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How to Use Google Yellowpages to Find Any Local Business
Last month, I wrote about using Google as Your Whitepages phonebook. Today, I am going to describe how you can use Google as your Yellowpages as well.
Although Google seems to be an abstract company, they know about businesses that are just around the corner to where you live! All you have to do is think of a business category and then type in your location. You can use just a zip code, or a city and state.
For example, when my wife and I moved to Pittsburgh, we wanted to find out about the local pizzerias. All I had to do was type pizza, 15216 into a Google search box. Here’s what I got:
As you can see, Google shows me a map of my local area and then shows me where each pizzeria is located. This is nice, as I can quickly see which ones are closest to where I live. Google also lists the website and phone number of each establishment.
At the bottom of this page is a link that says More results near Pennsylvania 15216 >> If I click on this, I am taken to a more in-depth page of my results.
Here is what that in-depth page looks like:
This page gives you more information about some of the pizzerias. You will notice that Google now offers to give you driving directions to any one of these pizza kitchens.
You’ll also notice that for some of the businesses, Google displays reviews that other internet users have written. For example, on the last business a reviewer says she “saw a lady drop a tomatoe on the floor and pick it up and put it in someones salad.” I’ll be sure to avoid that place — especially if a tomatoe is a cross between a toe and a tomato. That doesn’t sound good at all.
At the very top of this page, you’ll find that Google has opened up a little Find businesses tab for you that you can use to find most any business. If you would like to access a Google Find businesses page for yourself without going through a standard Google search box, click here.
To show the power of the Google Yellowpages, let’s try searching for a medical profession in a remote area of the USA. We’ll try dentists in Provo, Utah. Here’s what we get:
This page looks similar to the previous one. I performed one more search just to demonstrate the power and versatility of Google’s Yellowpages.
You may notice that once you get through a few pages of results that they aren’t really relevant to what you searched for. This seems to happen on all searches. After all, you’ll notice that Google found 1,843 dentists in Provo…
Go ahead and try searching in your own city!
How to Remove Your Name, Phone Number, and Address from the Google Phonebook
Many people are uncomfortable when they find out that anyone online can just type their ten digit phone number into any Google search box and find their name and address.
While all of this information is publicly available through libraries and phonebooks, the way that Google has automated their white pages and reverse phone directory is considered to be an invasion of privacy to some internet users.
For example, if you type in the following phone number (blurred for privacy reasons), Google tells you the owner’s name, address, and even offers to give you a map with directions to their home.
How to Remove Your Name from Google’s Phonebook
First, try typing in your phone number to make sure that your name is listed in Google’s massive phone directory.
Next, all you have to do is head on over to Google’s Phonebook Removal Request Page (opens in new window).
You will see the following form:
After entering in your information exactly as it appears in Google’s phonebook, click on the Submit Form button.
You should then be transferred to a confirmation page similar to this one:
No Turning Back
After going through this process, you will never be able to add your phone number again to Google’s search database. On their removal page, they say that once it is deleted, the deletion is permanent.
Is This the Best Way?
While this method does remove your name and number from Google’s phone book, your name and phone number will still be available in other online directories.
If you are really concerned about your phone number being visible online, you need to contact your phone company and make your phone number unlisted and unpublished.
Using Goog 411 to Find Businesses from Your Phone for Free!
A few weeks ago, I was looking for something at Wal-Mart for our home. Unfortunately, Wal-Mart didn’t have it. I thought that Home Depot or Lowe’s might be the next best place to try.
I also wanted to be able to call them beforehand to make sure that they were open and that they carried the specific item that I needed. Fortunately, Google was just a phone call away.
How to Use Google to Find Businesses
In order to use Google to find businesses from any phone, all you have to do is dial 1-800-Goog-411. You will then be connected to a nice man that will help you find the business you are looking for.
What the Conversation Will Sound Like
Wondering what will happen when you make the phone call? First, the Google man will pick up the phone and rather than saying a friendly “Hello”, will greet you with a quickly spoken “Calls Recorded.”
Here’s exactly how the conversation will go down when you are looking for a Home Depot store in Burlington Vermont:
Google: Calls recorded. Goog 411. What city and state?
Me: Burlington, Vermont
Google: Burlington, Vermont. What business name or category?
Me: The Home Depot.
Here, I could have also said any category, such as restaurants or home improvement stores.
Google: The Home Depot. Searching. Top Listing - Home Depot on Harvest Lane, Williston. I’ll connect you. You can also say more results, details, or go back.
Since I didn’t want to be connected at this particular moment, I decided to go for more details.
Me: Details.
Google: Details. You can also get the details by saying Text Message. Home Depot - 759 Harvest Lane, Williston. Phone Number: 802-872-0039 . Here it is again: Home Depot, 759 Harvest Lane, Williston. Phone Number: 802-872-0039 . Hang on and I’ll connect you, or say go back.
Convenience
It is nice that Google offers to simply text you the information you need since many times when you are out and about, you simply don’t have a pen and paper at your disposal.
Getting a Map
Google can also get you a map of the business you are searching for if you are using an internet-enabled cell-phone. Pretty handy if you are in an unfamiliar area.
Video
This short video, posted officially by Google on YouTube, gives a good overview of how to use Goog 411.
Is There A Better Alternative?
Google may be the best when it comes to searching, however it isn’t the best at everything it does. There is an alternative to Goog 411 that I have personally been using for a few years and prefer to the new Goog 411 service.
The alternative is called Tell Me. You can try it by dialing 1-800-555-TELL. I like to use it because in addition to finding businesses and texting them to you while you are away from home you can also use it to get weather reports, stock quotes, news alerts, movies, taxis, airlines, and driving directions.
My favorite feature of Tell Me is their sports scores. I used to always use the internet on my phone to check on the Tigers, Pistons, and Red Wings. However, once I found out about Tell Me, I was able to cancel the internet on my phone and simply call the free 800 number when I needed the info. To see all of the features Tell Me offers, click here.
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