There is nothing more irritating than knowing a place exists and searching for it on Google, only to have it not show up on the location search. So when our Marketing Manager, Colin, asked me to write a post about the 5 most important ranking criteria for Google local business listings, I was thrilled. I could finally figure out just why my favorite little shops were leaving me high and dry when I tried to find their locations.

Thank you for your submission! In the meantime, why don't you check out some great local business listing articles on LevelTen?

• Seven Ways to Raise Your Local Business Listing Rank in Google
• 7 Local Business Review Sites Capturing Your Customers’ Attention

Competitive edge over rivals is a must for survival or any kind of business, but how do you gain an edge on competitors with deep pockets for radio ads, TV commercials, and huge Pay-Per-Click budgets? It’s been my experience that by using your marketing dollars wisely you can not only swim with the big fish, but become one. Here are a few recommendations:

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