Google Promoting Local Business Center

Google is finally promoting (sort of) its local business center on the Lat Long Blog:

As part of our quest to build the best local search experience possible, Google’s Local Business Center is where business owners can go to add or edit their business listing on Google Maps by providing their address, contact information, hours of operation, and even storefront or product photos.

This free process is now even faster and easier to use. Users in international locales can now receive verification via a phone call or SMS rather than waiting for a postcard in the mail. With our new verification options, it only takes 10 minutes to create or edit, and then verify your listing. We do the rest — your business will appear on Google Maps within a few weeks.

There’s a new interface and an effort to obtain more “metadata” (including photos, later video I’m sure) from local businesses in the process of signing up or correcting an inaccurate listing.