If your business has local focus and you want more local customers, you might want to head over to the Google Local Business Center.  Google has updated the interface used to add your business to Google Maps and its local search results.

The new interface incorporates more analytical data than before, and overall makes for a more simple and clean experience. Clearly Google is hoping the new UI will encourage more local businesses to add themselves to the matrix.

It’s not just eye candy, either. You’ll get info on how often your listing was viewed, how often someone engaged it, your top search queries, and more.

Signing up for a local listing is a piece of cake. You’ll enter your details and then Google will either send your postcard (the "verify your address" kind, not the "Wish You Were Here" version) or use an automated telephone call.

It’s cool and it’s free.

Do you have your listing set up?