If you knew me better, you will probably realize that such a headline was quiet impossible. As far as harming my computer I consider Google to be the safest websites out there. However this morning (way ahead of April 1st) Google is showing that all website mays harm your computer, including www.google.com. If you notice a decline in today’s traffic you now know why. I think it’s funny, and they should repeat it on April 1st.

It is quiet surprising how very few business owners who operate both a website as well as provide services from a physical location do not take advantage of Google Local Business Center. This service can give your business (and your website) extra exposure for free.

Background story… I have been helping a dear friend of mine, who owns a candy supply store in Brick, NJ, with her website. Most of her revenue comes from clients who visit her store to purchase candy making supplies, order cakes for special occasions or attend her decorating classes. Keeping that in mind, after setting her up with a WordPress powered website (which I barely touched since! Excellent Job Ann!), I have immediately registered her business with Google Local Business Center. I hope that after reading this post, you will do the same for your business because…

You Can Get More “Spotlight” In Search Results.

Often, as it is with Ann’s business, Internet users will search by adding a “geo-qualifier” (yes I made that word up) to their search term. For example, often times Google users will search for “candy supply store Brick NJ“. And here is the snapshot of the search results they get from Google:

Not only Inter user is presented with a relevant result, as well as with a quick access to driving directions to your business, operating hours and reviews.

If you list your business in correct categories you have a very good chance to drive “laser targeted” traffic (both foot and Internet) to your business.

You can also enhance your local ad with pictures and/or YouTube videos and offer discount coupons for the services you provide.

When you think about array of meta search engines, none of them are capable to produce such results. At least none that I am aware off.

If you have used Google Local Business ads in the past for your business I would love to hear your experience and/or success story.

If you are using Google Webmaster Tools you are probably aware that, among many things that these tools offer, there is the ability to submit your web site’s sitemap to help Google discover pages on your website. Google Webmasters Tools can also provide some insightful information about your website. Among many different statistics you will see the page containing information about about “crawl statistics”. You will find there a graphic of Googlebot’s activity on your website over the period of last 90 days. Just like the one you see below.

In the past Google did not offer webmasters many options or saying about how ofter they can or will crawl your website. While from time to time, after determining that your website may use a faster crawl rate, they would offer you an option to change this rate. However over the period last few months I was never offered that option in Google Webmaster Tools for my websites. So I have trusted Google, as most of us do, to crawl and discover the websites in their own time, and have completely forgotten about the “crawl rate” settings.

It appears, however, that recently, Google Webmaster Tools have opened the option to set a custom crawl rate for the websites you have listed in your account:

The above option can be found under the main settings in your Google Webmaster Tools account, and it is quiet self-explanatory. Stetting a “slower crawl rate” will reduce Googlebot’s visits to your website. I would recommend not to set a rate slower of what Google is already doing, unless your are experiencing issues with bandwidth. The slower crawl rate will probably result in delay with indexing your latest content. If anything, you may want to experiment with a “faster rate”, if you think it takes too long for your latest content to appear in Google’s index.

For time being I will not customize the crawl rate for this website, as I am pleased with what Google is doing now. I will however experiment with few other websites with intention to report here how can you benefit for this option, if you can benefit at all.