A former florist in New Zealand edited her competitors' listings on Google Maps to redirect customers to her own store. She admitted to altering her competitors' listings on 100 occasions over a one month period. The judge recognized this caused embarrassment but no quantifiable damage. As a result, the florist was ordered to complete 100 hours of community service and undergo counselling. The article recommends business owners claim and optimize their Google Places page to remain visible online to customers.

1. Russell Pelvin Ph:08 8377 0587 Mobile : 0402 781 020 www.onlineestrategies.com.au

2. Yellow Pages

3. Google Search

4. Pages not claimed

5. Partially claimed

6. Places PageSearch

7. Reviews

8. Search volume

9. Completed page

10. The Telegraph A FORMER florist who altered Google Maps to steer business away from her competitors and into her store has been ordered to serve 100 hours of community service. Kendra Drinkwater admitted to six charges of accessing a computer system for dishonest gain. The 40-year-old from New Zealand’s North Island had confessed to editing the details on Google Maps of six of her competitors on 100 occasions between November 1 and December 4 last year, telling police she had an “addiction”. Judge Tony Adeane said that while Drinkwater’s competitors believed her actions had affected their businesses, the damage could not be quantified so no reparation was being sought. The judge also recognised the international media attention Drinkwater’s case had received and the embarrassment it had caused the mother of two. In addition to the community work, she will be under supervision for nine months and must complete counselling and education programs. She has been ordered to serve 100 hours of community service.

11. Places page

12. No of impressions places got after being optimised

13. Don't be invisible, tax agents are told The Advertiser, 19-07-2011, TAX and accounting consultants without a presence on the internet risk losing business to competitors who are online, warns web giant Google. Google product specialist Kate Conroy said since April 1 there had been a 1000 per cent increase in Google s...

14. First Priority Optimise existing Places Page Will stop others claiming your page Will keep you on the first page Regularly up date it Put reviews on it Monitor the page It will show on the Google mobile

16. facebook fan page

17. YouTube account