You only want to have 1 (ONE) Master Google Account per business entity. Setting up a second account when you already have one MAY cause issues with Google. IE: If you already have a Google G-Mail, Adwords or Analytics account, you already have a Google Userid ID and password. You don’t want to create a new Google Account to add in your Google Local Business Product. Use the access you already have in place.

Click here and try all your E-Mail possibilities before you set up a new account to make sure you don’t have one lurking out there you may have forgot about.

https://www.google.com/accounts/ForgotPasswd?fpOnly=1

If you don’t have a Google account you may sign up for one by going to the link below.

https://www.google.com/accounts/NewAccount?continue=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&hl=en

Once you have a Google Account in place you NOW want to go set up your Google Local Business Account.

You may do this 1 of 2 ways.

Way 1: Type in your info and have Google bring back any matches you may claim. http://www.google.com/local/add

Way 2: Goto http://www.google.com and click on Maps (upper left corner). Type in your physical address (OR) your inn name. When you find your listing, click it and choose EDIT on the map bubble. It will say: “Are you the owner? Claim your business.” Click Claim your business. This way you are sure you are choosing the grandfathered listing Google already has for you.

Finally – remember you want to CLAIM your listing if it already exists (even if it’s not perfect, if it’s YOU – Claim it. Don’t create a new listing if one is currently grandfathered, but just not claimed yet by you, the owner.) Once claimed you may modify it, update your location indicator, etc.

Lisa Kolb
Acorn Internet Services, Inc.

Thanks for your additional comments on what to learn from the Golden Arches.

Now of course, if we could only be as wise in our own businesses.

What is the lesson to be learned by MickeyDee’s strategy?

• Be Accessible – Open
• Be Fast – The early bird does get the worm (even if the lines are long)
• Be Unique – Offer things you cannot get elsewhere (ie happy meal collectable littlest pet shop toys
• Be Needed – You must go back to get a new littlest pet shop collectable toy as they only give away one in the series per week, which means you must go to MickeyDee’s every week
• Be All to All – Many have McCafe’s to entice the parents with an iced coffee like the kids are enticed with the happy meal toys.
• Be Economical – Value Menus and .59 cones (appear to be economical) even though you typically order those items in addition to your regular food
• Be Smart – Take Visa and Mastercard
• Be Fulfilling – Fill the void with useless nutrition-less calories that leave you longing for more…