pagerank

21Nov By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

DIY or Not? Why You Should Have a Website Built

A website is an essential asset for your business marketing, but how do you create one? Many small businesses are tempted to try to build a website by themselves to save money. Unfortunately, that doesn’t work out well. It’s a better idea to have a website built for you by a professional — and it doesn’t have to break the bank! The truth is that you can have a web designer customize a WordPress template if you need to cut costs or get a fully custom website if you can make the investment. Why should you have a website built? Here are several reasons! You’ll Save Dozens of Hours of Productive Time You might think you’ll save money if you create your own website, but time is money — and you’ll spend a tremendous amount of time on it. Because you’re not an expert, it will take you much longer...

Read More

21Nov By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

How Websites Work to Bring in New Business: 4 Strategies to Know

You know that your website is a major investment, and you want to make sure you reap the rewards. Getting an excellent return on investment (ROI) on your website isn’t difficult, but it does take some specific strategies.  The first thing you need is optimization. This involves creating a website that will get attention from the right people at the right times. The second thing you must do is amplify your message. This gets more eyes on your content and more traffic to your website. We’ll take a look at how websites work to bring new customers into your business through a variety of optimization and amplification strategies. Let’s dive in! 1. Search Engine Optimization is Essential Just because you create a website doesn’t mean the right people will see it. You need to show up in the plac...

Read More

20Nov By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

How You Can Use SEO For Suppliers To Generate More Web Traffic

In recent years, having a strong online presence has become increasingly important. Most people, even in the B2B space, start their buyer’s journey with a Google search, so ensuring that your website ranks in search engine results is a must. Just ranking isn’t enough, though. The closer you can get to the number one spot, the better off you’ll be. This is where search engine optimization (SEO) comes into play. Although you’re probably already utilizing other forms of marketing for your business, SEO is one that should also be added to your strategy. As a wholesaler/supplier, investing in search engine optimization (SEO) for your website has the potential to change the trajectory of your business. Let’s talk about how you can use SEO for suppliers to generate more web traffic.  Conduct Keyw...

Read More

18Nov By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

How Websites Make Money for Your Business

You know that a website is essential for your business — it serves as your online storefront and much more. However, is your site working as hard for you as it should be? A well-designed and properly optimized website should be your best salesperson. The site works around the clock, seven days a week, and never needs a break or a vacation. If your website isn’t making you money, it should be! Here’s what you need to know to get your website to work as hard as you do. Money Maker #1: Reviews A full 84% of people trust reviews as much as they trust a personal recommendation from a friend or family member. That means that reviews are a key money maker for your business.  Most of your reviews are probably on your Google Business page, and that’s fine. However, since they’re public, you can us...

Read More

14Nov By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company

What to Know Before Hiring an SEO Agency for SaaS Companies

Over the last several years, search engines have become a very important part of the buyer journey. In fact, more than 80% of people like to visit a business’ website before spending any money and the SaaS industry is no exception. That said, it’s important for people to be able to find your website, and SEO plays a big role in that.  Since SEO can play such a critical role in your company’s success, it’s essential that your SEO work be done by someone who knows exactly what they’re doing. That’s why we recommend hiring a trusted SEO agency to handle your strategy.  Making the commitment to hire an SEO agency can be a pretty big decision. As a result, it’s important to get as much information as possible before handing your SEO strategy to someone else. In this post, we’ll discuss some of ...

Read More

11Nov By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

SEO for Manufacturing Companies: 5 Mistakes To Avoid

SEO for manufacturing companies has become an essential part of business growth. Since the majority of people now begin their buyer’s journey with a Google search, it’s essential that your website has a strong online presence that includes ranking high in search engine results. At the same time, though, many businesses fail to understand the proper way to implement SEO strategies which can leave them feeling disappointed with the results. While it’s important to implement SEO into your marketing strategy, it’s also important that it be done right. Let’s talk about 5 SEO mistakes manufacturing companies should avoid.  Not Setting Specific Goals No matter what kind of marketing your business is doing, goal setting is a must. Without setting clear goals, you’ll have no way of really knowing i...

Read More

10Nov By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

How a Website is Created for Business: 5 Steps

As a small business in 1990, you’d never dream of operating without a storefront. As a company in today’s business environment, you can’t afford to not have a website. Your website is as important as your physical location and perhaps more so; in 2019, online sales in Canada totaled $1.85 billion. If you don’t currently have a website, or your site is underperforming, you might wonder how to create an effective business website. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are five steps to get your business on the (digital) map. Secure a Website Domain and Hosting When you have a physical storefront, you need a business address and some land for your store. A domain name and hosting are the same things, only online. Your domain name is the website name that goes in the bro...

Read More

6Nov By Claire CarlileNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

5 Common Local SEO KPIs And How To Measure Them

Be honest: Have you ever put together what you now know to be one of the worst SEO reports ever made?You know what I mean – a bloated 10-pager filled with pointless data that will mean literally nothing to the client, and that they’ll probably never read.You add Google Analytics (GA) users, sessions, page views, bounce rates, time on site, and traffic by channel for a start.You sprinkle on some Google My Business (GMB) data to show the number of listing views on Search and Maps, then plug in Google Search Console for a clicks and impressions table.“Look how busy I’ve been,” you say to yourself. Look at all of those numbers! So clever.I’ll own up – I’m guilty as charged. That’s not to say that some of that data won’t be useful for those clients.It’s just that before we put together our repo...

Read More

6Nov By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

Here’s What To Expect When You Hire A B2B SEO Expert

As a business owner, your main goal is to make more money than you spend. As a result, the thought of hiring a professional to handle your website’s SEO may seem like an unnecessary expense. In reality, however, it is an investment that could yield a high and long-lasting return. In fact, SEO has a much higher return than other forms of marketing.  By trusting a B2B SEO expert to handle your strategy, you can put your business in a position to reach your audience in ways that once seemed impossible. If you’re interested in learning more about what an SEO professional can do to help your website reach a wider audience, today is your lucky day. Let’s talk about some of the things you can expect when you hire a B2B SEO expert.  An SEO Audit Having a clear understanding of your current SEO si...

Read More

4Nov By Sherry BonelliNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

A Complete Guide for Local SEO

Google announced today that the name of its local listing platform, Google My Business (GMB), is changing to Google Business Profile.“Moving forward, we recommend small businesses manage their profiles directly on Search or Maps. To keep things simple, ‘Google My Business’ is being renamed ‘Google Business Profile,'” wrote Matt Madrigal, VP/GM Merchant Shopping, in the official announcement.“And in 2022, we’ll retire the Google My Business app so more merchants can take advantage of the upgraded experience on Search and Maps,” he added.The rebranding announcement came with a few new features, too.What does this mean for the millions of business owners, brands, and marketers who use GMB (now GBP) as part of their local online presence?What’s New With Your Google Business Profile?The option ...

Read More

2Nov By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

8 Ways to Promote Your Website

Your business website is one of the most important assets your company has. The right website will present your company as authoritative and in touch with the problems your ideal customer has, while also educating visitors about your products and services and encouraging them to buy. Essentially, a great business website is the best salesperson you don’t have to pay a salary to. This is why you want to ensure all of your ideal clients find it and engage with your content! Wondering how to promote your website online? There are a lot of options, but these are 10 of the best. Create and Share Content One way to draw traffic to your website is to give your ideal audience something to read or watch there. This means creating content that is relevant to your company and your customers’ needs a...

Read More

2Nov By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

7 Ways to Promote Your Business Online

Today, starting a business is almost the easy part. You can set up a high-quality website and register a business name, and begin providing products and services right away. The tough part isn’t starting the business, it’s getting attention from your ideal customers. The market in every industry is very competitive and crowded, and consumers get thousands of advertising messages every day. Fortunately, there are ways you can promote your business online and stand out from competitors. Let’s look at 10 effective strategies. Create a Social Media Community As of 2021, Canadians spend an average of 1 hour and 46 minutes on social media each day. In addition, 91% of Canadians use the internet regularly. That means taking advantage of social media communities is a great way to promote your bus...

Read More

1Nov By PhilNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Uncategorized

What Parts of Your Local SEO Can Competitors NOT Steal?

Like my post? Please share! On your way to your seat at the Local Feast, they follow you around like a bad smell.  You toil to build a great page or resource on your site, and two days later they’ve copied it.  You put research and brain cells into your title tags, internal links, GMB categories, and citations, only to spare your competitor all that effort.  You get hard-earned reviews from happy customers, and then your competitor’s “customers” happen to write reviews on the same experiences.  In addition to stealing everything but your cattle, they may spam the map and diss you whenever anyone is listening.  Google won’t do much about any of it.   Copycats can get far, but only so far.  It’s like in chess, where a bad player can copy a grandmaster’s every move until the game-ending move....

Read More

31Oct By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

How B2B SEO Marketing Can Bring Your Business More Qualified Leads

When people talk about SEO, they tend to focus on how it helps your website rank in the search engine results. What they don’t always do, however, is explain why that is so beneficial. The truth is that a good B2B SEO marketing strategy can be one of the best forms of lead generation for your business. Not only does SEO bring more people to your website, but it can help convert those people into happy customers. Keep reading to learn how B2B SEO marketing can help your business get more qualified leads.  Create Brand Awareness One of the best things about SEO is that it can help create brand awareness, and it does so in a way that doesn’t make your customers feel bombarded. In fact, the relationship between SEO and brand awareness is symbiotic because as your brand becomes more popular, pe...

Read More

28Oct By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

The Best B2B SEO Practices For Your Business

Over the last several years, SEO has become one of the most important aspects of digital marketing. However, while lots of businesses are aware that they need SEO, they don’t always know what kind of approach they should be taking.  Since SEO consists of quite a few different elements, it’s important to understand which aspects make the most sense for your business. Having knowledge of the best ways to build an SEO strategy are the major keys for success.  In this article, we’ll go over some of the best B2B SEO practices that your business should be following.  Kee User Intent In Mind When Researching Keywords Keyword research is one of the key components to SEO. However, this research isn’t just about finding keywords that relate to your product/services. When looking for keywords to rank...

Read More

26Oct By Marshall NymanNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

8 Ways To Drive Local Business In Competitive Markets With Search

Local search marketing is key for any location but when faced with a competitive market, it’s essential that you have strategies to help you stand out.The closer the user is to a location, the more likely it will rank. However, in denser areas, a location will face more competition.By accelerating efforts around Google My Business (GMB) and location page management, a location’s relevance and prominence can increase a business’s rankings resulting in increased local visibility, especially in competitive markets.In this post, we will break down strategies for both GMB and location pages to drive more local business.How Google Ranks Local ResultsGoogle states that “Local results are based primarily on relevance, distance, and prominence.”Relevance is how applicable the result is to what some...

Read More

23Oct By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

8 Key Reasons Advertising is Important For Your Business

“If you build it, they will come,” may work in the movies, but unfortunately not in business. Simply having a business or a website doesn’t guarantee that anyone will ever know about it. The truth is there are over 1.8 billion websites online, with more created every second. If you want to make a splash with your business, gain customers, and grow, you need a strategy. One of the most important strategies is advertising. Why is advertising important in society, for both business and consumers? Let’s take a look at eight reasons. Advertising Allows You to Connect With Ideal Customers It wasn’t long ago that advertising meant blasting a large population of people with a generic message, hoping that someone might be interested at the time they heard the advertisement. That’s not the case any...

Read More

19Oct By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

The Benefits Of Working With A B2B SEO Agency

Did you know that most businesses turn to the internet first when they’re looking for products or services? For that reason, it’s essential that your business has a strong online presence so those who are interested in what you have to offer can find it. However, establishing yourself on the internet requires lots of consistent work, and it may not be feasible for you or your team to take all of it on. This is exactly why we recommend hiring a B2B SEO agency. These agencies are designed to help create successful SEO strategies. Hiring one of these companies might just be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. Let’s talk about some of the benefits of working with a B2B SEO agency. Improve Your Search Engine Ranking The main goal of SEO is to help your website rank high in search engine...

Read More

16Oct By John VuongNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

4 Reasons to Work with a Toronto SEO Agency

SEO is vital for all businesses, but it’s especially important for small and medium-sized companies. You want to connect with your ideal customers right when they are most likely to buy, and searching on Google is a good indicator of intent. However, not all small businesses understand why they need to work with a Toronto SEO agency. They may try to do SEO on their own in order to save money while improving sales. Unfortunately, it often doesn’t work. Curious why you should partner with an SEO agency instead? Here are five reasons. 1. SEO Lets You Compete With Larger Companies You don’t have the same budget as a big corporation, but that doesn’t mean you can’t compete with them. Getting customers doesn’t mean spending tens of thousands on ads for television, radio, or newspapers.  Instead...

Read More

14Oct By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

9 Reasons a Website is Important For Your Small Business

There aren’t very many businesses without websites, but is yours working hard for your business? Many owners of small or medium-sized businesses use their website like a business card — it’s there, but that’s it. The good news is that a website can do so much more than that for your company! The benefits of having a website for your small business go far beyond sharing a business card or having your phone number online. Wondering why a website is important? Let’s take a look at 10 reasons. 1. Your Website is Your Online Store Location You wouldn’t just rent any building and slap your sign on the outside and call it your business. Choosing a location for your business takes a lot of time and thought. You want the right location, an attractive building, the right layout, and proper parking,...

Read More

14Oct By John VuongNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

What Can an SEO Company in Toronto Do For You?

Have you been wondering what benefits you get from working with an SEO company in Toronto? You might think that you can design and optimize your website yourself, or perhaps you think that word-of-mouth marketing is good enough. The truth is that word-of-mouth only goes so far and digital marketing can help you meet your goals more effectively. There are a lot of benefits to working with experts. Here are five to keep in mind. SEO Pros Allow You to Focus Your Time Small business owners have plenty to do, and often not enough time or people to get it all finished. Doing more with less is a daily reality, and it often gets frustrating. Trying to add digital marketing to your already full plate only makes things worse. Not only do you not have the money or time to execute strategies effectiv...

Read More

12Oct By Colan NielsenNo Comments

Advanced Local SEO Training, business, GMB, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

Can Service Area Pages With Duplicate or Similar Content Increase Traffic?

Posted Oct 11, 2021 by Colan Nielsen At our April LocalU event, I covered Shades Of Grey: Controversial Local SEO Tactics that Drive Results. I covered local SEO tactics ranging from keyword stuffing to review snippets in the organic search results. One of the topics I discussed, which always draws a wide range of opinions, was the concept of creating service area pages that have duplicate, or very similar content. Duplicate, or similar content has always been a controversial topic. Google has confirmed on many occasions that duplicate content is not a negative ranking factor. It’s understood that Google can filter duplicate content from the search results, however, we have observed that when it co...

Read More

10Oct By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

5 Ways SaaS Companies Can Excel With Digital Marketing

Running a software company is a challenge, and one of the biggest obstacles you face is how to get your name known when there’s so much competition.  The good news is that with the right digital marketing strategies, SaaS companies can build their brand, attract new customers, and grow their business. Are you ready to learn how to succeed? Let’s dive into five ways SaaS companies can excel with digital marketing. 1. Take Advantage of SEO SEO for SaaS B2B companies is essential if you want to grow your business without shortening your runway significantly. Many marketing strategies are very capital-intensive, and it doesn’t have to be that way. When you have excellent SaaS SEO, you can turn your website into a 24/7 salesperson. The right optimization and keywords will help you capture lead...

Read More

9Oct By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

4 Ways to Make Your SaaS Website Work Hard For You

You work hard to create assets for your SaaS business, including your website. The goal, of course, is to have these assets work hard for you. A great SaaS website can bring in ideal customers 24/7, build your brand, and more. But it only works hard if you design it to do so. The right web design and SaaS SEO is essential if you want to grow your business. Here are four ways to design your website to work hard for your SaaS business. Write With the Customer in Mind We see three common mistakes when it comes to SaaS website content. The first is that it can be full of technical language that customers struggle to understand. B2B content is often more technical than consumer-focused information, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be confusing. After all, even in B2B, the reader is still a hu...

Read More

8Oct By John VuongNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

5 Tips to Maximize Search Engine Optimization

If you have a website, you know that it’s hard to get noticed in the noise. There are over 1.8 billion websites online right now, with more going live every minute.  How do you get your website noticed by ideal customers? How can you stand out from competitors? The answer is search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is a long-term strategy of finding the keywords your ideal customers are using to search for your products and services and optimizing your website to focus on them. Maximizing SEO isn’t easy. Here are five tips that can help. Take Advantage of Local Keywords If you run an HVAC company, you might be tempted to focus on keywords like “HVAC” or “heating and cooling.” Unfortunately, you’ll find that those keywords are extremely competitive. Larger businesses with huge budgets have pro...

Read More

6Oct By John VuongNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO

SEO Toronto: The Secret Strategies That Matter

Do you ever wonder if you’ve got all the strategies you need to maximize your SEO Toronto? It’s a good question to ask. After all, everyone knows the basics — what makes content truly stand out? We decided to pull back the curtain and share some of our top secrets with you. We have years of SEO experience and a lot of in-house experts, so we’ve got a few tricks up our sleeve. Interested to know our secrets? Let’s dive in. Supercharging Keyword Research Keyword research is essential and no one can succeed at SEO Toronto without excellent data in this area. But are you going beyond the surface and really diving deep into your keyword information? Here are some things we put in our “secret sauce.” The Right Tools Once upon a time, the Google Keyword Planner would give you a wealth of informa...

Read More

5Oct By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

6 Key Benefits of SaaS SEO Services

Should your SaaS business pursue search engine optimization (SEO) as a key marketing strategy?  For us, this is an easy question, because we know the many benefits our clients see when they use SEO marketing. However, we see a lot of SaaS businesses spending a tremendous amount of money on capital-intensive marketing strategies like pay-per-click, social media ads, and more. This article will showcase the many advantages of using SaaS SEO services so that you can focus your marketing efforts in a way that will best grow your business. You’ll Get More Organic Traffic Traffic you have to pay for is fine enough, but what happens when the budget runs out? All of that traffic — and sales — disappear.  Organic traffic allows you to invest upfront and get ongoing traffic and leads, day after day...

Read More

5Oct By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

GMB, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company

Does Adding Photos in Google My Business Increase Ranking? [Case Study]

Posted Oct 4, 2021 by Joy Hawkins I often see posts come up in Facebook groups that recommend adding photos constantly to your Google My Business listing because this helps a business rank higher in the local pack results.  Most people say it’s because Google likes “fresh” or “recent” content. TLDR; According to this case study: Adding photos to a Google My Business listing had no measurable impact on ranking in the local pack search results. The search results didn’t show the photos we added and often defaulted to the cover photo. Adding photos to the GMB landing page (the business website) did impact ranking due to the alt-text on the photo. The Case Study For this test, we took 4 different Goo...

Read More

2Oct By Jessie LowNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, On-page SEO, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

2021 Local Search Summit – Day 3 Action Items & Recommendations

2021 Local Search Summit - Day 3 Action Items & Recommendations - Whitespark The #WLSS is officially complete and our final event day covered E-A-T, Google Justifications, reports, effective copywriting and more. We opened the day discussing Diversity and Inclusion in Digital Marketing – this is a very important topic. We implore t...

Read More

1Oct By PhilNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, Uncategorized

Thin Local Rankings: Why and How to Think Thick, Not High

Like my post? Please share! Business owners, SEOs, and others refer to good local search rankings as high and bad rankings as low, but they don’t look at whether their rankings are thick or thin.  If you just turn your head to the side 90 degrees, you’ll see weaknesses and opportunities you probably missed before.  You’ll see ways to thicken up your local visibility, and that will be glorious for business. What’s a “thin” ranking?  The short answer is it’s the same problem as when a baseball team doesn’t have a “deep bench,” and loses a game every time something goes even a little wrong.  You want visibility / rankings that can withstand a lot going wrong, because if you’re in business for long enough and if you depend on Google visibility enough, that’s exactly what will happen. The longe...

Read More

29Sep By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

5 Ways Working With A SaaS SEO Agency Can Help Grow Your Business

Over the last decade, SEO has become a very important part of the digital marketing world. At this point, if you aren’t doing SEO (and doing it right), you’re at risk of being left in the dust by your competitors.  Implementing SEO into your marketing strategy can help improve your businesses’ online reputation and generate more traffic to your website which can ultimately result in more sales. However, if you’re not an experienced SEO professional, you may not be seeing the kinds of results you want.  By working with a SaaS SEO agency, you can set yourself up for success. A good agency will help improve your company’s online presence and put you in a position to bring in more customers. Keep reading to learn five ways a SaaS SEO agency can help grow your business.  Gives You Time To Work ...

Read More

23Sep By John VuongNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, SEO APP & Web Development, seo company, seo services

What Top Web Designers Know That You Don’t

Do you ever wish you could read the minds of top web designers and get the secret tips you need for your website? Good news: you can!  At Local SEO Search, our website designers have decades of combined experience creating effective, optimized small business websites. If you’re interested in what they know that you don’t, you’ll want to keep reading! Here are our top tips for website design. A Pretty Website With No SEO Is a Wasted Investment Imagine that you have a beautiful storefront. You know your customers will absolutely love it and will be eager to buy the products and services you offer. There’s just one problem — no one knows the store’s address, so no one can find it. That’s what it’s like to have an attractive website without search engine optimization (SEO). It’s beautiful and...

Read More

21Sep By John VuongNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, SEO APP & Web Development, seo company, seo services

4 Myths About Web Design Solutions to Bust Today

Having high-quality web design is essential to building your brand and growing your business online. However, not all web design solutions are created equal.  There are a lot of misconceptions about web design, especially among small and medium-sized business owners. We’re here to help bust through the myths and understand the truth. That way, you’ll get high-quality web design solutions that really make a difference for the bottom line of your business. Are you ready to bust some myths? Let’s get started. Web Design is Simple Creating a website today is easier than in the past. There are a variety of website builders and software programs that walk you through the process step-by-step.  However, that doesn’t mean that great design is simple. It’s one thing to create a website. It’s anothe...

Read More

18Sep By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, SEO APP & Web Development, seo services

6 Pages Your New Website MUST Have

Are you getting ready to create a new website? Congratulations! A website is one of the most important digital marketing tools a small business can have. You’re probably overwhelmed by all of the choices and technical details. There’s a lot to think about and you’ll need to decide how to design and brand your website. However, today we’re keeping things simple. What pages are an absolute MUST-HAVE before you launch? Here are six you absolutely can’t afford to miss. Your Homepage Every website comes with a homepage. It’s the first page that a visitor sees if they enter your business website in the address bar. However, not very many businesses have an effective homepage. You have only a few seconds to capture the attention of a visitor. Your homepage can do that by having clear branding, a...

Read More

18Sep By Claire CarlileNo Comments

Blog, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

Key Learnings from LocalU Advanced, August 2021

 I’ll let you into a little secret. If you’re super-duper into local SEO, and you’re not already attending LocalU Advanced you’re missing a trick. This is where the top minds and actual practitioners in the space get together and share ALL-NEW content including research, case studies, how-tos, and much, much more. I got the chance to attend the last event on August 31, and, as always, I bloody loved it. So much that I wrote up the key takeaways from my favorite talks from Joy Hawkins, Rachel Anderson, Greg Gifford, Dana DiTomaso so that you can enjoy them too! Joy Hawkins: Make Your Images Worth a Thousand Words Ah, I do love Sterling Sky’s Joy Hawkins, I always get some great takeaways any time I listen to her speak, and using images more effectively is something I’m always looking to ups...

Read More

11Sep By Local VikingNo Comments

AdNouncement Lite, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

Your Guide to Better Local SEO Rankings

This post was sponsored by Local Viking. The opinions expressed in this article are the sponsor’s own.If you’re working on local SEO projects and managing Google My Business (GMB) listings, you’ve probably scrambled to answer at least one of these questions:How can we increase our visibility?How can we expand our ranking coverage?My GMB listing is “filtered” or stuck – what now?Don’t fret – we’ve got you covered!Everything you need to know about ranking and visibility for Google My Business is in this comprehensive guide from Local Viking.Learn actionable local SEO strategies based on years of serving large agencies in a white-label fashion, owning a portfolio of general and niche agencies, and working with marketing teams on national GMB campaigns with over thousands of locations across t...

Read More

10Sep By Local VikingNo Comments

AdNouncement Lite, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

How to Get Better Results for Your GMB Listing with Fewer Tools

This is a sponsored post written by Local Viking. The opinions expressed in this article are the sponsor’s own.With a portfolio of agencies managing Google My Business (GMB) listings, client acquisition dialed in, and workload piling up, the birth of Local Viking was a true baptism by fire.We needed something that could start the journey of containerizing reporting, help our staff automate some of the mundane optimization activities, and lead the charge into a more accurate and sensible rank tracker for our clients.If you want to check out the day-to-day strategies we use in our real-life agencies that rank thousands of GMB listings, download this free guide.If you’re looking for quick GMB management tips, then you might find our 15-Minute Marketing Methodology case study useful.But if you...

Read More

8Sep By Heather CampbellNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Webinar

4 Lesser-Known Local SEO Tips Even the Experts Miss

More people are searching for local businesses than ever before.This also means local search has never been as competitive as it is today.So how can local businesses stand out and rise in the rankings?How can you make it easy for customers to easily find your business and connect with you?On June 9, I moderated a sponsored Search Engine Journal webinar presented by Jared McKinney and Matt Boyce of Podium.They shared tips on how to rank higher in search using some lesser-known local SEO tips.Here’s a recap of the webinar presentation.Data from Google and other sources tells us that local searches consistently lead to actual visits to physical locations.But often, local businesses don’t pay attention to simple yet impactful tactics that can actually make a difference for their SEO.What follo...

Read More

6Sep By Marshall NymanNo Comments

Enterprise SEO, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

The Complete Guide to GMB Attributes for Local SEO

Google My Business (GMB) attributes are a uniform way for businesses to share what they offer and what a customer can expect when using that business.They are also a way for a business to optimize its local search presence. The more detailed a listing is with attributes, the more likely that listing could rank for a specific targeted search with an attribute modifier — for example, [accessible restaurants near me] or [miami hotels with free wifi].In this blog post, you’ll discover the different types of GMB attributes available to businesses depending on your primary business category, and how local marketers can best leverage these attributes.Types of Google My Business AttributesThere are two types of attributes within a listing on GMB: factual or subjective.Factual attributes are mainta...

Read More

6Sep By Jason HennesseyNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

How to Create a Winning Local SEO Strategy for Your Business

With 90% of consumers searching for local businesses online, local SEO is an essential marketing tool for businesses looking to attract potential customers.Whether you have a physical location or an online business that serves a specific location, you need a strategy for targeting localized searches and users in your area. This is how you rank higher in Google search, outshine your competitors, and attract even more customers.In this guide, you’ll learn how to create a local SEO strategy for any business to generate more traffic from local search.Does Your Business Need a Local SEO Strategy?First off, not all businesses need local SEO. Only businesses that serve a specific geographic location (or several) need to rank in local search for the key terms potential customers are searching for ...

Read More

5Sep By Andrew ShotlandNo Comments

Enterprise SEO, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

5 Top Enterprise Local SEO Challenges (& How To Solve Them)

Local SEO is a strange beast. Mastering it for an enterprise requires both knowing how to do “national” SEO, Google My Business SEO, and then understanding how Google treats your target search queries in different markets.That means there is an infinite number of challenges in enterprise local for search marketers.What Are the Most Common Challenges in Enterprise Local SEO?Prioritizing local with internal stakeholders.Having a single source of truth for location data.Optimizing store locators.Google My Business management & optimization.Building a local search presence for service area businesses and marketplaces.1. Prioritizing Local InternallyIt sounds strange, but I can’t tell you how many multi-location organizations we have worked with where the locations were not the priority for...

Read More

2Sep By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, SEO APP & Web Development, seo company, seo services

The 5 Essential Steps of the Web Design Process

Having a website is the online version of having a store in your community. You would never try to operate your small business in your town without a store, and in the same way, you aren’t visible online without a website. What does it take to design an effective website? It’s not as complex as you might think, although you definitely benefit from a professional helping you get it right.  Here are the five essential steps of the web design process to keep in mind as you build or optimize your online presence. Know the Goals of Your Website In most cases, the goals of a small business website will be simple: rank well on Google search results, engage visitors with high-quality content, and turn those visitors into ongoing customers. However, if you aren’t clear on those objectives in advan...

Read More

1Sep By Shane BarkerNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

How to Use Local Keywords to Rank Higher on Google

Did you know that 76% of people who search for a nearby business on their smartphones visit them within a day’s time?Or that 28% of these searches end in a purchase?That’s the power of local SEO – and local keyword research.Choosing the right keywords for your business can help you rank better for competitive keywords related to your product and industry.While local searches may yield lower search volumes, it’s more about intent and driving traffic ready to convert.You need to make it easy for consumers to find your local business on Google and other search engines.So how do you find and use keywords to help increase your local search rankings?Read on to find out.Local Keyword ResearchYou first need to know which search queries are helping people find your business.Optimizing your website ...

Read More

1Sep By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

The 8-Step Web Design Checklist For Your Small Business

As a small business owner, your website is your online storefront. You put a lot of thought and effort into your physical store, thinking carefully about signage, layout, and branding.  It’s essential to put the same care into your website design. Studies show that 94% of a visitor’s first impression is based on the design of the website. Fortunately, there are a lot of tools available to help you. Great web design no longer requires you to have a tech degree or understand website coding. Instead, you can use website builders to DIY your website, or choose a professional marketing agency to partner with for a website redesign. What do you need to have to ensure a successful website? Here is a checklist you can use. 1. Choose Your Domain Name & Hosting Your domain name is the website t...

Read More

31Aug By Sherry BonelliNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

5 Top Local Business Concerns, Solved

Google My Business (GMB) is one of the best ways for a local business to rank higher on Google.Whether it’s through the local 3-pack, the local finder, or Google Maps, having your business on GMB helps you get found by interested shoppers, consumers, and clients.But it’s not always easy. Every day, we see dozens of questions from local business owners and digital marketing agencies on the Google My Business Help Community Forum.Many of the issues there are unique and require a deep dive into their specific situation.However, there are some more common questions users have about Google My Business. Here are five GMB problems users often encounter and how to help solve them:Why are changes we didn’t make appearing on our GMB profile?What if I can’t find a category that fits my business model...

Read More

30Aug By Roger MonttiNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, News, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Google Explains Importance of GMB for Local Search

Google’s John Mueller answered a question about the difference in SEO between an informational search query and a query for a local service. Mueller answers the question and followed up by explaining what a business needs to do to rank for local search queries, stressing the importance of Google My Business (GMB).What’s the Difference Between Local and Informational Search Queries?A “Local Search Query” is a search question that someone types into Google when they are looking for a service or a store that is in their geographic area.Examples of a local search business can be a a plumber, a restaurant, a retail store or a lawyer.And informational search query is one where a searcher is trying to find information, like, for example, the cast of a movie, a product review or instructions on ho...

Read More

28Aug By Amanda DiSilvestroNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company

12 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Local SEO Agency

Have you decided that it is time to stop doing your SEO 100% in-house? Is it time to start looking for a local SEO agency to help you meet your goals?It is a decision most businesses have to make at one point or another, especially when things start picking up for a brand (and frankly the work required to maintain a good online presence just gets to be too much).For many, the solution is to hire a local SEO agency to help not only pick up your extra work but use their knowledge to help take you to the next level, as well.It is crucial that you ask the right questions and you know what answers to expect when thinking of hiring an SEO agency.You want to make sure that there is a good fit with the company you are working with, and the questions below should help you answer that.Identify Your ...

Read More

27Aug By Jason HennesseyNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

15 Local SEO Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Local SEO is the leading driver of organic traffic for local businesses. And with around 5 billion searches per day, Google search is the place to get your business found by people searching for products or services like yours.But optimizing for local search isn’t always a simple task.It takes keyword research, on-page optimization, and much more to turn your website into a local traffic-generating machine. Even the savviest of SEO professionals make mistakes along the way.Here, you’ll learn about the 15 most common local SEO mistakes and find simple tips to help you avoid them when optimizing your website or listings.15 Common Local SEO Mistakes Businesses MakeUnlocalized Keyword Targets.No Customer Reviews.Inconsistent NAPW Data.No Directory Profiles.No Google My Business Listing.Ignorin...

Read More

25Aug By Jason HennesseyNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

15 Local SEO Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Local SEO is the leading driver of organic traffic for local businesses. And with around 5 billion searches per day, Google search is the place to get your business found by people searching for products or services like yours.But optimizing for local search isn’t always a simple task.It takes keyword research, on-page optimization, and much more to turn your website into a local traffic-generating machine. Even the savviest of SEO professionals make mistakes along the way.Here, you’ll learn about the 15 most common local SEO mistakes and find simple tips to help you avoid them when optimizing your website or listings.15 Common Local SEO Mistakes Businesses MakeUnlocalized Keyword Targets.No Customer Reviews.Inconsistent NAPW Data.No Directory Profiles.No Google My Business Listing.Ignorin...

Read More

25Aug By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

GMB, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company

How to Add & Remove the Temporarily Closed Label on a Google My Business Listing

Posted Aug 24, 2021 by Joy Hawkins The temporarily closed label has been around for several years but is not a very utilized feature currently.  It is meant to be used when your business is closing for an extended length of time, but not permanently. How do you temporarily close your Google My Business listing? To get your Google My Business listing marked “temporarily closed” you can go into the Google My Business dashboard and on the info tab there should be an option to mark it as closed temporarily: How to Remove the Temporarily Closed Label in Google My Business If you want to re-open your listing after marking it as temporarily closed, follow the steps below: Go to the Info tab inside Goog...

Read More

12Aug By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

9 Reasons Your SaaS Company Should Focus on SEO

If you have a B2B software company, you know that the most important thing you can do to improve sales is to build relationships. You are probably working on a dozen long-term relationships right now, hoping to be able to convince decision-makers that your software is the right answer for their needs. So why should you worry about SEO?  Search engine optimization is about being found on Google by people who are actively searching for information about your industry. What you might not realize is that often prospects searching on Google are further down the funnel — in fact, they might be ready to buy today. What is B2B SaaS SEO? Why should you use it? Here’s what you need to know.  What is B2B SaaS SEO? Search engine optimization is a way of attracting organic leads based on terms and phra...

Read More

9Aug By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

GMB, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Does Moving Your Business Impact Rankings? [2 Case Studies]

Posted Aug 9, 2021 by Joy Hawkins When I first started working in the local SEO industry, we feared clients telling us that they were planning on moving their offices.  There was the thought that because of NAP consistency and duplicate listings, moving was a local SEO nightmare.  Fast forward 15 years and I’m actually seeing several scenarios where relocating can actually help increase your rankings. Case 1:  We had a business that was in the home services space and was set up as a service area business with Google My Business.  Because he didn’t have a physical office, he used his home address on the listing.  When he ended up moving to a new apartment, we updated the address on his listing. The ...

Read More

8Aug By Marshall NymanNo Comments

Enterprise SEO, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

The Complete Guide to GMB Attributes for Local SEO

Google My Business (GMB) attributes are a uniform way for businesses to share what they offer and what a customer can expect when using that business.They are also a way for a business to optimize its local search presence. The more detailed a listing is with attributes, the more likely that listing could rank for a specific targeted search with an attribute modifier — for example, [accessible restaurants near me] or [miami hotels with free wifi].In this blog post, you’ll discover the different types of GMB attributes available to businesses depending on your primary business category, and how local marketers can best leverage these attributes.Types of Google My Business AttributesThere are two types of attributes within a listing on GMB: factual or subjective.Factual attributes are mainta...

Read More

7Aug By Jason HennesseyNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

How to Create a Winning Local SEO Strategy for Your Business

With 90% of consumers searching for local businesses online, local SEO is an essential marketing tool for businesses looking to attract potential customers.Whether you have a physical location or an online business that serves a specific location, you need a strategy for targeting localized searches and users in your area. This is how you rank higher in Google search, outshine your competitors, and attract even more customers.In this guide, you’ll learn how to create a local SEO strategy for any business to generate more traffic from local search.Does Your Business Need a Local SEO Strategy?First off, not all businesses need local SEO. Only businesses that serve a specific geographic location (or several) need to rank in local search for the key terms potential customers are searching for ...

Read More

6Aug By Andrew ShotlandNo Comments

Enterprise SEO, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

5 Top Enterprise Local SEO Challenges (& How To Solve Them)

Local SEO is a strange beast. Mastering it for an enterprise requires both knowing how to do “national” SEO, Google My Business SEO, and then understanding how Google treats your target search queries in different markets.That means there is an infinite number of challenges in enterprise local for search marketers.What Are the Most Common Challenges in Enterprise Local SEO?Prioritizing local with internal stakeholders.Having a single source of truth for location data.Optimizing store locators.Google My Business management & optimization.Building a local search presence for service area businesses and marketplaces.1. Prioritizing Local InternallyIt sounds strange, but I can’t tell you how many multi-location organizations we have worked with where the locations were not the priority for...

Read More

4Aug By Sherry BonelliNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

5 Top Local Business Concerns, Solved

Google My Business (GMB) is one of the best ways for a local business to rank higher on Google.Whether it’s through the local 3-pack, the local finder, or Google Maps, having your business on GMB helps you get found by interested shoppers, consumers, and clients.But it’s not always easy. Every day, we see dozens of questions from local business owners and digital marketing agencies on the Google My Business Help Community Forum.Many of the issues there are unique and require a deep dive into their specific situation.However, there are some more common questions users have about Google My Business. Here are five GMB problems users often encounter and how to help solve them:Why are changes we didn’t make appearing on our GMB profile?What if I can’t find a category that fits my business model...

Read More

3Aug By Roger MonttiNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, News, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Google Explains Importance of GMB for Local Search

Google’s John Mueller answered a question about the difference in SEO between an informational search query and a query for a local service. Mueller answers the question and followed up by explaining what a business needs to do to rank for local search queries, stressing the importance of Google My Business (GMB).What’s the Difference Between Local and Informational Search Queries?A “Local Search Query” is a search question that someone types into Google when they are looking for a service or a store that is in their geographic area.Examples of a local search business can be a a plumber, a restaurant, a retail store or a lawyer.And informational search query is one where a searcher is trying to find information, like, for example, the cast of a movie, a product review or instructions on ho...

Read More

30Jul By Sherry BonelliNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

5 Top Local Business Concerns, Solved

Google My Business (GMB) is one of the best ways for a local business to rank higher on Google.Whether it’s through the local 3-pack, the local finder, or Google Maps, having your business on GMB helps you get found by interested shoppers, consumers, and clients.But it’s not always easy. Every day, we see dozens of questions from local business owners and digital marketing agencies on the Google My Business Help Community Forum.Many of the issues there are unique and require a deep dive into their specific situation.However, there are some more common questions users have about Google My Business. Here are five GMB problems users often encounter and how to help solve them:Why are changes we didn’t make appearing on our GMB profile?What if I can’t find a category that fits my business model...

Read More

27Jul By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

GMB, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Do Google Posts Impact Ranking?

Posted Jul 26, 2021 by Joy Hawkins One of the most frequent questions I get asked related to Google posts is if they impact where a business ranks in the local pack.  To answer this question, we did a test recently on a few inactive Google My Business listings. TLDR Adding Google posts to Google My Business (GMB) listings had no measurable impact on rankings in the local pack. The Methodology: To test this, we picked 3 different Google My Business (GMB) listings that we started adding Google posts to.  These 3 listings had no SEO efforts whatsoever (no content, reputation, or link building efforts) and were in small towns.  2 of them were for marketing companies that were set up as service-area bus...

Read More

25Jul By Jamie PitmanNo Comments

Blog, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, News, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Google Now Shows ‘Ranking Factors Box’ in SERPs to Explain Results

Want to find out why your competitor’s page is No. 1 in Google organic SERPs? Well, now you can! (To the extent that Google is willing to tell you, anyway.) That’s because Google yesterday announced a feature that shows a selection of reasons for ranking individual pages in SERPs, bringing some much-needed transparency to search. via GIPHY Source: Google This feature is a section called ‘Your search & this result’ but it doesn’t have a catchy name yet, so we’re calling it the ‘Ranking Factors Box’, simply because, well, it’s a box that displays ranking factors! The Ranking Factors Box is an extension of the ‘About this result’ box, which is accessible by clicking the ‘three vertical dots’ at the end of a search result and was originally launched back in February of this year. Where is...

Read More

15Jul By Andrew ShotlandNo Comments

Enterprise SEO, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

5 Top Enterprise Local SEO Challenges (& How To Solve Them)

Local SEO is a strange beast. Mastering it for an enterprise requires both knowing how to do “national” SEO, Google My Business SEO, and then understanding how Google treats your target search queries in different markets.That means there is an infinite number of challenges in enterprise local for search marketers.What Are the Most Common Challenges in Enterprise Local SEO?Prioritizing local with internal stakeholders.Having a single source of truth for location data.Optimizing store locators.Google My Business management & optimization.Building a local search presence for service area businesses and marketplaces.1. Prioritizing Local InternallyIt sounds strange, but I can’t tell you how many multi-location organizations we have worked with where the locations were not the priority for...

Read More

8Jul By PhilNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, Uncategorized

Shoehorning Cities into the Address Field of a Google My Business Page

Like my post? Please share! I may have seen this before, but it must not have registered with me until I saw it more than once on the same page of Google Maps results.   In any event, it’s new to me.  Below is an example.  Do you see what’s out of place? Is it the plump business name?  Nope.  Keyword-stuffing like that is omnipresent.  What else looks odd? That “service area” – Holy Moses!  Has Google started displaying in Google Maps all the cities in your GMB service area?  That’s what I thought at first, but notice: the cities are in the “address” field. The street address is in the address field, but so are 12 cities (known as “suburbs” in Australia) and communities the business serves. That isn’t a fluke, because on the very same page of Google Maps results is another GMB page with...

Read More

2Jul By Jamie PitmanNo Comments

Blog, BrightLocal Products, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, News, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO

What’s New in Local Search Grid? Reasons to Put Rankings on the Map!

In the months since we launched Local Search Grid, we’ve been hard at work adding new functionality and updates to make it the de facto geo grid of choice. Alongside the usual, subtle quality-of-life updates you’re not supposed to notice, we’ve launched some big new features that take understanding and improving your local search performance to the next level. Here’s why there’s never been a better time to put your rankings on the map! New Key Metrics in Competitor Tables One of the really neat things you can do with Local Search Grid is to track your competitors and find out why their Google My Business profiles might be winning in local SERPs. You can view the business category they’re using on GMB, see the number of reviews and their average review rating, and find out where you might h...

Read More

29Jun By Marshall NymanNo Comments

Enterprise SEO, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

The Complete Guide to GMB Attributes for Local SEO

Google My Business (GMB) attributes are a uniform way for businesses to share what they offer and what a customer can expect when using that business.They are also a way for a business to optimize its local search presence. The more detailed a listing is with attributes, the more likely that listing could rank for a specific targeted search with an attribute modifier — for example, [accessible restaurants near me] or [miami hotels with free wifi].In this blog post, you’ll discover the different types of GMB attributes available to businesses depending on your primary business category, and how local marketers can best leverage these attributes.Types of Google My Business AttributesThere are two types of attributes within a listing on GMB: factual or subjective.Factual attributes are mainta...

Read More

29Jun By Jason HennesseyNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

How to Create a Winning Local SEO Strategy for Your Business

With 90% of consumers searching for local businesses online, local SEO is an essential marketing tool for businesses looking to attract potential customers.Whether you have a physical location or an online business that serves a specific location, you need a strategy for targeting localized searches and users in your area. This is how you rank higher in Google search, outshine your competitors, and attract even more customers.In this guide, you’ll learn how to create a local SEO strategy for any business to generate more traffic from local search.Does Your Business Need a Local SEO Strategy?First off, not all businesses need local SEO. Only businesses that serve a specific geographic location (or several) need to rank in local search for the key terms potential customers are searching for ...

Read More

28Jun By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, Uncategorized

How to Influence “Years in Business” in the Local Pack Results

Posted Jun 28, 2021 by Joy Hawkins In this Guide: Why you should add an opening date Earlier this year, Google started to display opening dates in the local pack results.  If you choose to not add your opening date inside Google My Business (GMB), Google will often pick a date based on other sources – and these sources could easily be wrong.  I recently did an audit for a business that was displaying as being open for 7 years, when in reality they have been open for 23 years!  Since Google actually allows you to control this, there is no reason why you wouldn’t want to fill it out.  In the example below, what would you be more likely to choose – the business that has been open for 3 years, the on...

Read More

15Jun By Heather CampbellNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Webinar

4 Lesser-Known Local SEO Tips Even the Experts Miss

More people are searching for local businesses than ever before.This also means local search has never been as competitive as it is today.So how can local businesses stand out and rise in the rankings?How can you make it easy for customers to easily find your business and connect with you?On June 9, I moderated a sponsored Search Engine Journal webinar presented by Jared McKinney and Matt Boyce of Podium.They shared tips on how to rank higher in search using some lesser-known local SEO tips.Here’s a recap of the webinar presentation.Data from Google and other sources tells us that local searches consistently lead to actual visits to physical locations.But often, local businesses don’t pay attention to simple yet impactful tactics that can actually make a difference for their SEO.What follo...

Read More

10Jun By Local VikingNo Comments

AdNouncement Lite, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

How to Get Better Results for Your GMB Listing with Fewer Tools

This is a sponsored post written by Local Viking. The opinions expressed in this article are the sponsor’s own.With a portfolio of agencies managing Google My Business (GMB) listings, client acquisition dialed in, and workload piling up, the birth of Local Viking was a true baptism by fire.We needed something that could start the journey of containerizing reporting, help our staff automate some of the mundane optimization activities, and lead the charge into a more accurate and sensible rank tracker for our clients.If you want to check out the day-to-day strategies we use in our real-life agencies that rank thousands of GMB listings, download this free guide.If you’re looking for quick GMB management tips, then you might find our 15-Minute Marketing Methodology case study useful.But if you...

Read More

4Jun By Local VikingNo Comments

AdNouncement Lite, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

Your Guide to Better Local SEO Rankings

This post was sponsored by Local Viking. The opinions expressed in this article are the sponsor’s own.If you’re working on local SEO projects and managing Google My Business (GMB) listings, you’ve probably scrambled to answer at least one of these questions:How can we increase our visibility?How can we expand our ranking coverage?My GMB listing is “filtered” or stuck – what now?Don’t fret – we’ve got you covered!Everything you need to know about ranking and visibility for Google My Business is in this comprehensive guide from Local Viking.Learn actionable local SEO strategies based on years of serving large agencies in a white-label fashion, owning a portfolio of general and niche agencies, and working with marketing teams on national GMB campaigns with over thousands of locations across t...

Read More

2Jun By Heather CampbellNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, Webinar

4 Local SEO Tips Even the Experts Miss [Webinar]

More people are searching for local businesses than ever before.This also means local search has never been as competitive as it is today.So how can local businesses stand out and rise in the rankings?How can you make it easy for customers to easily find your business and connect with you?Join our next Search Engine Journal webinar on Wednesday, June 9 at 2 p.m. ET as Matt Boyce and Jared McKinney of Podium share tips on how to improve your local SEO strategy and visibility.Data from Google and other sources tells us that local searches consistently lead to actual visits to physical locations. To rank higher in local search you need ratings and reviews that build trust in your brand.In this presentation, you will learn how to:Rank higher in search using some lesser-known local SEO tips.Use...

Read More

1Jun By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

GMB, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company

The Ultimate Guide to Practitioner Listings on Google My Business [2021]

Posted Jun 1, 2021 by Joy Hawkins Included in this Guide ⭐What are practitioner listings?✨What business types are allowed practitioner listings?💫How do solo practitioners differ from multi-practitioner listings?🌟What if the practitioner no longer works there? Public-Facing professionals (doctors, lawyers, dentists, realtors, etc.) are allowed their own listings separate from the office they work for.  If you’re wondering if a person is allowed a practitioner listing, ask yourself if they do the following: Have a direct relationship with customers where customers would request them by name (such as a hairdresser). Have schedules that sometimes vary from the normal ho...

Read More

28May By PhilNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Uncategorized

Service Pages and Local SEO: 20+ Principles to Make Them Your Rock-Solid Foundation

Like my post? Please share! I work with clients on all kinds of local-visibility-related challenges, but you would not believe how much time I spend on service pages: explaining, critiquing, troubleshooting, inventorying, creating, and refining them, and then doing it all over again. By “service page” I mean any page that’s focused on a specific service you offer.  But everything I recommend here also applies to whatever you may offer: products you sell, medical treatments you perform, legal cases you handle, etc. Service pages can help you in many ways, including in that they: Turn more of your visitors into customers, no matter how good or bad your search engine visibility is. Can bring you most of the organic rankings you’ll get. Can pop you into the Google Maps results / local 3-pac...

Read More

28May By John VuongNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

SEO Code of Ethics: Boost Your Visibility the Right Way

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of setting up your website and online presence in a way that captures the attention of your ideal customers.You want folks to find your website when they do searches about your industry, and to be engaged by the content on your website and blog. This will help educate leads about your offerings and build their trust in you, so they ultimately become customers.However, there are right and wrong ways to go about SEO. It’s important any agency you work with adheres to an SEO code of ethics so you can trust that your website will be boosted by Google rather than penalized.What is ethical SEO? Let’s take a look!What Colour is Your Hat?You may have seen high-quality SEO companies, such as Local SEO Search, talk about implementing only “white hat” t...

Read More

25May By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, Reviews, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company

Does Upvoting a Review Help it Show Up Higher on Google?

Posted May 25, 2021 by Joy Hawkins People often want strategies to help them control which reviews Google highlights in the Knowledge Panel.  One specific tactic that gets brought up a lot is the upvote feature that Google has beside each individual review.  We wanted to see if upvoting a review on Google impacted where the review showed up so we did a test on this for a client of ours who had a negative review being highlighted in his knowledge panel. We had multiple people upvote a specific review that was left by a well-established Local Guide to see if we could get that review to replace the one that was displaying in the Knowledge Panel.We found that upvoting the review had no impact on the or...

Read More

19May By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

SEO Consulting: 9 Things to Know Before Choosing a Consultant

There are over 1.8 billion websites in existence, and getting yours noticed might seem hopeless. After all, you’re a small business, and you have a lot on your plate.You’re focused on providing the best products and services for your customers, and you have to manage your employees. You don’t have an entire department ready to do your marketing for you.You can’t throw in the towel, either. The key is to find help, and ensure it’s the right help.You’ve heard of search engine optimization (SEO). Is an SEO consultant the way to go? Or should you hire an SEO service provider?The answer is yes. You need both — and you can get them in the same agency. Here are the 10 things you need to know before getting started with SEO consulting.1. You Need An SEO PlanIf your small business is going to succe...

Read More

19May By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

SEO Consulting: 9 Things to Know Before Choosing a Consultant

There are over 1.8 billion websites in existence, and getting yours noticed might seem hopeless. After all, you’re a small business, and you have a lot on your plate.You’re focused on providing the best products and services for your customers, and you have to manage your employees. You don’t have an entire department ready to do your marketing for you.You can’t throw in the towel, either. The key is to find help, and ensure it’s the right help.You’ve heard of search engine optimization (SEO). Is an SEO consultant the way to go? Or should you hire an SEO service provider?The answer is yes. You need both — and you can get them in the same agency. Here are the 10 things you need to know before getting started with SEO consulting.1. You Need An SEO PlanIf your small business is going to succe...

Read More

17May By Sherry BonelliNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

How to Fix Common Service Area Business Issues in Google My Business

When it comes to Google My Business’s rules and guidelines there is a lot of room for improvement.Yes, they have rules written down, but those guidelines are vague in many areas and contradictory in spots.That makes things confusing for even the smartest marketer or business owner. Trying to understand some of GMBs guidelines is almost like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube in a dark room.And the rules pertaining to Service Area Businesses (SABs) seem to be the most confusing.In this column, you’ll learn about the most common problems SABs experience in Google My Business — and how to solve them.What is Unique About Service Area Businesses in GMB?Service Area Businesses are those lacking a physical storefront location where customers can visit.SABs have employees that go out to their customer...

Read More

12May By Darren ShawNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, Whitespark Weekly

Why Do I See Different Rankings Than What My Rank Tracker Reports?

Why Do I See Different Rankings Than What My Rank Tracker Reports? - Whitespark When it comes to rank tracking, the data is often misunderstood. A very common concern amongst business owners is, “I checked my rankings and see different results than my rank tracking report. Your tool is inaccurate.” In this Whitespark Weekly episode, Darren discusses this common concern and breaks down the top 4 factors that impact ranking results. If you’ve ever struggled with seeing different results or fluctuations in your ranking campaigns, don’t miss the video below. Video Transcript Hey there, Darren here from Whitespark. Have you ever looked at the results ...

Read More

28Apr By Jamie PitmanNo Comments

Blog, BrightLocal Products, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

NEW: Manage Local Search Grid at Scale with New Support for Enterprise Plans

Great news for agencies and brands managing 100+ locations: you can now set up custom plans for Local Search Grid credits! This means no more repetitive, manual purchasing of additional credits for businesses using this powerful tool at considerable scale. What’s New? Since launching Local Search Grid in February of this year, we’ve spoken to dozens of agency and brand customers who were excited to use the tool, but were unable to make it work with their otherwise fully-customized BrightLocal Enterprise plans. Now that Local Search Grid has been added to these custom plans, no matter how many Grid Points, keywords, Locations or reports you need each month, you can easily set up recurring, automated purchases of the required credits by speaking to the Enterprise team. Not sure how many cred...

Read More

27Apr By Colan NielsenNo Comments

GMB, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, New Feature, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, Strategy, Tips

Do Google My Business Identity Attributes Impact Ranking? SterlingSky.ca

Posted Apr 27, 2021 by Colan Nielsen Last October, Joy covered 4 Google My Business Fileds That Impact Ranking on a Whiteboard Friday. The four fields Joy covered were: Business Name Categories Website Reviews Up until recently, those were the only features inside the GMB dashboard that had a direct impact on ranking. As of this month, we discovered a fifth feature that has a direct impact on ranking in the 3-pack and Google Maps – Identity Attributes. Key Takeaway: GMB Identity Attributes have a strong impact on ranking for keywords related to the attribute. What are Identity Attributes? If you log in to your GMB dashboard, navigate to the “Info” tab, and select the edit button beside “From the ...

Read More

22Apr By PhilNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Uncategorized

Spin-off Pages: a Bazooka for Your Local SEO

Like my post? Please share! You’ve been on many sites that have them.  Your stronger competitors probably have some.  You may even have a few on your site.  In any case, what I call “spin-off pages” aren’t a new thing, but SEOs and business owners tend not to think of them often or at all, and almost never do they treat spin-off pages as a major part of their on-page local SEO work.  That’s a tough break for them, but great news for you. What is a spin-off page?  It’s a new page you create that’s all about a more-specific version of a service/product/treatment for which you’ve already got a page on your site. In other words, you identify a page on your site about a service (or other offering) you consider a high priority, you think of ways to bust that page into smaller chunks, and you cre...

Read More

13Apr By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Maximizing the Web for Your Business

We’ve definitely learned in the last year that digital marketing is essential if your business is going to survive significant disruptions. Companies such as Bubbles and Balm, who were previously hesitant to grow their online presence, found a digital pivot crucial to survival in 2020. Hopefully, your business already has a strong website and social media and you’re building your reputation and search engine optimization (SEO). However, you can always maximize the impact of the web on your company. How can you take advantage of digital marketing to the fullest? Let’s take a look. Make Sure You Own Your Website Some websites give you the opportunity to set up a free website, but you don’t fully control the platform. This means that your ability to sell products and services can be limited,...

Read More

6Apr By Roger MonttiNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, News, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

How to Increase Offline Sales for Local Businesses

Local Restaurant SearchesYouTube and Local ShoppingGoogle MapsGuide to Offline SalesGoogle is More than Ten Links on a Search ResultCitationsGoogle published a guide on four ways to drive local search traffic to an offline local business and make more sales. It’s a good reminder that Google is more than just the ten blue links on a search page.Understanding all the ways customers are trying to find businesses will help create more sales.For local retail, Google shared that various kinds of searches are growing exponentially.In particular, three kinds of searches are showing dramatic increases:The first kind of search involves consumers searching for businesses that are local to them.The second type of search involves consumers who are searching for businesses local to them that have someth...

Read More

30Mar By PhilNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, Uncategorized

Odd Relationships in Local Search

Like my post? Please share! One of the first things you notice about Google Maps and the rest of the local search zoo is that usually there’s no single, isolated reason one business outranks another.  Rather, all kinds of factors come into play: some obvious, some less obvious, lots of maybes, and some that probably nobody knows about.  But I’d go a step further and say you’re in a much better position to get some solid rankings if you know how some factors tend to interact with each other, often in unpredictable ways. You can’t look at local search ranking factors in a vacuum.  Google sure doesn’t seem to.  Now, it’s not a bad idea to work on your local SEO with a big checklist.  That can get you far, especially if you stick with it.  You only run into trouble when you seem to have done ...

Read More

17Mar By Darren ShawNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, Whitespark Weekly

10 Common Local SEO Myths Debunked

There are many strategies and tactics that you can implement to help your business increase rankings in local search results. But for every well-known and proven ranking strategy, there is an equally well-known unproven strategy masquerading as an effective local SEO tactic. In today’s Whitespark Weekly episode, Darren is busting 10 common local SEO myths! Stop wasting your time implementing these tactics in the hopes of positively impacting your rankings! Video Transcript Hey there, Darren here with another way Whitespark Weekly video. These videos are to help you understand local SEO, give you optimization strategies, and keep you up to date on the latest in local search. If you’re new here, please subscribe to our YouTube channel and sign up for our newsletter. We will send you an em...

Read More

10Mar By Darren ShawNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, Whitespark Weekly

What Happens to Your Rankings if You Do No SEO Work for Over a Year?

What Happens to Your Rankings if You Do No SEO Work for Over a Year? - Whitespark Today, we are revisiting a case study that we did for MozCon 2019 on the process of going from zero web presence to ranking hyper-locally, From Zero to Local Ranking Hero. This was an 8-month-long journey of a business growing its digital footprint and analyzing what worked (and didn’t) along the way to discover exactly what impact different strategies have on local rankings. Over a year later we want to know, where are their rankings now? In this Whitespark Weekly episode, we’re investigating what happened to their rankings after the local SEO work was done and NO additional ...

Read More

6Mar By Winston BurtonNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

12 Proven Local SEO Tips to Dominate the SERPs and Map Pack

Get on a Local Search PlatformUse Structured DataTap Into Google My Business & Optimize for ItUpdate Event StatusAudit Your ListingsManage Your ReputationUse Hyper-Local ContentConnect With Customers via Always-on MessagingMonitor TrendsOptimize for Voice Search & MobileTrack Rankings & Build Out Local Landing PagesDon’t Forget Links Are Still Very ImportantBeing visible on search engine results pages (SERPs) is more important than ever, especially for businesses that have physical brick-and-mortar locations.Restaurants, retail stores, and other types of local businesses have many potential customers looking for your products and services.COVID-19 has changed the way we do business and consumers’ informational needs have grown. Optimizing your local presence is critical for gen...

Read More

3Mar By James EwanNo Comments

Blog, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

Core Web Vitals and the Page Experience Update: What They Mean for Local Businesses

Google is currently putting together the final changes for a search algorithm update that they’ve announced will land in May 2021.  The update is being called the Page Experience update because of its focus on usability rather than things like keywords or search relevance. Google has already provided some information on the update, which aims to measure and potentially rank the experience that a user encounters when visiting a page. The fact that Google have given so much warning about the update says all you need to know about how seriously to take it. We know it’ll impact organic search results but as of yet, there’s no word on whether there will be any specific impact on Google My Business rankings. Although this update is due to hit the algorithm in May, there’s no reason not to get ah...

Read More

2Mar By Adam HeitzmanNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

How to Delete or Merge Duplicate Google My Business Listings

A Quick Recap: Why Google My Business Is Essential for SuccessWhy It Is Important to Delete or Merge Duplicate Google My Business ListingsHow to Merge Two Google My Business ListingsHow to Delete a Duplicate Google My Business ListingLet’s say you just moved to the city of Chicago, specifically Lincoln Park, and you want to try their famous pizza.You Google [best pizza in lincoln park] and the search results pop up.You see many businesses representing the best pizza in Chicago. How do you choose?You look at the reviews; a recent study shows that 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation.Not only that, but you consider the convenience factor.Is the pizza joint close?What is the address? Hours of operation?You ultimately decide to get the pizza delivered and ...

Read More

1Mar By PhilNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, Uncategorized

Seed Audiences: the Most Practical Way to Make Blogging Work for a Local Business

Like my post? Please share! For most business owners and others who try it, blogging is a frustration factory.  The way they go about it, it’s a time gobbler, a grind, and a disappointment until they give up – 47 blog posts and 0 new links, 0 visitors, and 0 customers later. What’s wrong with the way small / local businesses blog? I’ll be the last one to say blogging isn’t effective.   It sure can be.  This blog is a vital organ of my business, and that’s true of some of my clients’ businesses, too.  But certain pieces need to slide into place first, preferably on the sooner side. The big trouble is that blogging (as it’s commonly done) is at best a tough way to earn links, build an audience, and pick up local rankings for semi-competitive terms.  As in it’s ineffective at all 3 most of th...

Read More

17Feb By Adam RiemerNo Comments

Ask an SEO, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

How to Write Meta Descriptions for Store Locations

Today’s Ask An SEO question comes from Sussana in Guatemala. Sussana asks:“What is the best way to write a proper meta description for store locations? Should they contain the store’s phone number?”Thanks for the great question, Sussana!There is no one right way to write a meta description for a store location, but there are plenty of wrong ways.Below, you’ll find what we do when creating meta descriptions for locations for our clients.  These same principles apply to some product, service, and category pages, too.One thing that’s important to note is that meta descriptions likely will not help you rank in Google at this point.They do help you to get more traffic to your website from your rankings, though.AdvertisementContinue Reading BelowThink of the meta title as the advertisement that ...

Read More

16Feb By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

GMB, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company

How Much Do Local Rankings Fluctuate in Google? How Can You Rank Higher in Local?

Posted Feb 16, 2021 by Joy Hawkins It’s pretty common to see threads at the Local Search Forum like this one where a business owner is wondering how they can rank higher on Google.  The challenge I see most often is that a lot of business owners seem unaware of how much rankings in the local search results fluctuate.  There are 3 principles that I’ve observed in the last decade that summarize what people should be aware of.  The top positions seem to be more stable.  If you’re in the top 3-5, you will likely see less fluctuation than positions 5-10.  For example, we often see search results like this where the top few remain consistent over short periods of time and the listings below them shift m...

Read More

10Feb By Jamie PitmanNo Comments

Blog, BrightLocal Products, googe optimize, Google My Business, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, News, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO

Local Search Grid: Put Your Rankings on the Map

We’re incredibly excited to announce the launch of Local Search Grid, a brand-new local rankings tool from BrightLocal that allows you to see the bigger picture of search. Without further ado, here’s how awesome it looks. Snazzy, right? There’s a lot I could say about Local Search Grid and what this new tool means for your search strategy (and I will!) but for now I’ll let our launch video do the talking: If that’s piqued your interest and you want to start using Local Search Grid right away, simply: Log in to your BrightLocal account Select a Location from your Clients & Locations dashboard Click ‘Rankings’ in the Location Sidebar menu Click ‘Local Search Grid’ in the dropdown that appears Want to know more before you dive in? Read on to find out just how Local Search Gri...

Read More

3Feb By Ian LoewNo Comments

Blog, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

7 Ways Local Businesses Can Improve Website SEO

Anyone who runs an online business needs to get to grips with search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is the process of working to make your website rank more highly in results pages on search engines such as Google. There are a few strategies you can use to help your site rank better in local search results. In this article, we’ll discuss how you can improve your website SEO through simple WordPress improvements. Why is ranking well for local search queries so important? According to Business Wire, 67% of Americans prefer to shop with local businesses where possible. Additionally, an estimated 46% of all Google searches have local intent. Speaking anecdotally, I have seen the importance of local search results first-hand. 80-90% of the business for my web design agency, Lform Design, comes...

Read More

22Jan By Team WhitesparkNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, On-page SEO, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Local SEO Audit – How to Do a Quick SEO Audit + Free Template

Start 2021 off right with this quick local SEO website audit that Nick Pierno – Whitespark’s Director of Custom Projects – presented at our 2020 Local Search Summit. Nick runs through the importance of how assessing the SEO viability of a website can help surface potential problem areas and shares his audit checklist to get you set up for success. Video Transcript A Note on SEO Scan Tools There are some good SEO scan tools (Woorank or SEOptimer) out there that I usually run sites through during my audit process to catch anything I missed or just get a kind of programmatic look at things, I’d say these scan tools work better in tandem with a manual audit, rather than as a replacement for one. Gauging a Website’s Overall Local SEO Health You can obviously spend a dozen hours or l...

Read More

21Jan By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

3 No-Nonsense Ways to Get More Customers for Your Car Shop

January 20, 2021 John Vuong Business advice According to the 2019 statistics, there are about 35.7 million vehicles registered across Canada. And all of these vehicles require regular tuning and maintenance to remain in top shape and to prevent accidents. If you’re a business owner providing any auto-related services anywhere in the country, what this statistic tells you is that you have a steady flow of business waiting for you to capture! But how can you get these drivers to become your customers? And most importantly, how can you get these drivers, especially those new in your area, to know that your shop ex...

Read More

15Jan By John VuongNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

7 Powerful SEO Strategies You Shouldn’t Ignore

January 14, 2021 John Vuong SEO There are several search engine optimization (SEO) strategies floating around the internet today. How do you know which ones work and which ones don’t? Going after the most popular SEO strategies may not be your best option because your competitors are doing the same. But what about SEO strategies that others ignore? Whether you’re doing your SEO on your own or having someone else do it for you, ensure not to overlook these 7 strategies. These could open opportunities for you to get new leads today! 1. Optimizing Your Google My Business Page Google considers your Google My Busin...

Read More

11Jan By Stephanie NewtonNo Comments

Blog, googe optimize, Google My Business, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, News, pagerank, paid search, Reputation Management, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Expert Local SEO Predictions for 2021

Now that 2020 is well and truly behind us, we can begin looking forward to bigger, better things. That’s right folks, the time is once again upon us to bring out our BrightLocal crystal ball and enlist some of the local search community’s most well-loved experts to help us with some local SEO predictions for the coming year.  But, before we get started thinking about what’s to come for 2021, how did our experts fare with what they predicted in 2020? Reflecting on 2020’s Local SEO Predictions A lot happened in 2020, but how many of our experts’ local SEO predictions came true?  Unfortunately, a lot of our pros had hoped 2020 would see a reduction in spam, but with the introduction of new Covid-19 support, resources, and features, plus limited Google My Business support, it seems Google had ...

Read More

7Jan By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Types of Buyers & How Understanding Them Could Transform Your Business

December 29, 2020 John Vuong Business advice, SEO Why is it important for business owners to understand their buyers? Well, knowing who your buyers are, where they are located, and what they want helps you come up with effective strategies to deliver their services to them. It’s also crucial to understand their purchasing behaviour. The more you pay attention to their needs and wants, the more specific and targeted your action plan becomes. Keep in mind that different types of customers have varying personalities. And because not all customers are alike, they have different needs and expectations depending on ...

Read More

1Jan By PhilNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Uncategorized

What to Do If Google Auto-Updates Your Google My Business Info and Gets It Wrong

Like my post? Please share! You probably know Google’s tendency to mess with the business info you put in your Google My Business dashboard.  Whether Google emptied fields you filled out, or “corrected” basic facts about your business, or injected info that may be 100% wrong, the telltale orange writing in the GMB dashboard is always a hassle and sometimes a big problem.     Google’s “we know better than you do” MO got worse throughout 2020.  Around the time it temporarily froze some GMB features, Google started piling on new features at an even-faster pace than it had before.  Sometimes Google would fill out those new fields or check those new boxes for you, and often not correctly.  Also, Google started more frequently overwriting or removing old info – info you may have put in your G...

Read More

23Dec By John VuongNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Online marketing, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

5 Basic On-Page SEO Factors that Will Get You Ranked on Google

December 22, 2020 John Vuong Online marketing, SEO Learn On-page SEO core elements that you need to tweak on your website to increase your chances of ranking highly on Google’s search results pages. To make it easier for your customers to find you after performing a Google search, it’s essential to clinch a top spot on Google’s search engine results pages. And one way to boost your ranking is through on-page SEO. On-page search engine optimization is the method of optimizing your web pages for 2 main goals: to increase your search engine ranking and direct more visitors to your site. These goals are achieved by...

Read More

22Dec By Colan NielsenNo Comments

Advanced Local SEO Training, GMB, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

[Quiz Result] Can a Food Truck Have a GMB Listing If They Don’t Have a Permanent Location?

Posted Dec 22, 2020 by Colan Nielsen This is part 1 in a series of posts that will dive into the questions, and answers, from the 2020 Local SEO Blackbelt Quiz. If you haven’t taken the quiz, head over there now and give it a shot.  Here are the scores from the following quiz question. Can a food truck have a GMB listing if they don’t have a permanent location? We had over 900 respondents answer this question. Here’s how the answers break down. The correct answer is Yes. Food Trucks are businesses but are often unable to use Google My Business due to their inability to receive mail.  If they don’t accept mail at their location, or their location isn’t permanent, they have two options: If they wan...

Read More

21Dec By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Online marketing, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Trade Secrets for Online Marketing in 2020

May 15, 2020 John Vuong Business advice, Online marketing, SEO How can you be successful with online marketing in 2020? Unfortunately, there’s not a single sure-fire strategy. Instead, online marketing relies on having a toolbox of tactics that you use regularly. A lot of small businesses wonder what should be in their toolbox. Are you missing a key strategy? Are you still relying on old tools that no longer work? It’s time to find out! Here are the tricks of the trade when it comes to succeeding in online marketing in 2020. Your Website is Your Home Base The first essential element is making sure you have an...

Read More

21Dec By Darren ShawNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

2020 Local Search Ranking Factors Presentation

2020 Local Search Ranking Factors Presentation - Whitespark The 2020 Local Search Ranking Factor survey results are in! I just presented the top highlights and takeaways at Whitespark’s Local Search Summit, and the slide deck is available below. Stay tuned for our upcoming blog post and resource with the complete analysis. Made wit...

Read More

21Dec By Maddy OsmanNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

A Complete Local SEO Checklist

A local search strategy is incredibly important.For community businesses and businesses looking to take advantage of mobile, as well as new and changing consumer behaviors, having a local SEO plan is now a necessity more than an option.Customers across all industry types are searching for the best products and services near them – and this does not just mean retail and ecommerce.They want local answers and services fast.One of the significant differences between local SEO and “regular” SEO is how you target customers.However, the differences don’t stop there.As local consumers look for better and more relevant experiences, “near me” searches continue to rise.About 46% of all Google searches have local intent.Consumers with smartphones are increasingly using GPS-based apps to search for loc...

Read More

21Dec By Jessie LowNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

Google Review Attributes, Local Link Building & UTM Tagging Guide for GMB

Meh, Links: A process for identifying local links that generate customers, leads, and search visibility Gyi is well known in local search circles for his catch-phrase “meh, links” which is the most succinct way of saying, “All other SEO factors considered, it’s probably the links that are making the difference in why one business is outranking another” You will hear a lot from people within the industry that “links are way oversold, all you’ve got to do is create great content, fix your site, incorporate searcher intent, create for users, add Schema…” Yes, all of that is important… BUT the difference maker is the links. Re-frame your mindset around local link building, especially in competitive verticals.  It’s time to correct your myopic view on link building and stop thinking about eve...

Read More

21Dec By John VuongNo Comments

Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Internet marketing, Online marketing, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO

Best-Ever 7 Strategies to Rank and Earn on YouTube

July 21, 2020 John Vuong Business advice, Internet marketing, Online marketing, SEO When Brian Dean first started on YouTube, he was completely at a loss about what to do. He knew it was essential to rank well on YouTube because it’s the second-largest search engine behind Google. He knew that great videos could get amazing traction and even go viral, which really helps your brand and your business. So Brian did what every other entrepreneur does – he turned to Google to find advice. Unfortunately, he kept seeing the same tips over and over. Use keywords in the title, use lots of tags, and create great videos (...

Read More

21Dec By Jessie LowNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Location Page Technical Audits, Local SEO for Hotels & Building Relevance

Location Page Technical Audits, Local SEO for Hotels & Building Relevance | #WLSS Day 2 Recap Day 2 of our Local Search Summit was filled with lessons in link building, GMB suspensions, technical SEO, local services ads, email marketing, and more. Today we are shining a spotlight on the technical side of location pages, local sea...

Read More

20Dec By Loren BakerNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company

How to Target Multiple Cities Without Hurting Your SEO

You’ve seen it a ton of times.Keywords targeting a specific city.“Plumber in Austin.”“Flower shop in Newark.”“Best pizza in Rockford.”Which gets you thinking: If you can rank for a keyword that targets multiple cities, will that help your SEO?Enter, local SEO.We’ll explore here how it can actually hurt you and learn how to do it right so it helps you instead.Let’s dive in!Why Is Local SEO Important?If local SEO can potentially “hurt” you, why do it at all?Here are two good reasons.Local SEO Attracts Foot TrafficImagine traveling out of town for a distant cousin’s wedding.On the night before the big day, you’re in your hotel room, craving a giant cheese pizza.You pick up your phone and Google…what?“Pizza?”I don’t think so.I bet you Google a location-specific keyword, like “best pizza in Lou...

Read More

20Dec By PhilNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Uncategorized

Want to End Your Lease But Not Your Local SEO? Factors to Consider If You Might Leave It Behind

Like my post? Please share! Now you’re looking at your lease through the local SEO lens.  A combination of the pandemic, the lockdown(s), the quasi-reopening, and other changes has made you want to save money where you can, or work from home indefinitely, or move your HQ.  The basic concern is, “Will I destroy my local rankings if I rent somewhere else or stop renting altogether?” Your more-specific questions might include: Should you stay in your current building? If you stay, how long should you stay? If you move, which address (old or new) should you show online? Should you stop showing your address online? How important is your exact address, in the grand scheme of local SEO? The answer to those questions and others in a similar bucket is: “it depends.”  It depends on a lot of factor...

Read More

20Dec By Lucinda HoneycuttNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO

10 Local SEO Tips to Improve Your Real Estate Websites

The real estate industry is highly competitive, especially in major cities.From the solopreneur trying to make ends meet to the massive national conglomerates, everyone is out to do whatever they can to increase their visibility and get those listings.Luckily for you, online, you don’t have to compete with hundreds of thousands of other real estate agents.Since the area you serve is hyperlocal, you’re only competing with others in that same hyperlocal area.Of course, depending on location, the competition may be more fierce, even among small businesses.But, using local SEO gives you a fighting chance. As long as you know what you’re doing.What follows are 10 tips to improve your real estate website so that it can dominate local search.1. Start with an SEO AuditBefore you can figure out whe...

Read More

20Dec By Kristian BannisterNo Comments

Blog, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO

Carrie Hill on Creating Kick-ass Local Content

There’s no doubt content is key to both ranking high in local search and generating more leads, but there’s a lot of mixed messages about the best ways to approach this. And often what ranks and what converts can be very different beasts. Luckily, we’ve enlisted Sterling Sky’s content creating champion Carrie Hill to get answers to questions such as should local businesses be blogging regularly? What kind of content coverts? And what do you do if great content isn’t ranking? On this episode, Carrie reveals her secrets to make the words (and leads!) flow. Listen to learn: How to do effective content research How to ensure content doesn’t just rank, but also converts The mistakes to avoid when creating content The methods Carrie uses to make writing much easier Listen to the episode Subsc...

Read More

20Dec By Dan TaylorNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

How to Create a Dynamic Travel Sector Reviews Strategy

Without going over the impacts that the Coronavirus has had on the travel sector, one thing for certain is that it has highlighted the importance of both dynamism and agility within SEO strategies for the travel sector.At the heart of any good SEO strategy is a base level content strategy.From this base level, you can design and develop an agile reviews strategy that not only helps achieve your SEO objectives but also your wider business objectives:Greater brand awareness.More leads.Greater return custom.When working with travel companies, a common rabbit hole they fall into is the notion that to rank for specific keywords you need exceptional lengths of prose.For a lot of informational queries, this is true, but in travel, there’s only so many times you can phrase “golden sandy beach.”Rev...

Read More

20Dec By SEO NinjaNo Comments

Enterprise SEO, enterprise seo pricing, enterprise seo services, enterprise seo strategy, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company

Enterprise SEO: Let Your Website Produce Your Dream ResultsBest SEO Company | Professional Digital Marketing Agency USA

Planning and executing techniques that can enhance the performance of a website and visibility for SEO optimization is what is defined as enterprise SEO. It gives businesses ample space to turn the techniques into action, thereby, improving the website’s rank as well as traffic.  Why enterprise SEO should matter to you? Because with more and more audience finding your website in search results.  Your chances to have more and more conversions increase alongside. Craving for more reasons how enterprise SEO can take your business towards success? Keep reading below… Benefits of Enterprise SEO for Businesses You may not know but enterprise SEO is an effortless way of identifying the potential customers and pull them towards your website by implementing standard marketing techni...

Read More

20Dec By Tessa HughesNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Mailbag, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

LocalMailbag: What Are the Critical Elements of a High Converting Local Contact Us Page?

Many businesses treat their contact page as just a place to put a plain old contact form or address, but it needs to be so much more than that! If you give this humble page the attention it deserves, the pay off can be extremely rewarding for your business, winning you more customers and bringing in high quality leads on a regular basis. Here are the absolute must-haves for a winning contact page that actually converts site visitors into paying customers. Business contact information Trust factors and social proof Strong location-specific content On-page optimization Including core business information also helps reinforce trust and build relevance in both Google and Bing, because it signals to these search engines that your business is legitimate and credible.  Include a sim...

Read More

20Dec By Nikki BrownNo Comments

GMB, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, NAP, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, Tips

Who Keeps Updating My Google My Business Listing?

Posted Dec 14, 2020 by Nikki Brown We often see posts on the Local Search Forum from people wondering why business details on their Google My Business (GMB) listings (name of the listing, categories, business hours, phone number, etc.) have changed without their knowledge or consent. Unauthorized changes on GMB (no matter how minor they seem) can lead to major issues with ranking and tracking.  It can also show customers the wrong information about your business. The best way to make sure you’re sending the right message to your clients on GMB is to monitor your listings for unauthorized edits. Which leaves us with the million-dollar question, where are these edits coming from? Why Do Unauthorized ...

Read More

20Dec By John VuongNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, The Top 10

Top 10 SEO Companies in Canada Ranked

October 29, 2020 John Vuong The Top 10 Are you on the hunt for the most trusted search engine optimization (SEO) all over Canada? To narrow down your options, it’s best practice to compare the performance of the leading players in the industry and see if they can help you reach your goals. When executed right (and consistently), SEO can fuel the growth of your business. So it’s important to carefully assess if an SEO company has the skill and expertise to improve search engine ranking, deliver more traffic to your site, and increase your visibility in neighbourhood search results. Choosing a qualified SEO partn...

Read More

20Dec By PhilNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Uncategorized

10 Bootstrap Ways to Grab More of Your Service Area in Local Search

Like my post? Please share! You’re probably frustrated by the puny patch of land in which you rank for anything.  How can you grab at least a little more of your service area? It takes work, but you can rank in (and get more business from) places beyond the one city or few towns where you rank today.  Those gains will happen mostly in the local organic results, but most strategies can drag your Google Maps rankings along, too. Here’s a video of my talk at the recent Whitespark Local Search Summit, hosted by Darren Shaw.  It’s called “10 Bootstrap Ways to Grab More of Your Service Area in Local Search,” and I hope it gives you some doable ideas for how to do exactly that. If you want a handy reference, or if you don’t need my color commentary or the Q&A at the end, here is a one-page ch...

Read More

20Dec By Colan NielsenNo Comments

GMB, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Maps Spam, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, Tips

How Does Google My Business Penalize Keyword Stuffing: 50 Examples [Case Study]

Posted Dec 14, 2020 by Colan Nielsen What is Keyword Stuffing? Keyword Stuffing is the practice of adding keywords to your name in Google My Business to help it rank higher.  It’s still a very common practice in Local SEO because it gives you a ranking advantage on Google Maps and in the 3-Pack. The study that came out from Local SEO Guide as well as the Local Search Ranking Factors confirms that having keywords in the name of your Google My Business (GMB) listing does help it rank higher. A seriously legit looking business name. #StopCrapOnTheMap pic.twitter.com/GJLFacma4t — Joy Hawkins (@JoyanneHawkins) August 13, 2018 How Does Google Penalize Businesses that Add Keywords to their Business Nam...

Read More

20Dec By Bryan CincoNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Internet marketing, Online marketing, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Best Secrets for Off-Page SEO Success in 2020

November 26, 2020 Bryan Cinco Internet marketing, Online marketing, SEO There’s only so much you can do on your website to get more traffic and increase user’s awareness of your brand. To widen your reach across the internet and make it easier for your target customers to find you, applying the best practices for off-page SEO is a must. What Is Off-Page SEO? It describes any actions performed outside your own website to improve your rankings on search engine results pages. Discover why optimizing for off-page ranking factors should be part of your B2B SEO strategy for 2021 and how you can get started. Why Is O...

Read More

20Dec By PhilNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Uncategorized

Goofiest Local SEO Metrics and Better Numbers for You to Watch

Like my post? Please share! It’s hard enough to pilot your business into Google’s local search results and pick up the right customers.  That’s even harder if your instruments point you in the wrong direction, or you look at them wrong, or you look at the wrong instruments. In local SEO it’s easy to waste precious time and energy on goals that don’t matter, problems that don’t exist, or showy numbers that obscure important numbers.  The end result is you waste time and work less on what affects your business the most, and generally achieve the opposite of what you want.   I spend a lot of time with clients (long-term, audit, and consultation) homing in on one thing and tuning out another thing.  Below is a rundown of what I’ve found to be most common goofy and unimportant measurements of s...

Read More

20Dec By Darren ShawNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, News, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

The 2020 Local Search Ranking Factors Survey Analysis

Back in September I presented the results of the 2020 Local Search Ranking Factors at Whitespark’s inaugural Local Search Summit, and today, finally, I am pleased to release the written analysis and full survey results. Sorry for the long delay! It has been a couple of years since I published the last Local Search Ranking Factors Survey results, and much has changed since then. Google continues to add new features to GMB, tactics and strategies are shifting, and Google is getting serious about monetizing local. Before I dive into my analysis, here’s the iconic pie chart that you’ve all been waiting for. This is how the local search experts think local pack/finder rankings are weighted in 2020: Side note: Particularly observant readers may have noticed that social signals have b...

Read More

20Dec By Colan NielsenNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, Strategy

How Proximity Impacts Localized Google Organic Results for Law Firms

Posted Dec 14, 2020 by Colan Nielsen Two Keywords, One City, 72 Postal Codes, Five Different Law Firms Earlier this year Juris Digital released a great case study on How Proximity Impacts Law Firm Rankings in Google’s Local Pack. This was one of the most insightful studies that came out in 2018 and totally changed how we analyzed our clients rankings moving forward. We wanted to do a case study in the spirit of the Juris Digital study but focusing on the localized organic results instead of the 3-Pack results. Given that the localized organic algorithm is separate from the local pack algorithm we hypothesized that we would see a much different result than what Juris Digital discovered. That is exac...

Read More

20Dec By PhilNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Uncategorized

Next-Level Google Maps Spam-Squashing Moves

Like my post? Please share! This is an unofficial sequel to my February 2019 post called “Google Maps Spam Patrol: Why You Need to Do It, and 10 Tips to Make It Doable.”  In that post I explain why you should keep your competitors’ Google Maps / 3-pack spam (or honest mistakes) from spinning out of control.  As I often tell my clients, if your competitors want to outrank you in the local search results, you might as well make them work for it and do it fair and square. If you’re not too familiar with the idea and practical SOPs of spam patrol – or spam-fighting, spam-hunting, or whatever  you’d like to call it – you’ll probably want to take a few minutes to read that post (and maybe this one and this one). Now, if you’re clear on why and how to do Google Maps spam patrol, and maybe...

Read More

20Dec By Stephanie NewtonNo Comments

Blog, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, News, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

The Year in Local Search – 2020

2020 has nearly come to an end (cue sighs of relief!)  While this year presented many challenges, especially for local businesses, it also created the opportunity for triumph. Google My Business introduced more new features than ever, and we saw the good side of many organizations that strived to provide extra resources and relief to those in need. Although we may all be glad to see the back of what’s been a pretty hectic year, we’d be remiss not to look back on all the exciting things that have taken place. For us, it’s been a year filled with GMB news, updates, and changes, and we even had some laughs along the way too, (Four Season Total Landscaping anyone?) So, before we say “so long” to 2020 for good, we invite you to join us in reflecting upon the year in local search. What would a ...

Read More