Communist Trash Bags, Dumpsters and Ice Cream

The Pic that started it all

The moving continues…. I have 12 years worth of stuff that I “needed” (at the time) to get rid of. A couple weeks ago, I decided I should just get a big dumpster and fill it. A neighbor had one outside their house, so I took a picture of it for the phone number. I googled the company and noticed their google maps listing needed some work (I say that alot). So I threw the dumpster picture up there and did a mini-review, kind of a tentative one. Now I know I can just pay 1000 dollars for a couple dozen of the Town of Brewer’s Communist Garbage bags (I’m kidding, probably wouldn’t be quite a $1000, but the program is Communist, plus the bags really suck). And the Neighbor has a permanent dumpster for a reason, he or she probably did the math. 

Anyway, I called up Bolster's Rubbish & Recycling, the name on the Dumpster and made arrangements for a delivery. While I was on the phone I brought up their google listing and to my amazement, the dumpster picture I tossed up there had gotten over 1200 views in a week’s time. I relayed that information to the nice lady at Bolster’s and she said, “Funny you should mention that. We just had a meeting and our website people want to take over our google listing and make some changes.” 
My Response: “Good Plan”

Now here is why this is important and relevant to My Adventures with Google Maps. Over the summer I have taken some pictures of Delicious looking Cheeseburgers, Steaks, Lobster Rolls and countless desserts. Everyone loves food pictures and they get many of views on google, but none of those things got as many views as that blurry, lopsided picture of a dumpster. My Advice: If you own business pay attention to your google listing. If you're not on there, get on there… Pronto! And Maximize it. Take lots of photos. Fill out all the information. Google is a very powerful marketing tool and it’s completely FREE! Don’t pay someone to do it for you. They are probably scamming you, if you already have a web person/company, they should be able to do quite easily at no extra expense. 
One more thing; keep it real, a candid, in the moment picture of two kids enjoying your ice cream is way more effective then a static shot of a bowl full of Ice Cream. No matter how beautiful you stage the bowl, it will never have the real impact of the kids smiling and relishing your delicious Ice Cream. 

Those are my thoughts. I’m learning more everyday and I love to share what I learn. Thanks for joining me. 

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