seo company

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 ...

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28Sep By Sherry BonelliNo Comments

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

Local Competitors Violating GMB Guidelines? Here’s What You Can Do

It happens all the time — a company’s GMB listing gets pummeled in the local rankings because the top-ranking competitors aren’t playing the rules.They could be keyword stuffing their business name, or displaying a residential address in their business profile.Maybe they’re using an address that doesn’t even qualify for a GMB listing, such as a P.O. Box or UPS Box address.Or it could be that the higher-ranking listings are getting reviews unethically to build up their 5-star review stockpile.Meanwhile, the original company’s GMB listing is following Google My Business’s guidelines to the letter but their rankings are suffering because they are a good, guideline-abiding GMB citizen ranking far behind the rule-breakers.Screenshot from Support.google.com, September 2021So… what can rule-abidi...

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27Sep By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

How to Use Images to Increase Leads [2 Local SEO Case Studies]

Posted Sep 27, 2021 by Joy Hawkins Although I find that the SEO community often obsesses about rankings on Google, we make it our mission here to focus on how to increase leads for clients.  Rankings are great, and it’s good to know that images can increase rankings, but I wanted to share a couple of case studies that show how images can actually increase leads as well. Case 1: Adding Images for a Lawn Care Company After seeing the success we had in swapping out one image for this lawn care company, we made it a priority to get images updated on a lot of their popular articles. This resulted in an 80% increase in traffic from images according to Search Console year-over-year. But what about convers...

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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...

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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...

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20Sep By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

Do Images Impact Ranking on Google? [Case Study]

Posted Sep 20, 2021 by Joy Hawkins We have been doing a lot of testing around images in the last year at Sterling Sky.  You can read about the tests we did on geotagging photos and the cover photo you select in Google My Business.  For this test, we wanted to measure how the photos you use on your website impact your organic ranking on Google. TLDR; According to this case study: Larger/better quality photos are better for ranking Having a photo that matches what Google is looking for can have a positive impact on ranking.  Having a photo that doesn’t match can have a negative impact. How much images contribute to ranking likely varies based on the query or industry. The Case Study There was a pag...

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16Sep By Jessie LowNo Comments

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

5 Reasons Small Business Owners & Marketers Can’t Miss the 2021 Local Search Summit

5 Reasons Small Business Owners & Marketers Can't Miss the 2021 Local Search Summit - Whitespark Small business owners and local marketers rejoice! The Whitespark Local Search Summit is only 11 days away. This is THE local marketing event of the year and one you won’t want to miss. Join the top minds in the industry to learn how to ...

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13Sep By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

3 Little Known Facts About the Google My Business Cover Photo

Posted Sep 13, 2021 by Joy Hawkins Google My Business has a designated section for the cover photo that sounds very simple but actually has quite a few nuances that many business owners and marketers are unaware of. In an ideal world, you just add your cover photo, Google displays exactly what you put, and you move on with your life.  Unfortunately, that’s not always what happens. Fact 1: The cover photo can show up in the 3-pack There are many queries on Google that show images in the local pack results.  Sometimes, these 3-packs display images that are related to what you search.  In this example, I searched for tires and Google is displaying photos of tires beside each listing: However, often t...

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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...

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9Sep By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

Does Geotagging Photos Influence Ranking?

Posted Sep 8, 2021 by Joy Hawkins When people talk about what strategies they utilize in Local SEO to get their client’s ranking, I often hear references to geotagging images. TLDR Adding geotags to images in Google My Business (GMB) listings had no measurable impact on rankings in the local pack.  Similarly, adding geotags to the photos on the business website had no measurable impact on organic or local pack rankings. What is geotagging? Geotagging photos is the process of adding latitude/longditude tags to an image so that where the photo was taken can be identified.The Exif format has standard tags for location information. As of 2014, many cameras and mobile phones have a built-in GPS receiver...

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8Sep By John VuongNo Comments

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

5 Ways to Know You’ve Found a Great Web Design Firm

There are a lot of companies out there that offer web design services, but it can be difficult to know which one is going to meet your needs. Unfortunately, it often isn’t until you’ve already invested quite a lot of money that you discover the company isn’t high-quality. How can you avoid wasting money on poor services? You just need to know the signs of a great web design firm. If you see these five things, you can move forward with confidence. The Web Design Firm Knows Small Businesses Small businesses have unique needs, and not every web company knows how to meet them. That’s why it’s important to work with a web design firm that has a lot of experience with small and medium-sized businesses.  The last thing you want is to be an afterthought for a design company that focuses on large-...

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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 ...

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4Sep By Chandal Nolasco da SilvaNo Comments

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

A Guide to Star Ratings on Google and How They Work

The elusive five-star review used to be something you could only flaunt in a rotating reviews section on your website.But today, Google has pulled these stars out of the shadows and features them front and center across branded SERPs and beyond.Consider that 48% of consumers won’t even look twice at a business with less than 4-stars.Star ratings can help businesses earn trust from potential customers, improve local search rankings, and boost conversions.This is your guide to how they work.Stars and SERPsStar ratings on Google are powered by consumer reviews from different properties, and Google uses an algorithm and an average to determine how many stars are displayed.These ratings appear on a scale of 1 to 5 stars.When a person searches Google, they will come across star ratings on standa...

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4Sep By John VuongNo Comments

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

Hiring Toronto Web Designers? 5 Essential Questions to Ask

Your website is the foundation of your online presence. You can think of it as your online storefront, complete with branding, an inviting message, and engaging content that helps visitors choose to stick around. This important asset can’t be trusted to just anyone. You need to make sure that you ask the right questions when hiring Toronto web designers to ensure you get high-quality work and a website you’re proud of. What are the vital questions ask? Here are five that you must have answers to before you move forward. Have You Worked With My Type of Business Before? Some web designers will try to tell you that anyone can build you a website, but that’s unfortunately not the case. The reality is that unless someone has experience working with a business of your type and size, they aren’t ...

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3Sep By CallRailNo Comments

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

5 Ways to Take Your Small Business Marketing to the Next Level

Here are five reasons a small business owner should consider partnering with a marketing agency:1. Free Up Valuable Time & Resources for the BusinessThe CallRail survey revealed that the two greatest roadblocks for business owners to create a marketing plan were time and budget:44% of respondents said they were too pressed for time, overwhelmed with running the business, and had no budget to hire anyone.74% said they would rather spend their time on primary business responsibilities than on marketing.Many entrepreneurs operate with a DIY mindset and try to juggle too many tasks on their own.A marketing agency brings more experience to the table while also freeing up an owner’s invaluable time for other important tasks that may have fallen by the wayside.2. Monitor Trends & Make Exp...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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30Aug By John LincolnNo Comments

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

How to Use GMB Posts & Facebook Events for Local Marketing

Looking for new ways to market to a local audience?Google My Business Event Posts and Facebook Events are two great ways to get a little extra exposure.In this article, you’ll learn how to utilize Google My Business Posts and Facebook Events to gain extra exposure for your local business or clients.How to Use Google My Business Posts for Your Local BusinessLocal businesses can post directly on Google My Business, which shows up on Google Search and Maps.This enables you to get in front of customers who are searching for your brand or products/services like yours. You can use text, photos, or videos to promote your profile through the Updates or Overview sections of your profile.Think about this almost as if you have the ability to place a sign on the window of your brick-and-mortar store. ...

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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...

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29Aug By Helen PollittNo Comments

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

7 Ways to Improve Local SEO & Attract New Business

Local SEO differs in many ways from the organic optimizations we make to our websites.When you are working for a business that relies on being relevant to consumers within its physical proximity, you need to learn how to get the most from your presence in local search results and the MapPack.In this column, you’ll find seven ways to improve local SEO, build local visibility, and win over new customers.Top Ways to Improve Your Local SEOKeep an Eye on Your Competitors’ Google My Business Q&As.Tweak a Google Product Listing to Get It More Exposure.Use Google’s Business Messages While You Can.Update Your GMB with All Relevant Newly Available Attributes.Join Local Marketplaces and Forums.Don’t Neglect Other Search Engines.Keep an Eye on Your Reputation.1. Keep an Eye on Your Competitors’ Go...

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29Aug By Roger MonttiNo Comments

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

New Research Shows How to Win in Local Search

New research from Silicon Valley agency Milestone Inc reveals how local and organic search generate more traffic, produce higher engagement rates and it converts at higher revenue rates per transaction than other channels.Methodology: Millions of Sessions and Page Views AnalyzedThe Milestone Inc research paper analyzed 500 location based businesses, their sessions and page views in order to understand which channels produced more earnings at the best ROI.According to Milestone Inc:“Milestone Research reviewed over 500 location-based websites, 63 million sessions, and 176 million page views over 18 months from Jan 2020 to June 2021 to generate these findings.”Top Performing ChannelsOrganic search was the top performing channel, followed by local search.AdvertisementContinue Reading BelowWha...

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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 ...

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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...

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19Aug By Roger MonttiNo Comments

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

New Research Shows How to Win in Local Search

New research from Silicon Valley agency Milestone Internet reveals how local and organic search generate more traffic, produce higher engagement rates and it converts at higher revenue rates per transaction than other channels.Methodology: Millions of Sessions and Page Views AnalyzedThe Milestone Internet research paper analyzed 500 location based businesses, their sessions and page views in order to understand which channels produced more earnings at the best ROI.According to Milestone Internet:“Milestone Research reviewed over 500 location-based websites, 63 million sessions, and 176 million page views over 18 months from Jan 2020 to June 2021 to generate these findings.”Top Performing ChannelsOrganic search was the top performing channel, followed by local search.AdvertisementContinue R...

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14Aug By Crystal HortonNo Comments

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

How to Respond To Negative Reviews

Approximately 22% of customers will leave a business after receiving just one negative review, whereas around three negative reviews can drive away 59% of customers. Reviews assist consumers in making quick decisions about purchases in their research by providing a clear picture of your company. Studies show that of businesses who respond to bad reviews, 33% turn around and post a good review, and 34% delete the original negative review. Whether a review is good or bad, it makes sense to respond. When someone leaves a negative review about your company, it can be really difficult to know how to respond. There are many ways you could handle the situation, but one of the best responses is simply asking for more information and trying to find out what went wrong. Despite your natural feeling ...

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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...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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5Aug By Helen PollittNo Comments

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

7 Ways to Improve Local SEO & Attract New Business

Local SEO differs in many ways from the organic optimizations we make to our websites.When you are working for a business that relies on being relevant to consumers within its physical proximity, you need to learn how to get the most from your presence in local search results and the MapPack.In this column, you’ll find seven ways to improve local SEO, build local visibility, and win over new customers.Top Ways to Improve Your Local SEOKeep an Eye on Your Competitors’ Google My Business Q&As.Tweak a Google Product Listing to Get It More Exposure.Use Google’s Business Messages While You Can.Update Your GMB with All Relevant Newly Available Attributes.Join Local Marketplaces and Forums.Don’t Neglect Other Search Engines.Keep an Eye on Your Reputation.1. Keep an Eye on Your Competitors’ Go...

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5Aug By CallRailNo Comments

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

5 Ways to Take Your Small Business Marketing to the Next Level

Here are five reasons a small business owner should consider partnering with a marketing agency:1. Free Up Valuable Time & Resources for the BusinessThe CallRail survey revealed that the two greatest roadblocks for business owners to create a marketing plan were time and budget:44% of respondents said they were too pressed for time, overwhelmed with running the business, and had no budget to hire anyone.74% said they would rather spend their time on primary business responsibilities than on marketing.Many entrepreneurs operate with a DIY mindset and try to juggle too many tasks on their own.A marketing agency brings more experience to the table while also freeing up an owner’s invaluable time for other important tasks that may have fallen by the wayside.2. Monitor Trends & Make Exp...

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...

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4Aug By John LincolnNo Comments

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

How to Use GMB Posts & Facebook Events for Local Marketing

Looking for new ways to market to a local audience?Google My Business Event Posts and Facebook Events are two great ways to get a little extra exposure.In this article, you’ll learn how to utilize Google My Business Posts and Facebook Events to gain extra exposure for your local business or clients.How to Use Google My Business Posts for Your Local BusinessLocal businesses can post directly on Google My Business, which shows up on Google Search and Maps.This enables you to get in front of customers who are searching for your brand or products/services like yours. You can use text, photos, or videos to promote your profile through the Updates or Overview sections of your profile.Think about this almost as if you have the ability to place a sign on the window of your brick-and-mortar store. ...

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...

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2Aug By Carrie HillNo Comments

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

Ultimate Guide to Getting Started with Email Marketing for SMBs

Posted Aug 2, 2021 by Carrie Hill Your Small Business Competitors Suck at Email Marketing. …or they do it completely wrong. …or they don’t even do it. And this means with a little bit of planning and effort, you can get some big wins with this tactic. Why Email Marketing for SMBs? I have long been a proponent of any amount of time a small business can spend growing and cultivating an exceptional email marketing presence and leveraging that content across multiple channels and opportunities. The issue for small businesses has always been time, consistency, and content. Image via AlphaInvestors.com & Oberlo The truth is, a list of 70 past customers, or a list of 10,000 leads and customers are bot...

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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...

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29Jul By John LincolnNo Comments

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

How to Use GMB Posts & Facebook Events for Local Marketing

Looking for new ways to market to a local audience?Google My Business Event Posts and Facebook Events are two great ways to get a little extra exposure.In this article, you’ll learn how to utilize Google My Business Posts and Facebook Events to gain extra exposure for your local business or clients.How to Use Google My Business Posts for Your Local BusinessLocal businesses can post directly on Google My Business, which shows up on Google Search and Maps.This enables you to get in front of customers who are searching for your brand or products/services like yours. You can use text, photos, or videos to promote your profile through the Updates or Overview sections of your profile.Think about this almost as if you have the ability to place a sign on the window of your brick-and-mortar store. ...

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29Jul By Kristian BannisterNo Comments

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

Say Hello to a Bolder, Brighter BrightLocal

You’ve probably noticed that things look a little different around here. That’s because we’ve just launched our new brand identity! Taking our brand forward We’re big believers in the power of brand, which is why we’ve continued to invest in ours over the years. We’re confident that we have one of the most recognized and trusted brands in local SEO, but as with everything we do, we’re not going to rest on our laurels. We have a restless nature that urges us to always question what could be improved and how we can do things better. This isn’t the first time we’ve refreshed our brand. After all, we exist in an industry that is constantly evolving. Sitting still is not an option. Our business is constantly evolving, too. In the years since we last refreshed our brand identity, we’ve welcomed...

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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...

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26Jul By John VuongNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, social media, social media marketing

6 Reasons SEO Beats Social Media Ads Every Time

As a small or medium-sized business, you might wonder what you can do to get eyes on your company’s website. You need your site to generate consistent leads and bring new customers into your business.  It’s tempting to try to win quickly by paying for ads on social media such as Facebook or YouTube. But YouTube ads and Facebook advertising costs are very expensive and may not get you the long-term results you want. Search engine optimization (SEO) is a long-term strategy, but it yields far better, and more consistent, results than ads. Keep reading to discover 6 reasons SEO beats social media advertising every time! Understanding SEO and Social Media Advertising SEO is about positioning your website as a useful and relevant resource to people who need what you offer. You use specific keyw...

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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...

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22Jul By CallRailNo Comments

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

5 Ways to Take Your Small Business Marketing to the Next Level

Here are five reasons a small business owner should consider partnering with a marketing agency:1. Free Up Valuable Time & Resources for the BusinessThe CallRail survey revealed that the two greatest roadblocks for business owners to create a marketing plan were time and budget:44% of respondents said they were too pressed for time, overwhelmed with running the business, and had no budget to hire anyone.74% said they would rather spend their time on primary business responsibilities than on marketing.Many entrepreneurs operate with a DIY mindset and try to juggle too many tasks on their own.A marketing agency brings more experience to the table while also freeing up an owner’s invaluable time for other important tasks that may have fallen by the wayside.2. Monitor Trends & Make Exp...

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19Jul By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

How to Succeed With Google Posts: What We Learned From Analyzing Over 1,000 Google Posts

Posted Jul 19, 2021 by Joy Hawkins Wondering how to make your Google posts perform better? In this case study, we wanted to find out what types of posts performed the best and manually analyzed over 1000 posts from a variety of different small businesses. For the full video of this presentation plus several others, check out our videos on demand from LocalU in April. In this study, we looked at both clicks according to Google My Business (GMB), and clicks and conversions inside Google Analytics (by using UTM codes). Guide to Google My Business Posts: What type of Google post performs best? Should GMB posts have titles and should they be all caps? Should GMB posts include emojis? What to include in...

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16Jul By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

You Can Now Remove Phone Numbers From Google My Business LIstings

Posted Jul 16, 2021 by Joy Hawkins Recently, there have been a few threads on the Google My Business forum where business owners cannot figure out why Google won’t allow them to add a phone number to their Google My Business (GMB) listing.  It turns out there is a new setting that allows businesses to disable the phone number from appearing on their listing.  Mike Blumenthal commented that this might be useful for business types like farmers’ markets that don’t really have a phone number that people can contact for help. This feature could use some improvements because even if you select you don’t want a phone number on your listing, Google still prompts users to add one via Suggest an Edit. Jason ...

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9Jul By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

What We’re Seeing From the June & July Core Updates [Case Study]

Posted Jul 8, 2021 by Joy Hawkins It has been a while since I published anything about an algorithm update.  I was starting to think a lot of the updates were becoming pretty similar and it was the same-old thing over and over. However, I’ve been spending a lot of time digging into this one client of ours and they are benefiting a ton from the last 2 updates so I thought I would share what I’ve been noticing. This particular business is a personal injury lawyer in a very competitive market.  Earlier this year, they doubled their SEO budget and we put all the effort into content, onsite SEO, and link building. We have completely eliminated spam fighting as a tactic for them as we’re seeing it is no ...

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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...

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5Jul By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

What Everybody Ought to Know About Events & Google My Business

Posted Jul 5, 2021 by Joy Hawkins In this Guide How to deal with events in your knowledge panel Google sometimes shows events in the Knowledge Panel for businesses, like this example for Folly Farm: Where do they show up? According to Krystal Taing, These were temporarily removed in 2020 due to COVID.  They only show up now on Google search and not at all on Google Maps or the Google Maps app.  They were removed from Google Maps in March 2020. Where does Google get event details from? Events show up generally because they are scraped from the website and automatically added to the knowledge panel.  There are lots of opportunities for this to go wrong which is why we suggest constantly monitoring i...

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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 ...

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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...

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24Jun By Kate Herbert-SmithNo Comments

Blog, BrightLocal Products, googe optimize, Google My Business, google optimization, google seo, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Google My Business Management 101

It’s no secret that Google My Business (GMB) is an incredibly popular platform and plays a huge part in influencing local rankings. According to a survey carried out by Whitespark, Google My Business is the number 1 ranking factor for the local pack. But GMB goes beyond rankings. Many call it the homepage for local businesses—the first place customers will find and evaluate your business—whether they are looking at customer reviews, exploring your services, or converting directly from your listing. This is why we’re proud to announce the next free course to land in BrightLocal Academy: Google My Business Management 101. We’ve created this detailed new course in collaboration with local SEO and GMB expert Niki Mosier. Why? Well, we noticed that there’s lots of advice out there about setting...

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22Jun By John VuongNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, SEO APP & Web Development, seo company, seo services, The Top 10

Most Common Website Errors and How to Fix Them (Part 2)

Maintaining a website is important to maximizing your business potential. It’s how customers find you, learn about you, and transact with you. Without it, it could be challenging for you to break into a competitive market. One great way to ensure your business’s lasting impact is to make sure that your site is user-friendly and error-free.  Here’s the continuation of common website errors and the steps you can take to fix them. 500 Internal Server Error This is one of the most common error messages users will encounter on the internet. It is a catch-all response to indicate an internal problem encountered by a web server, preventing it from fulfilling a request.  What Causes It:  When you get this error, it means something went wrong with the server, but it’s unsure what it is. Usually, ...

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12Jun By John VuongNo Comments

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

The Top 12 Advantages of Internet Marketing For Your Small Business

It’s not surprising that 92% of business owners believe that having a website is the most effective way to pursue digital marketing. After all, your website serves as your online storefront. However, not every business owner understands the importance of internet marketing as an overall strategy. Your website needs to be more than an online business card or digital store. You can use marketing on the internet to build your brand, bring in new leads, and get customers. What is online marketing, and some of the benefits of internet marketing? Let’s take a look. What is Internet Marketing? A lot of businesses struggle with e-marketing simply because there is no clear and easy internet marketing definition. The truth is that digital marketing encompasses a variety of strategies. Each one is de...

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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...

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8Jun By Raul GaleraNo Comments

Blog, content marketing, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, social media

How to Build Back Customer Loyalty After Covid-19

Improving and measuring customer loyalty is crucial for every business in gaining visibility and profit – allowing businesses to not only retain loyal customers for the long-term, but capitalize on this to attract new customers. But when Covid-19 restrictions began, the importance of customer loyalty became even more apparent. Consumer spending was at an all-time low globally, meaning word-of-mouth recommendations and repeat purchases became crucial for many businesses. 66% of consumers would keep buying from their preferred brand, even if that company is competing against a “more innovative” business, showing how powerful consumer loyalty can be.  In this article, we’ll explore 6 tactics you can use to boost your brand’s customer experience and build brand advocates that last once Covid-...

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8Jun By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

What Are “Relations” in Google My Business?

Posted Jun 7, 2021 by Joy Hawkins I first heard the term “relation” when talking to Google My Business (GMB) support and had no clue what they were talking about.  Most people don’t know these exist because they aren’t present inside the Google My Business dashboard and some types are invisible on the actual listing itself. What is a Relation? A relation is basically a way for Google to connect different Google My Business listings to each other.  There are 4 different types that I have run across thusfar.  Located In – This is meant for businesses located inside other businesses.  It is not intended for practitioners or departments. You can add this without contacting GMB support by suggesting an...

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4Jun By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

Review-Gating is Against the Google My Business Guidelines

Posted May 12, 2021 by Joy Hawkins What Is Review Gating? All businesses want great reviews but unfortunately, the reality is at some point in time you’re likely to receive a negative review. Review-gating is the process of filtering candidates before asking them to leave your business a review on Google, Facebook, or some other review platform.  Normally review gating is done by sending customers an email template that first asks them if they had a positive or negative experience.  If they had a positive experience, they are then directed to leave a review on Google, Facebook, etc. But, if they had a negative experience, they are prompted to leave private feedback for the business and are never g...

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3Jun By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

How Do You Get a Branded Google Map Pin? 5 Facts to Know

Posted Jun 2, 2021 by Joy Hawkins Updated on June 2, 2021 We have seen a big increase lately in the amount of branded map pins that exist on Google Maps.  I was told by several people that they were a part of Google’s local campaigns but didn’t see any mention of them in the help center and very little information on how you qualify for a local campaign.  Luckily Kyle Harris from DAC Group was able to get me some answers about these pins and how to get them. Branded map pins are a paid feature. Yep, sorry guys, you need to pay Google to get this feature.  It’s not free.  It is part of their local campaigns product with Google Ads. They don’t give you a permanent branded pin. For example, A&W ha...

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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...

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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...

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25May By Lisa BuyerNo Comments

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

How “Glocal” Content Marketing Helps International Brands Stay Local

How do today’s major global brands develop a digital presence and compete organically in local markets throughout the world?It’s called glocal.No, that’s not a typo – glocal is a sophisticated combination of global and local influence fueled by modern localization technology and strategic international marketing implementation.With the help of localization technology, global brands can be relevant and attractive on a local level, too. It’s the modern secret to building a global brand’s local staying power.When done right, the glocalization process taps into the power of content localization and SEO. This strategy ensures brands are easy to find and well ranked in local SERPS. Check!FYI Trend: International Brands Earn Local TrustThe [local loyalty] trend isn’t new.Since the inception, larg...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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18May By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

What Business Types or Categories Don’t Have Access to Google My Business Posts?

Posted May 18, 2021 by Joy Hawkins Not all business types have the advantage of utilizing the Google My Business posts feature.   Usually, if a business type doesn’t have the ability to utilize Google Posts, it is because the industry is regulated.  The following Google My Business categories do not have the ability to utilize Google Posts: Adult Entertainment Camp Cannabis shop Casino Conference Center Gun Shop Hotel (all hotel categories) Vacation Rental Wine Store (and other alcohol-related categories) There are also some categories that have a limited ability to utilize Google Posts.  These categories can use the “update” or “event” post type, but not offer posts.  Products are also missing f...

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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...

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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 ...

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4May By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

How to Get Review Notifications When You Manage Over 100 Google My Business Listings

Posted May 4, 2021 by Joy Hawkins If you manage more than 100 listings inside your Google My Business dashboard, Google stops sending you email alerts when you get new reviews.  What you select as your settings has no influence on this.  Since we manage over 100 listings in our account, we found a workaround to make sure we were getting these notifications for our clients. Since this automatic setting is based on the number of listings that a particular account manages, the key is to split up the listings into smaller groups using other emails that you have access to.  The following steps will help you accomplish that so you can start getting email alerts again. Sign up for a new Gmail and call it...

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29Apr By PhilNo Comments

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

What to Do If You Lost All Your Google Reviews after Accidentally Deleting Your GMB Page

Like my post? Please share! As I’ve observed and written for many years, your Google reviews are never completely safe – and never completely gone.  You can lose them in bulk or in a drip.  You can lose them because of Google’s filter, manual removal, a bug, or a reviewer’s change of heart.  You can also lose your Google reviews – all of them – in a puff of smoke when trying to move to a different Google account. The specific scenario I’m thinking of is that you deleted a G Suite account or other Google account and thought your Google My Business page and reviews wouldn’t be affected, only to discover that both your GMB page and your pile of reviews are gone. Oops. If it makes you feel better, Google’s messaging often is unclear, such that routine steps sound scary and shooting yourself in...

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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...

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21Apr By Darren ShawNo Comments

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

Title Tags for Local SEO: Increase Your Local Traffic and Click Through Rate

So this business here, their title tag is actually Angels Moving Company in Vancouver | Fast, Friendly, Professional Movers.  Fast, friendly, professional movers, that’s what you want to catch. You want them to see that. But it’s been cut off because Angel’s moving company in Vancouver, they’re stuffing those keywords in the beginning and it’s actually taking up space, removing those sort of compelling words. And so, this is where you’ve got to think about what is going to fit in the search results.  Okay, with this in mind, how can I make Jim’s title tag even better? We had all the keywords in it. Now let’s make it catchy. I’ve updated his title tag, to Jim’s Plumbing in Salem, OR – Plumbers You Can Trust and Count On. So I’ve got plumbing, Salem, Oregon – that’s his primary market that h...

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21Apr By John VuongNo Comments

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

SEO in 2021 & Beyond: Complete Guide for Home Services and Contractors

As a home services provider or contractor, you’re probably more than glad that 2020 is in the rearview mirror. It was a very difficult year for anyone who makes home visits or does in-person work. The good news is that it’s a new year and you have new opportunities to take advantage of digital marketing. What are some new trends this year, and what can you do to boost your business? Here are some ideas. Share Stunning Images on Social Media You might think there’s not much about engineered hardwood in Toronto that would be social media-worthy, but you’d be wrong! People love seeing images of beautiful homes with gorgeous flooring. Whether you sell flooring, have a landscaping company, or are a construction contractor, you have stunning pictures to share. These pictures help potential cust...

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20Apr By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

Rebranding Your Business | Checklist for Google My Business & Local Search

Posted Apr 20, 2021 by Joy Hawkins In the local search space, rebranding is something that happens quite often.  This is a checklist of all the places a local business needs to update online when they are changing their business name. Update website first. The logo needs to reflect the new name.  Often logos include taglines.  If you want it to be clear that something is a part of your business name, don’t put it on a second line. Any place that references your business name (About Us page etc) Update the Site name inside WordPress or whatever CMS you use. Update your domain registry. Update business license with the Secretary of State (US) and other places you have licenses listed. If in heal...

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14Apr By Jonathan BirchNo Comments

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

6 Tactics for Marketing During Covid-19

The pandemic has taken its toll on businesses across the globe, particularly local businesses that rely on regular footfall. During this time, it’s been more important than ever to have a solid digital strategy and gain visibility online. Here, Jonathan Birch, Creative Director at Glass Digital, shares six ways local businesses can ensure they’re seen online and excel at marketing during Covid-19. With Covid-19 driving businesses into online-only approaches, it’s vital for local businesses to use digital channels to keep their audiences in the know. But, as well as keeping the discussion open, it’s also important that local businesses prepare to make the changes needed to compete in this quickly changing new landscape.  While for some that means making a totally new move to selling online,...

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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,...

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7Apr By John VuongNo Comments

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

Why Not All Customers Are a Good Fit for Your Business

We have all heard the mantra, “The customer is always right.” Originally coined by Harry Gordon Selfridge in 1909, the logic behind this business philosophy is to instill a sense of good accountability towards customers. Many companies still use this principle and build their business models around it. With the fierce competition in the business world, some companies even go to ridiculous lengths to satisfy their customers. However, the business landscape has greatly evolved over the years, making this customer-centric ideology outdated and irrelevant. Of course, businesses should always value good customer services, but as business owners, we should also protect our best interests. Taking this mantra a little too sincerely could be self-destructive. You need to acknowledge that the custom...

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31Mar By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

How to Track Google Posts in Google Analytics & Search Console

Posted Mar 30, 2021 by Joy Hawkins We have a big study on Google My Business posts that I’m presenting at LocalU on April 7th. While doing that study, there were several things we learned about Google Posts. Clicks in Google My Business Insights Don’t Match Clicks in Google Analytics.  If you’re looking inside Google My Business, they have data showing you how many clicks your posts received. The numbers you see here will not match the numbers you see inside Google Analytics.  There are many reasons for this which I have highlighted in this post. How to Track Google Posts in Google Analytics In order to track the activity from Google Posts in Google Analytics, you need to use UTM codes.  After a ...

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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 ...

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26Mar By John VuongNo Comments

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

4 Killer Tips to Make your Website Work for Your Business!

March 25, 2021 John Vuong SEO APP & Web Development If you have a small business website, you want to make sure it’s working hard for you. You’ve put a lot of effort and money into it! You should get a strong return on investment. However, that won’t happen by itself. You have to set your website up for success by making sure it engages visitors and follows other best practices. What do you need to do to ensure your website is set up to maximize the engagement you get from visitors? Here are the tips and best practices you need to know. Make Sure Your Website Navigation is Easy to Use Can your visitors qui...

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20Mar By Elliot MarkNo Comments

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

How to Use On-site Features to Complement Physical Stores

In this article, guest contributor Elliot Mark explores how local businesses can create online customer experiences to complement physical brick-and-mortar stores, and provides customer service tips for retailers. Throughout recent years, the growth of the online retail industry has made it increasingly difficult for brick-and-mortar retailers to compete, pushing them to adapt to maintain their viability. The onset of the Covid-19 pandemic has only added urgency to this process. Unable to carry on as usual, even the staunchest holdouts have had to embrace online operations. While there are some notable distinctions, online and offline retail overlap far more than they differ. Consider what it takes to bring a customer back, for instance. Superb customer service, whether it involves providi...

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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...

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17Mar By John VuongNo Comments

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

Website Creation: Services or Platform To Use

March 16, 2021 John Vuong Business advice As a small business owner, if you’re going to create a website you probably want something that is simple to understand and easy to use. However, you also want to make sure it’s customizable enough that your website will match your brand. That’s where website builder services come in. Many of these website creation services offer easy-to-use drag-and-drop interfaces, while others have a variety of templates to choose from. If you’re building a website for your small business, you owe it to yourself to use a website builder. But which one? We’ll compare several top servi...

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13Mar By Kate Herbert-SmithNo Comments

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

How to Land Your First Local SEO Client

We’re incredibly excited to announce the launch of our second free course for BrightLocal Academy, called ‘How to Land Your First Local SEO Client‘. We’ve created this course in collaboration with local SEO specialist Claire Carlile because we realized that while there’s plenty of content out there that helps people learn how to do local SEO, there’s little that helps people get their local SEO agencies off the ground.  Winning that first client is a massive milestone for anyone starting out, but there’s a lot of work needed to get to that point. For the most part, it’s trial and error but early missteps can have negative knock-on effects as your agency grows. For example, you might find yourself in a tricky situation down the line after having underpriced your services at the start, leavi...

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13Mar By Rosie MurphyNo Comments

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

Local Quizness March 2021 – What’s The Story in Local SEO?

Claim your listing on the new BrightLocal Agency Directory to begin generating leads from businesses that are searching for help with digital marketing right now. Every week, BrightLocal’s Customer Success team receives requests for recommendations of top-rated agencies that can help our local business customers with their digital marketing. And, just as often, we receive… Read More

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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 ...

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10Mar By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

Should I Pay Annually for the Local Data Aggregators? 3 Things We Learned.

Posted Mar 9, 2021 by Joy Hawkins There are several reputable companies that offer services with an annual fee that are designed to keep your online local directory listings up-to-date.  One way of doing this is to focus specifically on the major local data aggregators that push information out to tons of different websites. We did an experiment to see what happens if you sign up for one of the annual data provider services and cancel it a year later.  Not renewing caused wrong information to come back. When we did the experiment, the listing on Acxiom (which is no longer an active aggregator) did revert back to the wrong name after we chose not to renew the package annually.  When I ran this by ...

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9Mar By Bryan CincoNo Comments

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

How to Set Up a Website For Your Small Business

March 8, 2021 Bryan Cinco SEO APP & Web Development You know that having an online presence is essential to bringing in new customers and clients. A website is a vital way to connect with people searching for your products and services online while explaining your value and how you stand out from competitors.  Is setting up a website difficult? It doesn’t have to be! You can get a basic online presence started quickly and easily. From there, you can work on building up your content and ranking for specific keywords. How do you set up a small business website? Here’s what you need to know. Choose Your Domain...

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5Mar By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

[2021] How to Interpret Google My Business (GMB) Insights

Posted Mar 4, 2021 by Joy Hawkins Updated March 4, 2021 There are many questions that often come up about how to properly interpret Google My Business Insights.  I’m going to break down the different sections and explain what they mean. For an overview of the new Mobile vs Desktop breakdown and the upcoming display to track driving directions, website clicks, and bookings via GMB, check out this article about the 2021 GMB Insights Update. How Customers Search for your Business This chart is only reporting on impressions (not clicks). Direct = People that are searching for your business by name or location.  I would say you can attribute these impressions to other forms of marketing since the pers...

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3Mar By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

Does Optimizing Content for “Near Me” Work for Local SEO? Sterling Sky Blog

Posted Mar 2, 2021 by Joy Hawkins We asked this question at a LocalU Advanced event: “Does adding instances of “near me” terms onto a website increase its ranking for “near me” keywords”.  The vote was very divided with 44% of people saying no and 56% of people saying yes. We have done a ton of testing on optimizing for “near me” terms (ex: “plumber near me”) and have found that adding instances of “near you”, “nearby” and “near me” to the content of a page (including meta tags) does have a positive impact on ranking. Here is an example of a client’s homepage traffic for near me terms after we added some instances of “near me” terms to the page. Here is a ranking tracker for another client of our...

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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...

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23Feb By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

What Happens When Google Removes 98% of Your Reviews | A Case Study

Posted Feb 23, 2021 by Joy Hawkins Google has a long way to go to solve the problem with fake reviews but every now and then we see a business that loses a huge chunk of reviews because they did something to violate Google’s policies.  In this case, I tracked a dentist that lost 98% of their reviews because they were caught review gating.In this case, losing most of their reviews didn’t even impact their overall star rating which supports the finding from Mike Blumethal’s study that showed review gating didn’t really have a large impact on the overall rating of a business. After they lost the reviews, I monitored the rankings of the business for several months and was surprised to see that their ra...

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19Feb By Rosie MurphyNo Comments

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

NEW: Claim Your Agency Directory Listing

Claim your listing on the new BrightLocal Agency Directory to begin generating leads from businesses that are searching for help with digital marketing right now. Every week, BrightLocal’s Customer Success team receives requests for recommendations of top-rated agencies that can help our local business customers with their digital marketing. And, just as often, we receive requests from agencies and consultants to be added to our legacy lists of Top SEO Agencies. We wanted to help bridge this gap between businesses in need of digital marketing assistance and the many talented agencies and freelancers operating in the US and actively seeking new leads.  Introducing the Agency Directory   Today, we launched the Agency Directory – an in-depth directory of digital marketing agencies an...

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18Feb By Roger MonttiNo Comments

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

Wix vs WordPress? Mueller Says Solve Content Issues

Someone tweeted their intention to build a Wix site to test how well it ranks for local search compared to WordPress. John Mueller responded with a series of helpful suggestions, emphasizing that platforms that take care of the technical are ideal for small business owners.Wix Versus WordPressThe initial tweet was about creating a test between Wix and WordPress.Rob May (@robinlmay) tweeted:“Going to get and build a @Wix site and see if I can get it ranking in some local city (here) for #SEO related services (as a test against WordPress) – just to see if it will work. Will take all appropriate steps/measures for best practices. Huh. Wonder how that will go?”Tests Can Be MisleadingOne of the things about SEO tests is that they are subject to interpretation. In other words, the meaning of the...

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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...

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3Feb By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

Are Coworking Spaces Against the Google My Business Guidelines?

Posted Feb 2, 2021 by Joy Hawkins Recently I have seen more and more discussions around coworking spaces and how Google My Business deals with them.  We actually use co-working spaces here at Sterling Sky for meet-ups regularly and love the flexibility they provide.  But are you allowed to use a coworking space for your address on your Google My Business listing?  The answer is “it depends”. In February of 2021, Google updated their guidelines and added a section addressing coworking spaces.  The following section is new: “Businesses can’t list an office at a co-working space unless that office maintains clear signage, receives customers at the location during business hours, and is staffed during ...

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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...

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23Jan By Stephanie NewtonNo Comments

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

Google Posts No Longer Expire After Seven Days [NEWS]

TL;DR Google Posts are now visible in the business's Knowledge Panel for more than 7 days Before this update, Google Posts expired 7 days after creation Google Posts are a great way to communicate with customers directly within SERPs On Tuesday, January 19th, eagle-eyed SEO Brodie Clark spotted that Google Posts older than seven days were appearing in the local business Knowledge Panel.  Nice one for Local SEOs to be aware of. Now seeing standard Posts appears from months back by default. Would show for 7 days previously, then “expire” and become hidden behind the ‘view all’ button. Glad to see more visibility given to Posts – this change makes sense IMO. pic.twitter.com/H3pQTDG5qH — Brodie Clark (@brodieseo) January 20, 2021 As Brodie mentions, Posts created within Google My...

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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...

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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...

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20Jan By Sherry BonelliNo Comments

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

Why Was My Google My Business Listing Suspended?

Many local businesses rely on their Google My Business (GMB) listing as a major online marketing tool.In fact, for a large group of small businesses, a GMB profile is their only form of internet marketing.Foolish?Yes.Risky?Yes.But for small local businesses that operate on a tiny marketing budget (or even no budget at all), a free GMB profile is often the only online marketing strategy they have.When they run into issues with Google My Business, those issues can literally put them out of business.One of the biggest stressors to a small business owner in this situation is when their Google My Business listing gets suspended.With a Google My Business suspension, your GMB listing is no longer visible on Google Search or Maps, or you have lost control of your listing (your business listing is ...

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19Jan By Colan NielsenNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Marketing, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, Strategy, Tips

Should a Small Business Have a Blog in 2021?

Posted Jan 19, 2021 by Colan Nielsen Should a small business have a blog? This is a question that we get asked all the time by both business owners and marketing agencies. Carrie Hill posed this question to the Twitterverse in November.   Here’s a controversial topic – Local SEOs – should local businesses that have a fixed, geographic area they serve, blog (given they write content approx. 1x a month.) We’re discussing at the @LocalSearchLink https://t.co/knZVRfsKlh#localseo #localuPlease vote/share! — Carrie Hill 🗺️🎙️ (@CarrieHill) November 16, 2020  What is the Value of a Blog for Local SEO (A Discussion)? A lengthy and insightful discussion was started at the Loca...

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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...

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12Jan By Ben FisherNo Comments

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

What is Google My Business ‘Direct Edit’, and What Does It Mean for Agencies?

Ben Fisher is a Platinum Product Expert for Google My Business. He’s a master of the spam redressal form, is always on top of the latest news, and loves to share his knowledge with others. Here, he explains the new ‘Direct Edit’ feature in Google My Business, or, as he’s calling it, the Transparent Merchant Experience. In 2017, Google My Business (GMB) launched the ability to update your business information, make posts, upload photos, see how many views you have received, and more, within SERPs. The blog post they released was then titled ‘Manage your business listing without leaving Google Search.’ Now fast forward to 2020, and they have upgraded the experience in a blog post titled ‘Update your Business Profile on Google Maps and Search‘. See the difference there? The main change is h...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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23Dec By JR OakesNo Comments

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

Brand reputation and the impact of Google SERP selections

Brand reputation and the impact of Google SERP selections Your privacy means the world to us. We share your personal information only when you give us explicit permission to do so, and confirm we have your permission each time. Learn more by viewing our privacy policy.Ok

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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...

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21Dec By Tom WaddingtonNo Comments

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

What You Need To Know About Google Local Services Ads

Google’s Local Services ads (aka LSA, Google Guaranteed ads, Local Services by Google, Google Local Services) is a pay per lead advertising platform that has expanded across the United States, and in Canada (excluding Quebec) but limited to 4 business categories. Below is a list of the eligible business categories Google has set for Local Services ads. Nationwide Categories Appliance repair services Bankruptcy law services Business law services Carpenter services Carpet cleaning services Cleaning services Contract law services Countertop services Criminal law services Disability law services DUI law services Electricians (available in Canada) Estate lawyer services Family law services Fencing services Junk removal services Financial planning services Flooring services Foundations services...

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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...

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21Dec By Jamie PitmanNo Comments

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

Get 10% Off LocalU Advanced with BrightLocal

We’re excited to again be partnering with Local University to offer BrightLocal readers 10% off LocalU Advanced Virtual, the online conference filled with advanced local search insights and tactics from the brightest minds and biggest names in the business, this time taking place 9am-5.30pm ET on Tuesday, November 10th. The last virtual event, back in June of this year, was a huge success, and we really enjoyed being part of the experience. We’re confident the team at Local University will be able to follow up with another fantastic selection of speakers and invaluable, actionable topics and Q&As. What is LocalU Advanced Virtual? The world’s leading local search-focused conference, featuring talks from 13 renowned experts in the field, such as David Mihm, Joy Hawkins, and Darren Shaw....

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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...

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21Dec By John VuongNo Comments

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

Don’t Miss These Online Marketing Techniques for 2020

May 22, 2020 John Vuong Business advice, Internet marketing, Online marketing, SEO As a small business owner, it may feel like there’s simply too much to do. You need to manage your business and grow your products and services, but that means little if people aren’t aware of your business. The good news is that online marketing strategies can make your job easier. Being able to reach people remotely can save you both time and money. Even better, if you don’t have time to manage your marketing yourself, you can outsource it to an online marketing firm that truly understands you as a small business. Local SEO Se...

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21Dec By PhilNo Comments

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

Doable Examples of Online/Remote Services Offered by Local Businesses

Like my post? Please share! While everything and everyone is on lockdown, how can a “local” business still bring in a little revenue?  How can you set yourself up for a strong comeback?  And how can you do it from your yurt? As you might guess, you do it by offering an online or “tele” version of at least one of your services.  Customers / clients / patients may need to keep their distance, but many still want or need now what you offer.  Only a video, phone, or other online option meets both of those needs. The problem now is you’re not sure where to begin, because you don’t have examples or blueprints of online-only services that you can adapt to your situation. I’m not saying a remote option is an option for every business.  Some businesses can only do their work in-person, and don’t ha...

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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...

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20Dec By Stephanie NewtonNo Comments

Blog, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, We Asked the Experts

How Do You Keep Your Clients Engaged?

We Asked the Experts is a series designed to provide you with the most relevant insights from local search experts. Each month we’ll cover a different question and share insights from key figures in the local SEO community in an effort to help you further your knowledge and strategy. Have any of the following ever happened to you? You’ve got a handful of clients, but you never or rarely have calls with them You do have calls with your clients but you have to send a bunch of emails before you can get them on the phone You share links to reports with clients, but have no idea if they’re reading them Your client is resistant to your input or ideas Your clients still won’t follow your advice and respond to customer reviews If you’re sitting there nodding your head, then I’m afraid to say it ...

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20Dec By SEO NinjaNo Comments

googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, Local Seo Packages, local seo services, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo local, seo services

SEO Techniques For Multiple Location BusinessesBest SEO Company | Professional Digital Marketing Agency USA

Every business no matter how big or small, whether serving one location or several, needs the unique customer pulling techniques of search engine optimization (SEO). If you run a business that provides local services, SEO that helps a customer easily find your service can work wonders in improving your business and profits. A Local SEO company is characterized with pulling massive traffic and boosting sales significantly for their clients.  For businesses serving a handful of locations, SEO is simpler but for multiple or several locations, it becomes a little complicated. Managing reviews, location based optimization and content management can get tricky and hard to stay organized. Before we move on to provide you a detailed strategy to implement local SEO, let’s look at some crucial st...

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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...

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20Dec By Jessie LowNo Comments

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

How to Create Location Landing Pages that Convert & Local SEO Reporting with Google Tag Manager

How to Create Location Landing Pages that Convert & Local SEO Reporting with Google Tag Manager - Whitespark That’s a wrap for Day 3 and our Local Search Summit is now complete!  Our last day included talks on reputation management, Local Services Ads, LinkedIn partnerships, analytics, link building, spam-fighting and more. Today...

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20Dec By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

Are Local Services Ads Stealing Clicks from Google My Business? A Case Study of 110 Listings

Posted Dec 8, 2020 by Joy Hawkins In September 2020, Google rolled out Local Services Ads (LSA) to lawyers across the United States.  The rollout happened fast and since lawyers generally focus a lot on marketing, we weren’t surprised to see so many law firms sign up for the platform very quickly. I have heard many people ask if Local Services Ads (LSA) are essentially stealing clicks that would have otherwise gone to the local pack results (Google My Business listings) if the ads weren’t present.  We wanted to see what the data is telling us so far. Methodology In this case study, we looked at Google My Business Insights for 110 different listings for various lawyer types.  We looked specifically ...

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20Dec By John VuongNo Comments

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

Prepare Your Business to Thrive Post-COVID-19

August 19, 2020 John Vuong Business advice, SEO In March, when things started to shut down in Canada, many people assumed it would be a matter of weeks before things were back to normal. That has not been the case – months later, most areas are still closed and many nations continue to experience increases in detected cases. All is not lost, however – there are promising advances in vaccine trials and a variety of other good news. Canada is working on plans to reopen now that they’ve established some measure of control over the spread of COVID-19. Leaders know you can’t stay closed forever. What can you do to ...

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20Dec By SEO NinjaNo Comments

Advanced SEO Techniques, Digital Marketing Services, Digital Marketing Strategies, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, Local Seo Packages, local seo services, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, SEO For Small Business, seo services

Grow Your Small Business Effectively With Digital Marketing StrategiesBest SEO Company | Professional Digital Marketing Agency USA

In today’s highly competitive business era, advertising is essential for all businesses. However, small businesses usually lack big budget for advertising purposes. Hence, such businesses find it challenging to compete against their competitors, especially if their competitors are big brands and well-known companies. Small businesses have to face many hurdles and challenges to grow and beat the market competition. They need to tackle all the difficulties and challenges to succeed and grow. Such businesses need to consider the constantly changing behavior of their targeted customers. It is significant to understand what target customers are expecting from the business. No business can deny that most customers today prefer online shopping. It is expected that the craze of online shoppin...

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20Dec By Joy HawkinsNo Comments

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

How do I Contact Google My Business Support?

Posted Dec 14, 2020 by Joy Hawkins Updated June 29, 2020 If you’re looking in your Google My Business dashboard and no longer seeing a call button, you’re not alone, many in the local SEO industry have been frustrated by the recent changes in how to contact GMB support.  Over the last few months, Google My Business has consolidated virtually all of their support contact forms into one single form. As of today, the only way to contact GMB support is through this form. Alternatively, you can still find that same form inside the GMB dashboard, which we will outline below. Email Finding email and phone support options in 2020 has remained fairly challenging. Phone support is gone and email support is f...

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20Dec By John VuongNo Comments

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

How to Recover a Google My Business Listing

September 10, 2020 John Vuong Business advice, SEO Google My Business is a crucial marketing tool for most small businesses, and if it’s not working you’re losing customers. If you’ve received an email or discovered that your account is suspended, getting it resolved quickly is a top priority. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to get your listing turned back on so businesses can resume as normal. Why Is My Listing Suspended? While you’ll get a notification that your listing is currently suspended when you try to log on, Google generally doesn’t tell you exactly why. Most of the reasons have to do with...

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20Dec By SEO NinjaNo Comments

Business advice, coronavirus, covid-19, Digital Marketing Services, Digital Marketing Strategies, googe optimize, Google, google optimization, google seo, nCov-19, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, SEO For Small Business, seo services

Digital Marketing Practices To Follow During The COVID-19Best SEO Company | Professional Digital Marketing Agency USA

We all know that the COVID-19 breakout has slowed down the markets. In this lockdown/quarantine situation, you can still grow your business and take advantage of the massive customer base, if doing nothing but browsing most of the time. Unique businessmen think of this crisis as an opportunity in disguise. Let’s discuss some ways in which you can maximize this time to grow your business and bounce back when the time is right.  Strengthen Bond with customers on social media Use your business’ social networking accounts to connect with customers and target them. Don’t push for sales or conversions.  More people are logging on social media, and they need to be in communication. People are information hungry right now and if you can provide it to them it will add to your credibility ...

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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...

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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...

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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 ...

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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...

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20Dec By Ryan LoweyNo Comments

artificial intelligence, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Google Updates, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, Search Engines, SEO, seo audit, seo company, seo services, Social Marketing Strategies

The Role of Artificial Intelligence In Improving SEOBest SEO Company | Professional Digital Marketing Agency USA

Customers are out there searching for the right services and products that you as a business are claiming to provide. They are using every means available to them to look for products, services, and information that they need. They are looking for genuine and good products and service providers on search engines, local business searches, using different platforms like mobile and tools like voice search. The point of all this is that your customer is looking for you desperately and it is you who has to meet them halfway. Be where your customers are and seize the opportunity.  SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a key method to do this. It establishes your presence in all the locations where there is a probability of consumers looking for you. SEO ranks your website where it matters the m...

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20Dec By Sherry BonelliNo Comments

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

How to Create Google My Business Posts That Get Results

Having a Google My Business (GMB) profile is one of the best ways to get attention for your local business and boost your rankings.With so many features, working with GMB can get overwhelming.One feature worth using: Google My Business Posts.Posts give you the ability to promote your brand, services, products, events, and offers.GMB posts are displayed at the bottom of your Google My Business Knowledge Panel and are a great way to show off what your business has to offer.Get Familiar with the GMB Posts PolicyCreating posts are fairly easy to do, but before you make posts, it’s important that you are familiar with Google My Business Posts content policy.You want to make sure that you know what is and what isn’t cool when it comes to posts.If you violate GMB posts policies, your post will ge...

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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...

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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...

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20Dec By Jamie PitmanNo Comments

Blog, googe optimize, Google My Business, google optimization, google seo, News, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

New Features, Updates and Tests Roundup

UPDATED December 18th, 2020: Added news of Preview Call History rolling out to Google My Business As we approach Christmas, there seems to be no let-up in the fast pace of updates and tests in Google My Business. At BrightLocal, we may have been busy releasing a detailed piece of research, a complete guide to local SEO and an entire learning Academy, but that won’t stop us catching you up on all the latest Google My Business news over the past month. Between official updates, rumored tests and new features, there’s a lot to cover, so strap in! Google launches Small Business Advisors program In Mid-November, Google served up a new program designed to assist small businesses in the United States with their online marketing (using Google tools throughout, naturally).  For $39.99 per session, ...

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20Dec By SEO NinjaNo Comments

Advanced SEO Techniques, Business advice, business analysis, Digital Marketing Strategies, Email Marketing, googe optimize, Google, google optimization, google seo, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, Search Engines, SEO, seo company, seo services

How to Ready Your Business For Scalability? 4 Essential Steps To Avoid ObstaclesBest SEO Company | Professional Digital Marketing Agency USA

Setting up a business is one thing but growth and scalability are a totally different story. The metrics change drastically in the latter. It is true that the beginning stages for any business can be tough and complicated, however business owners must also think of ways to prepare for the future plans of scaling up and expansion.  Once your business has traversed the road between setting up and scalability newer challenges begin to appear and the best way to mitigate them is to be ready and prepared. Scalability means growth and expansion which should be the target of every business. Without it, you start stagnating and your business ultimately ends in a stalemate.  Scaling your business should be approached with caution, if you go too fast you can end up crashing and if you go too s...

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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...

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20Dec By John VuongNo Comments

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

How to Optimize Your Landing Page and Bring in Paying Customers

December 8, 2020 John Vuong Internet marketing A landing page is an important tool in turning page visitors into paying customers. A great landing page informs, persuades, and excites prospective customers about your offers. At a glance, landing pages seem so easy to make — until you track your data and find out that none of the dozens of pages you put out there are driving leads to your business! In this post, we give you simple yet effective ways to optimize your landing pages so that they move the needle for your conversion rates. Why Do Landing Pages Fail to Convert? There are a number of possible reasons ...

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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 ...

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