Knowledge Base - Google

Google Maps are a great way of creating publicity for your business for free! Many businesses fail to add their business to Google using this simple tool and they find the link will go to another website or directory.

To create a Google map, you will need to have an account with Google. For further information on setting up a free account with Google, please click here

How to add your Business to Google Maps

1. Open your Google account. Clicking the link will open a new window in your browser.
2. In the Google Local Business Center page, click on the link "Add new listing"
3. Complete the registration form, providing all the necessary information. As you add your details you will notice the details appearing on the map. To add more than one phone number, click on the link provided. Please be aware that Google will verify your listing so make sure any details you give are correct
4. If the marker is not showing in quite the right place you can move the marker into the correct position for your business. To do this click on "Fix incorrect marker location"
5. Click on "Next" at the bottom of the page.
6. Complete all the information being requested but if you don't have it to hand, you can always add it later on.
7. Once completed, click on "Submit" at the bottom of the page.
8. Google will now give you three different options on how you can validate your listing. Choose the option that works best for you and click on "Finish" at the bottom of the page. (The quickest way to validate is often by phone/mobile)
9. If you have chosen to be contacted by phone or mobile, you should soon receive a message that has a five digit pin number. Once you have this, enter it into the area on the validation screen and click "Go". The page should update with a "Thank You" page.

Note: Your map on Google can take a little time to be added. This can take around 24-48 hours but you have now successfully added your business to Google maps.

Google provides a wide range of tools to help businesses to market themselves. As well as the basic tools like e-mail accounts, calendar's and storage space, Google also provide advanced tools; for example you can add your business to their maps, earn revenue from their AdSense Advertising platform and promote your business using their Pay for Click system.

You will be asked you to complete various sign-up forms and confirm your request to add you details via an activation link. Once this is completed, you will have access to all of Google's services. Please note that not all of the services are free and some may require you to add your credit card details so they can make charges. Please make sure you read what your are signing up when using Google's various services.

Google Analytics is a free service from Google which can monitor the performance of your website. This system provides detailed information including how many visitors your website is getting, how long do visitors stay on your website, are new or returning visitors. Google Analytics also monitors other aspects of your website including links in and out of your site, the visitor's country and which language visitors speak, Goals and much more. Armed with this kind of information you can really start to target your website to the market place you are aiming for.

Using the Google Analytics module in Drupal is very quick and easy to set up and in no time at all, you will be able to see how well your website is doing using Google Analytics.

To install and activate this module, you will need to have the following already installed or set up:

• Software to un-zip the module file
• FTP Software already configured to see your server files
• A Free Account with Google
• A Drupal CMS website already loaded on your Server
• Extra File Folders within your Drupal Installation

How to Set up the Drupal Google Analytics Module

1. Download the Google Analytics Module from Drupal to your local computer by Clicking here This will open a new window in your browser
2. The file you have downloaded will need to be un-packed before you can load to Drupal. This is done on your local computer.
3. Using your FTP Software, Connect to your website folders (See our "FTP Knowledge Base" for further information)
4. If you have not already done so, please read our FAQ on how to add modules to Drupal by Clicking here. Using your FTP programme navigate your way to the folder called: sites/default/modules. This should be located under your "public_html" folder.
5. Now using your web browser, visit your Drupal website and login.
6. In your Menu, Click on Administer and then Modules under the "Site Building" heading.
7. Scroll down the page until you see the Google Analytics module and select the box beside it. Scroll down the page and click "SAVE"
8. Click on Administer at the top of the page in the breadcrumb or on your navigation menu
9. Scroll down under "Site configuration" and click on Google Analytics heading

For the next part, you will need to in a new tab or window in your browser, open Google analytics

1. Log into your Google Analytics account by using your Google username and password. If this is the first time you have done this, you will be asked to confirm a few details
2. Once you have successfully logged in, head for the section or link called "Add Website Profile»" Click on this link
3. In the first option, we would suggest you keep this to "Add a Profile for a new domain"
4. Type in the name of your website (in most cases you want to add the www.) making sure you choose the right prefix. This in most cases will stay as "http".
5. Click on Finish to save and a new page will open up.
6. If the details you have supplied are OK, you will see some code given to you. You do not need to install the code as directed by the website Make a note of the "UA-" number that is given within the displayed code.
7. Go back to your Drupal website and the configuration page for the Google Analytics module and insert the "UA-" number as requested.
8. Scroll down the page and choose which options you want to change. (We would recommend you leave them as their defaults for now unless you know what you are doing!)
9. Click "SAVE" at the bottom of the screen and your Google Analytics Module is now integrated within your site

Leave this for about ten minutes and then go back to your Google account and at the top or bottom of the screen, you will see a "Test" button. If there is no problems, you will see a "Waiting for Data" come up in the Status. It can sometimes take a little longer so dont panic straight away if Google cannot find it first time.