’s verification system - I was able to verify my listing via a phone call, which leads me to believe that Google is close to rolling out its Click to Call program.
If you’re interested in learning more about using coupons to grow or expand your business, here are some good resources:
Entrepreneurial Connection: Use Coupons Effectively
Entrepreneur: Promote Your Business With Coupons and Contests
Good luck! If you’re already working with Google Coupons and have a success story, please use the comments section to share your results.
