Google continues to dominate as the search engine of choice for over 80% of the population. So the bottom line is, you can’t ignore it! Many people will see your school by area and you might miss many visitors if your website is not listed in Google Maps.

If your website is listed in the local results, it will be listed above the regular results on that page and people will also see the exact location of your School. You can submit your website to Google Maps through Google’s Local Business Centre. Login to your Google account or follow the simple instructions to create one if you don’t have one, and click “Add New Listing” to enter your School information.

There are several things that you can do to get a better listing on Google Maps or to make your listing stand out. You can enter your business information in Google Maps for free but to be listed at the top of the list, you have to optimize your entry.

• Enter as much information as possible about your school. Include important keywords in your description and choose the best possible category for your website.
• If possible, include images and videos to help your listing stand out. The more information you provide, the better.
• If your school’s location is in the center of the town, it is more likely that it will appear at the top of the list.
• Submit your website to other local directories. Google Maps compiles its local results by crawling and parsing data from other online directories and databases. A good position in online yellow pages can cause your listing to be placed higher on the list.
• Optimize your web pages for local content. Add your nearest town and county name in your web page title.
• Get positive reviews. Encourage a few parents to write positive reviews about your school on Google Maps. More stars can mean a higher position.