Google Places Local Search

[The Leader]

How is everyone going with Google Places Local Search? I find there is not much discusion about it on seo forums but the google places 7 pak seems to be coming up in lots of searches these days. My issue is that I live around 50km from the majoy city and my business is one that needs the major city as an address in google places or it just never ends up on the first page. I have found new websites with a city address are outranking some of mine because of it. Many competitors are now getting bogus city addresses to outsmart google and I have done similar but google maps rings up to check. So it there away to get around this?
Has anyone found any other smart things to help?

 

[smithk]

Yes there are lots of ways..Try to google it...

 

[smithamartin2015]

if your website will be listed in google search than you will get business from local area.

 

[stacey25]

[FONT=&quot]Good for the SEO and we can drive the traffic for the website. [/FONT]

 

[hiseredman99]

I thought that the Local Search Trends was the best feature of the entire tool. Did that many people not think it was worth it. Not sure why Google would do that...