Sunday, September 13Digital Marketing Journals

seo services

Digital Marketing For Manufacturers: 5 Strategies We Recommend
13Nov By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

Digital Marketing For Manufacturers: 5 Strategies We Recommend

Over the last several years, the marketing landscape has undergone some serious changes. If you want to make sure your manufacturing business stays competitive, it is important to keep up with these changes.  Currently, around 80% of online purchases start with a Google search, and that number is only expected to increase in the years to come. Needless to say, it’s more important than ever that your business’ marketing strategy focuses heavily on generating leads and sales online. At the same time, however, digital marketing for manufacturers encompasses a variety of techniques and strategies, and picking the right one for you isn’t always easy. In this article, we’ll go over five of the strategies we recommend so that you can get a better idea of how to approach marketing for your busines...
Read More
SEO for Manufacturing Companies: 5 Mistakes To Avoid
11Nov By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

SEO for Manufacturing Companies: 5 Mistakes To Avoid

SEO for manufacturing companies has become an essential part of business growth. Since the majority of people now begin their buyer’s journey with a Google search, it’s essential that your website has a strong online presence that includes ranking high in search engine results. At the same time, though, many businesses fail to understand the proper way to implement SEO strategies which can leave them feeling disappointed with the results. While it’s important to implement SEO into your marketing strategy, it’s also important that it be done right. Let’s talk about 5 SEO mistakes manufacturing companies should avoid.  Not Setting Specific Goals No matter what kind of marketing your business is doing, goal setting is a must. Without setting clear goals, you’ll have no way of really knowing i...
Read More
5 Things to Do When Business is Slow
11Nov 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

5 Things to Do When Business is Slow

As a business owner, you expect ups and downs as you run your company. There will always be busy times and slow times. However, it’s important to make sure the slow times don’t drag the business down into failure. Slow times often mean less revenue, which can make new initiatives tricky. One strategy that’s essential is to put money aside when things are busy so that your company can make it through slower months. You’d do something similar in your personal life if you have a windfall and wanted to prepare for tougher times. The good news is that when business is slow, you don’t have to just wait it out. Instead, take action by doing one of these five things. Boost Your Marketing If things are slow, the first thing you need is more revenue. How can you boost your sales and bring in new le...
Read More
How a Website is Created for Business: 5 Steps
10Nov By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

How a Website is Created for Business: 5 Steps

As a small business in 1990, you’d never dream of operating without a storefront. As a company in today’s business environment, you can’t afford to not have a website. Your website is as important as your physical location and perhaps more so; in 2019, online sales in Canada totaled $1.85 billion. If you don’t currently have a website, or your site is underperforming, you might wonder how to create an effective business website. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be difficult. Here are five steps to get your business on the (digital) map. Secure a Website Domain and Hosting When you have a physical storefront, you need a business address and some land for your store. A domain name and hosting are the same things, only online. Your domain name is the website name that goes in the bro...
Read More
How Business Expenses Work: A Complete Guide
10Nov 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

How Business Expenses Work: A Complete Guide

Business expenses are the costs you pay to run your company. Some of these happen just once, such as the investment of buying a new vehicle lift for your auto shop. Others are consistent over time, such as electric bills and payroll. As you run your business, it’s important to monitor your expenses so that you know whether your company is profitable, how your cash flow is doing, and whether your business is in danger of running out of cash. You can also deduct business expenses from your business taxes. Wonder how business expenses work, exactly? Let’s take a look. What Expenses Should You Track? In a phrase, all of them.  Part of knowing how business expenses work is knowing your money is going. Every time money goes out of your business, you need to record it and keep an eye on trends. ...
Read More
The Best Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Marketing Agency for Manufacturers
9Nov 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

The Best Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Marketing Agency for Manufacturers

In recent years, the marketing landscape in the manufacturing industry has changed significantly. In order to stay competitive, hiring a marketing agency is something you should seriously consider.  However, hiring a marketing agency to work with your business is the start of an important relationship. Like any other relationship, though, it’s important to begin with a solid foundation. In order to do this, you need to have a good understanding of who you’re getting into business with. After all, teaming up with the right marketing agency can help elevate your business to new heights. However, before you enter into any agreement, there are a few things you should know. Keep reading to see the best questions to ask before hiring a marketing agency for manufacturers.  What Services Do You Of...
Read More
2021 Holiday Guide to Google My Business
9Nov By Allie MargesonNo Comments
googe optimize, Google My Business, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

2021 Holiday Guide to Google My Business

Over the past 20 months we’ve learned to adapt, pivot, and embrace flexibility when it comes to operating a local business. We know 2021 has continued to be a challenging year for you, your families, and your business. As we approach the second pandemic holiday season, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite local marketing tips to get your Google My Business listing and website holiday ready.  We wish you a happy holiday season!  Holiday Local Search Marketing Tips Shopping locally continues to be more important than ever. “60% of U.S. consumers who are planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop more at local small businesses” (Think With Google).  1. Go above and beyond to keep your shoppers informed Like last year, your business is likely continuing to operate with additional CO...
Read More
5 Common Local SEO KPIs And How To Measure Them
6Nov By Claire CarlileNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

5 Common Local SEO KPIs And How To Measure Them

Be honest: Have you ever put together what you now know to be one of the worst SEO reports ever made?You know what I mean – a bloated 10-pager filled with pointless data that will mean literally nothing to the client, and that they’ll probably never read.You add Google Analytics (GA) users, sessions, page views, bounce rates, time on site, and traffic by channel for a start.You sprinkle on some Google My Business (GMB) data to show the number of listing views on Search and Maps, then plug in Google Search Console for a clicks and impressions table.“Look how busy I’ve been,” you say to yourself. Look at all of those numbers! So clever.I’ll own up – I’m guilty as charged. That’s not to say that some of that data won’t be useful for those clients.It’s just that before we put together our repo...
Read More
Here’s What To Expect When You Hire A B2B SEO Expert
6Nov By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

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

As a business owner, your main goal is to make more money than you spend. As a result, the thought of hiring a professional to handle your website’s SEO may seem like an unnecessary expense. In reality, however, it is an investment that could yield a high and long-lasting return. In fact, SEO has a much higher return than other forms of marketing.  By trusting a B2B SEO expert to handle your strategy, you can put your business in a position to reach your audience in ways that once seemed impossible. If you’re interested in learning more about what an SEO professional can do to help your website reach a wider audience, today is your lucky day. Let’s talk about some of the things you can expect when you hire a B2B SEO expert.  An SEO Audit Having a clear understanding of your current SEO si...
Read More
GMB Rebrands to Google Business Profile: What Does it Mean for Local Businesses?
5Nov By Alix CoeNo 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

GMB Rebrands to Google Business Profile: What Does it Mean for Local Businesses?

Update Nov 5, 2022: Search Engine Land has reported that “if … you are a local SEO that manages a number of businesses, you will still continue to use an interface like Google My Business, renamed to Business Profile Manager going forward,” so that should put some local SEOs’ fears to rest. Google has announced that it’s renaming Google My Business to Google Business Profile, amid a number of additional developments within the local business management tool. Local SEO experts have been quick to react to the update, and we’ve taken our own look to see what has actually changed for local business owners.  What’s new with Google Business Profiles? In addition to the name change, Google has announced that single listings will now be managed directly within Google Maps and Google Search.  To ma...
Read More
A Complete Guide for Local SEO
4Nov By Sherry BonelliNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

A Complete Guide for Local SEO

Google announced today that the name of its local listing platform, Google My Business (GMB), is changing to Google Business Profile.“Moving forward, we recommend small businesses manage their profiles directly on Search or Maps. To keep things simple, ‘Google My Business’ is being renamed ‘Google Business Profile,'” wrote Matt Madrigal, VP/GM Merchant Shopping, in the official announcement.“And in 2022, we’ll retire the Google My Business app so more merchants can take advantage of the upgraded experience on Search and Maps,” he added.The rebranding announcement came with a few new features, too.What does this mean for the millions of business owners, brands, and marketers who use GMB (now GBP) as part of their local online presence?What’s New With Your Google Business Profile?The option ...
Read More
8 Ways to Promote Your Website
2Nov By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

8 Ways to Promote Your Website

Your business website is one of the most important assets your company has. The right website will present your company as authoritative and in touch with the problems your ideal customer has, while also educating visitors about your products and services and encouraging them to buy. Essentially, a great business website is the best salesperson you don’t have to pay a salary to. This is why you want to ensure all of your ideal clients find it and engage with your content! Wondering how to promote your website online? There are a lot of options, but these are 10 of the best. Create and Share Content One way to draw traffic to your website is to give your ideal audience something to read or watch there. This means creating content that is relevant to your company and your customers’ needs a...
Read More
7 Ways to Promote Your Business Online
2Nov By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

7 Ways to Promote Your Business Online

Today, starting a business is almost the easy part. You can set up a high-quality website and register a business name, and begin providing products and services right away. The tough part isn’t starting the business, it’s getting attention from your ideal customers. The market in every industry is very competitive and crowded, and consumers get thousands of advertising messages every day. Fortunately, there are ways you can promote your business online and stand out from competitors. Let’s look at 10 effective strategies. Create a Social Media Community As of 2021, Canadians spend an average of 1 hour and 46 minutes on social media each day. In addition, 91% of Canadians use the internet regularly. That means taking advantage of social media communities is a great way to promote your bus...
Read More
What Parts of Your Local SEO Can Competitors NOT Steal?
1Nov By PhilNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Uncategorized

What Parts of Your Local SEO Can Competitors NOT Steal?

Like my post? Please share! On your way to your seat at the Local Feast, they follow you around like a bad smell.  You toil to build a great page or resource on your site, and two days later they’ve copied it.  You put research and brain cells into your title tags, internal links, GMB categories, and citations, only to spare your competitor all that effort.  You get hard-earned reviews from happy customers, and then your competitor’s “customers” happen to write reviews on the same experiences.  In addition to stealing everything but your cattle, they may spam the map and diss you whenever anyone is listening.  Google won’t do much about any of it.   Copycats can get far, but only so far.  It’s like in chess, where a bad player can copy a grandmaster’s every move until the game-ending move....
Read More
How B2B SEO Marketing Can Bring Your Business More Qualified Leads
31Oct By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

How B2B SEO Marketing Can Bring Your Business More Qualified Leads

When people talk about SEO, they tend to focus on how it helps your website rank in the search engine results. What they don’t always do, however, is explain why that is so beneficial. The truth is that a good B2B SEO marketing strategy can be one of the best forms of lead generation for your business. Not only does SEO bring more people to your website, but it can help convert those people into happy customers. Keep reading to learn how B2B SEO marketing can help your business get more qualified leads.  Create Brand Awareness One of the best things about SEO is that it can help create brand awareness, and it does so in a way that doesn’t make your customers feel bombarded. In fact, the relationship between SEO and brand awareness is symbiotic because as your brand becomes more popular, pe...
Read More
What Business Makes the Most Money?
30Oct 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

What Business Makes the Most Money?

Everyone who goes into business has the same goal — to make money. How you choose to go about that, especially as an entrepreneur, has to do with your skills, talents, and goals. To create a great business, you need to match your skills with products and services that people will pay for. How do you know what business makes the most money? It’s important to look at two things: how much income you get, and how many expenses you have to pay. It’s possible for a business to make millions of dollars and still lose money! Comparing your income to your expenses is the best way to determine the most profitable kinds of business. Here are a few lucrative ideas to start with. Accounting Accounting can have a very high profit compared to revenue, partly because you don’t have very many overhead cost...
Read More
Which Business is Good in Canada? 5 Options
30Oct 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

Which Business is Good in Canada? 5 Options

Millions of Canadians have lost their jobs due to COVID-19, both in 2020 and even into the middle of 2021. While the job market has recovered, the jobs are in different industries and require different skills than were previously needed. Job losses and the uncertainty created by the pandemic caused a lot of Canadians to rethink their career choices. Many people who have long dreamed of starting their own businesses have realized that it’s time to take that step. The question is, what kind of business should you start? Here are five great options. Real Estate Agent As people get back to work in new jobs, they’ll need to sell their current homes and move to new ones. That means being a real estate agent is a lucrative career option, especially right now. As a real estate agent, you’re contra...
Read More
5 B2B Search Trends You Should Be Aware Of
29Oct 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

5 B2B Search Trends You Should Be Aware Of

Like everything else on the internet, search engine optimization (SEO) is constantly changing. While the basics of SEO have remained the same over the years, there are always new factors that can impact a website’s ranking. As a result, it’s important to stay on top of trends so you can ensure that your website is meeting the current standards.  If you’re ready to learn about some things you can do to give your website a better chance at ranking, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s talk about some of the B2B search trends you should know about.  Custom Websites Are More Appealing Did you know that more than 40% of people won’t buy anything from businesses with websites that aren’t designed well? The reality is that a business’ website also acts as its first impression to potential custo...
Read More
The Best B2B SEO Practices For Your Business
28Oct By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

The Best B2B SEO Practices For Your Business

Over the last several years, SEO has become one of the most important aspects of digital marketing. However, while lots of businesses are aware that they need SEO, they don’t always know what kind of approach they should be taking.  Since SEO consists of quite a few different elements, it’s important to understand which aspects make the most sense for your business. Having knowledge of the best ways to build an SEO strategy are the major keys for success.  In this article, we’ll go over some of the best B2B SEO practices that your business should be following.  Kee User Intent In Mind When Researching Keywords Keyword research is one of the key components to SEO. However, this research isn’t just about finding keywords that relate to your product/services. When looking for keywords to rank...
Read More
What Should Local Marketers Pay Attention To?
27Oct By Alix CoeNo Comments
Blog, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, News, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

What Should Local Marketers Pay Attention To?

This September, iPhone users around the world were treated to the arrival of iOS 15. This much-anticipated update delivered on a number of promises from Apple, such as: Security enhancements Bug fixes Changes to the interface New features and functions Improvements to native apps When it comes to app improvements, Apple Maps users have not been left behind by iOS 15. There are noteworthy developments for local SEOs to be aware of. These improvements to the Maps app have prompted some in the tech industry to declare that Apple could finally be offering a worthy alternative to Google Maps. “Far from the fiasco of a launch it experienced in 2012, Apple Maps has recovered to become a legitimate challenger to Google Maps” – Neuf.tv “Apple Maps hot on the heels of Google Maps with new iOS 15 u...
Read More
8 Ways To Drive Local Business In Competitive Markets With Search
26Oct By Marshall NymanNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

8 Ways To Drive Local Business In Competitive Markets With Search

Local search marketing is key for any location but when faced with a competitive market, it’s essential that you have strategies to help you stand out.The closer the user is to a location, the more likely it will rank. However, in denser areas, a location will face more competition.By accelerating efforts around Google My Business (GMB) and location page management, a location’s relevance and prominence can increase a business’s rankings resulting in increased local visibility, especially in competitive markets.In this post, we will break down strategies for both GMB and location pages to drive more local business.How Google Ranks Local ResultsGoogle states that “Local results are based primarily on relevance, distance, and prominence.”Relevance is how applicable the result is to what some...
Read More
10 Things That Must Be In Your Marketing Plan
25Oct By John VuongNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Online marketing, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, The Top 10

10 Things That Must Be In Your Marketing Plan

As a business owner, you know that without one thing, you’ll definitely fail. That one thing is sales. If no one buys your product or service, there is no business. That’s why it’s essential to have a proper marketing plan along with your overall business plan. Your marketing plan describes your ideal market and how you plan to connect with them. But what, exactly, should be in your marketing plan? Let’s take a look. Why a Marketing Plan is Important Why is a marketing plan important? A marketing plan tells you exactly how you plan to connect with your market to sell your products and services. This plan is vital not only for your internal operations but also for outside stakeholders like investors or potential buyers. Whether you’re connecting with investors or bankers, the group giving ...
Read More
6 Questions To Ask When Hiring a B2B SEO Agency
24Oct 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

6 Questions To Ask When Hiring a B2B SEO Agency

If you’ve finally gotten to the point where you’re ready to hire a B2B SEO agency, you’re definitely moving in the right direction. However, before signing any contracts or making any payments it’s important to make sure that you’ve chosen the SEO company that can best accommodate your needs.  In order to feel confident making that decision, there are some questions you can ask to ensure that the B2B SEO agency you plan on working with is the best fit. Keep reading to find out some of the best questions to ask before you hire a B2B SEO agency.  Do You Have Experience Working With Companies In My Industry? Experience is one of the most important things to look for when searching for an SEO company. However, all experiences aren’t equal. It’s essential to make sure that the SEO company you w...
Read More
Here’s How A B2B SaaS SEO Agency Can Help Grow Your Business
24Oct 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

Here’s How A B2B SaaS SEO Agency Can Help Grow Your Business

Since most businesses are aware that they should be doing some sort of SEO, they often jump in without really knowing what to do. While this may work at first, the key to a successful long term SEO strategy is working with someone who knows the ins and outs of search engines. rankings. This is why hiring a B2B SaaS SEO agency can be a smart move for your business.  These agencies have the expertise and experience to help improve your online presence and it could be a great investment for your business’ future. If you’re ready to learn about the benefits of hiring a B2B SEO agency, you’re in the right place. Let’s talk about some of the ways a B2B SaaS SEO agency can help your business grow.  Save Times and Money On the surface, it may seem like doing your SEO yourself might be the most cos...
Read More
8 Key Reasons Advertising is Important For Your Business
23Oct By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

8 Key Reasons Advertising is Important For Your Business

“If you build it, they will come,” may work in the movies, but unfortunately not in business. Simply having a business or a website doesn’t guarantee that anyone will ever know about it. The truth is there are over 1.8 billion websites online, with more created every second. If you want to make a splash with your business, gain customers, and grow, you need a strategy. One of the most important strategies is advertising. Why is advertising important in society, for both business and consumers? Let’s take a look at eight reasons. Advertising Allows You to Connect With Ideal Customers It wasn’t long ago that advertising meant blasting a large population of people with a generic message, hoping that someone might be interested at the time they heard the advertisement. That’s not the case any...
Read More
NEW in Local Search Grid: Primary and Additional Business Categories
23Oct By Jamie PitmanNo Comments
Blog, BrightLocal Products, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, News, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

NEW in Local Search Grid: Primary and Additional Business Categories

Understanding the competitive landscape is a key part of any marketing activity, and local search is no different. To learn how to beat your local competitors in search, you don’t just need to find out who’s beating you, but crucially why. This is where Local Search Grid‘s competitor tables come in: each one provides you with an overview of how well your local pack rivals are performing in key SEO metrics like citations and reviews. Beyond these objective performance metrics, though, it’s worth keeping a close eye on the Google My Business (GMB) categories your competitors are using. Why? Because the categories you select have the chance to significantly impact the relevance of your business to searches. Did You Know? According to research carried out in 2020, ‘Primary GMB Category’ and ‘...
Read More
Business to Business vs. Consumer Marketing: 5 Key Differences
22Oct 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

Business to Business vs. Consumer Marketing: 5 Key Differences

Business to business (B2B) and business to consumer (B2C) are terms that are often used in the marketing world. Although both terms are connected to business, they mean very different things.  The term business to business refers to companies that sell products or services directly to other businesses. On the other hand, business to consumer refers to companies that sell their products or services to consumers. While marketing is essential for both business models, they each require different approaches in order to be successful. Keep reading to learn about the differences between B2B and B2C marketing.  Relationships Are Especially Important With B2B Marketing As a whole, marketing is all about connecting with people in hopes of making them see why they should buy what you’re selling. Ho...
Read More
What Should Local Marketers Pay Attention To?
21Oct By Alix CoeNo Comments
Blog, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, News, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

What Should Local Marketers Pay Attention To?

This September, iPhone users around the world were treated to the arrival of iOS 15. This much-anticipated update delivered on a number of promises from Apple, such as: Security enhancements Bug fixes Changes to the interface New features and functions Improvements to native apps When it comes to app improvements, Apple Maps users have not been left behind by iOS 15. There are noteworthy developments for local SEOs to be aware of. These improvements to the Maps app have prompted some in the tech industry to declare that Apple could finally be offering a worthy alternative to Google Maps. “Far from the fiasco of a launch it experienced in 2012, Apple Maps has recovered to become a legitimate challenger to Google Maps” – Neuf.tv “Apple Maps hot on the heels of Google Maps with new iOS 15 u...
Read More
5 B2B SEO Services You Should Invest In
20Oct 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

5 B2B SEO Services You Should Invest In

Have you heard of search engine optimization (SEO) but are still a little fuzzy on the details of how it can help your business? If the answer is yes, you’ve come to the right place. There are lots of different services that fall under the SEO umbrella, and we’re going to break down some of the ones that are most beneficial to your business. By making sure these services are a part of your SEO strategy, you can help set your business up for success. Let’s talk about five B2B SEO services you should be investing in. Custom Strategy It may be tempting to copy a strategy that you’ve seen work for other businesses, but you may want to think twice before doing that. A one size fits all approach isn’t the way you want to build your SEO strategy. Your business has unique goals and it’s important ...
Read More
Top Business Ideas You Can Start in Canada Today
20Oct 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

Top Business Ideas You Can Start in Canada Today

Many people dream of being an entrepreneur. Owning your own business, being in charge of your hours, work, clients, and more — it’s a big dream! Starting a business isn’t easy, but you can do it with some hard work and creativity. The question is, what kind of business should you start? A great business idea can be hard to find, and it all depends on your skills and what you want to do. What are some of the best small business ideas you can start in Canada today? Let’s take a look at what it takes to start a business and along with some great profitable business ideas. What Business Can I Start in Canada? The good news is that Canada is a great country for starting a business. There are some rules, but it’s still one of the top three countries in the world for startups.  Before you start ...
Read More
How Your Business Can Benefit From A B2B SEO Strategy
19Oct 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

How Your Business Can Benefit From A B2B SEO Strategy

Did you know that around 71% of B2B customers use search engines to research businesses? That number is only expected to increase in the coming years. Needless to say, it’s more important than ever before that your website be visible in search engine results.  Search engine optimization (SEO) can help make that happen. With a solid SEO strategy, your business can benefit for years to come. If you’re on the fence about whether or not you want to invest an SEO, we’re here to explain exactly why you should.  Let’s talk about some of the ways your business can benefit from implementing a B2B SEO strategy.  Increase Website Traffic If you’ve invested a lot of money in building a beautiful and user-friendly website, you probably want to make sure as many people see it as possible. Luckily for y...
Read More
The Benefits Of Working With A B2B SEO Agency
19Oct By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

The Benefits Of Working With A B2B SEO Agency

Did you know that most businesses turn to the internet first when they’re looking for products or services? For that reason, it’s essential that your business has a strong online presence so those who are interested in what you have to offer can find it. However, establishing yourself on the internet requires lots of consistent work, and it may not be feasible for you or your team to take all of it on. This is exactly why we recommend hiring a B2B SEO agency. These agencies are designed to help create successful SEO strategies. Hiring one of these companies might just be one of the best decisions you’ll ever make. Let’s talk about some of the benefits of working with a B2B SEO agency. Improve Your Search Engine Ranking The main goal of SEO is to help your website rank high in search engine...
Read More
5 Things SaaS Customers Are Expecting From Your Business
17Oct By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

5 Things SaaS Customers Are Expecting From Your Business

Being able to meet your customers’ expectations is one of the key elements of running a business. However, knowing what your customers want from your business isn’t always easy. Fortunately, we’ve put together a list of some of the main things SaaS customers are looking for. With these helpful tips, you can tailor your strategies to align with what your customers need the most. Keep reading to learn about five things customers want from your business. Personalization  When SaaS customers purchase your product/service, it’s probably because it meets a need that they have. At the same time, though, not all of your customers have the exact same needs and it’s important for them to be able to tailor their experience to what works best for them.  Personalization gives people the chance to tweak...
Read More
9 Steps to Starting a Business in a Pandemic
17Oct 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

9 Steps to Starting a Business in a Pandemic

The pandemic has caused a lot of people to reevaluate their lives, especially their careers. Record numbers of people lost their jobs and others have decided to quit and change direction. One of the biggest dreams a lot of Canadians have is starting a business. The pandemic has led to a huge boom in entrepreneurship as people who were laid off decided to give business ownership a try. You might be one of the thousands asking “Should I start a business? What is a good business to start? Is it a good idea during a pandemic?” It is! In fact, the pandemic gives you some important advantages. Let’s take a look at 9 steps you need to take to start a business now. 1. Consider the Competition Understanding the competitive environment is essential before you start your own company. What you’ll di...
Read More
4 Reasons to Work with a Toronto SEO Agency
16Oct By John VuongNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

4 Reasons to Work with a Toronto SEO Agency

SEO is vital for all businesses, but it’s especially important for small and medium-sized companies. You want to connect with your ideal customers right when they are most likely to buy, and searching on Google is a good indicator of intent. However, not all small businesses understand why they need to work with a Toronto SEO agency. They may try to do SEO on their own in order to save money while improving sales. Unfortunately, it often doesn’t work. Curious why you should partner with an SEO agency instead? Here are five reasons. 1. SEO Lets You Compete With Larger Companies You don’t have the same budget as a big corporation, but that doesn’t mean you can’t compete with them. Getting customers doesn’t mean spending tens of thousands on ads for television, radio, or newspapers.  Instead...
Read More
How To Help Your SaaS Business Stand Out Against The Competition
16Oct 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

How To Help Your SaaS Business Stand Out Against The Competition

Competition is an inevitable part of the business world. Even if your SaaS business is doing well, it’s important to be mindful of your competitors so that you can stay ahead of the curve. Unfortunately, however, some businesses struggle with knowing how to set them apart from other companies in the industry.  The good news is that with these helpful tips, you can learn how to put yourself in a position where customers are choosing what you have to offer over your competitors.  Are you ready to learn how to blow your competition out of the water? Keep reading for some helpful tips.  Find Unique Ways To Solve Your Customers’ Problems One of the main keys to attracting customers is identifying a problem they’re having, and then coming up with a way to fix it. The good news is that if people...
Read More
10 Marketing Trends That Are Here to Stay
15Oct By John VuongNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Online marketing, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, The Top 10

10 Marketing Trends That Are Here to Stay

The pandemic that swept the world throughout 2020 and 2021 changed a lot of the business landscape. There are ways in which we’ll eventually get “back to normal,” but some things have changed for good. As a small business owner, do you know what today’s current marketing trends are? Here are 10 trends in marketing that you can’t afford to overlook. 1. Digital Marketing During the pandemic, everyone had to stay inside. That meant that online shopping dramatically increased — not just in North America, but around the world. The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development found that online purchases increased by 6 to 10 percent in most categories.  In the United States, COVID-19 caused ecommerce to increase by $105 billion in 2020. And this isn’t a temporary shift — now that they’ve d...
Read More
9 Reasons a Website is Important For Your Small Business
14Oct By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

9 Reasons a Website is Important For Your Small Business

There aren’t very many businesses without websites, but is yours working hard for your business? Many owners of small or medium-sized businesses use their website like a business card — it’s there, but that’s it. The good news is that a website can do so much more than that for your company! The benefits of having a website for your small business go far beyond sharing a business card or having your phone number online. Wondering why a website is important? Let’s take a look at 10 reasons. 1. Your Website is Your Online Store Location You wouldn’t just rent any building and slap your sign on the outside and call it your business. Choosing a location for your business takes a lot of time and thought. You want the right location, an attractive building, the right layout, and proper parking,...
Read More
What Can an SEO Company in Toronto Do For You?
14Oct By John VuongNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

What Can an SEO Company in Toronto Do For You?

Have you been wondering what benefits you get from working with an SEO company in Toronto? You might think that you can design and optimize your website yourself, or perhaps you think that word-of-mouth marketing is good enough. The truth is that word-of-mouth only goes so far and digital marketing can help you meet your goals more effectively. There are a lot of benefits to working with experts. Here are five to keep in mind. SEO Pros Allow You to Focus Your Time Small business owners have plenty to do, and often not enough time or people to get it all finished. Doing more with less is a daily reality, and it often gets frustrating. Trying to add digital marketing to your already full plate only makes things worse. Not only do you not have the money or time to execute strategies effectiv...
Read More
How To Educate People On Your Software As A Service Product
13Oct By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

How To Educate People On Your Software As A Service Product

As a software as a service (SaaS) business owner, you probably feel like your product is the best. And while that might really be the case, the key to success is being able to convince other people that it’s the best, too. Educating people on what you have to offer is the best way to do this. After all, most people aren’t willing to spend money on something they don’t understand.  In order to bring customers up to speed, you’re responsible for explaining how your product works and why it’s useful can be the secret ingredient your marketing strategy is missing.  The good news is that educating your customers doesn’t have to be difficult (or expensive). Let’s talk about things you can do to help people understand the benefits of using your software as a service product.  Have A Clear Underst...
Read More
5 Tips To Improve Your B2B SaaS Marketing Strategy
13Oct By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Online marketing, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

5 Tips To Improve Your B2B SaaS Marketing Strategy

By now, you’re probably fully aware that a good marketing strategy is very important for the success of your business. What you may not realize, however, is that even the best marketing strategies need to be tweaked over time.  Even if you’ve already seen some success with what you’re doing, there are probably a few areas where you could improve to gain even better results. The key is knowing which marketing techniques can yield the best results in the B2B SaaS industry.  Keep reading to learn five helpful tips for improving your B2B SaaS marketing strategy.  Repurpose Existing Content  Content is a pretty standard part of most marketing strategies. From blog posts to videos, creating content can be a great way to establish yourself as an authority in the industry. When you provide your au...
Read More
5 Mistakes To Avoid With Your SaaS Products
12Oct 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

5 Mistakes To Avoid With Your SaaS Products

Have you come up with an awesome SaaS product that you know your customers are going to love? Give yourself a pat on the back because you’ve already won half the battle. However, when rolling out your product, there are some things you want to avoid doing in order to give yourself the best chance at success. Making careless mistakes could seriously hurt your product and negatively impact your relationship with customers.  The good news is that we’re here to help. In this blog post, we’ll go over five mistakes you’ll want to avoid with your SaaS products. Unclear Pricing Finding the right price point for your product is extremely important. If you charge too much, you will drive people away in favor of more affordable options. However, if you charge too little, people may think that your p...
Read More
Can Service Area Pages With Duplicate or Similar Content Increase Traffic?
12Oct By Colan NielsenNo Comments
Advanced Local SEO Training, business, GMB, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

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

Posted Oct 11, 2021 by Colan Nielsen At our April LocalU event, I covered Shades Of Grey: Controversial Local SEO Tactics that Drive Results. I covered local SEO tactics ranging from keyword stuffing to review snippets in the organic search results. One of the topics I discussed, which always draws a wide range of opinions, was the concept of creating service area pages that have duplicate, or very similar content. Duplicate, or similar content has always been a controversial topic. Google has confirmed on many occasions that duplicate content is not a negative ranking factor. It’s understood that Google can filter duplicate content from the search results, however, we have observed that when it co...
Read More
5 Ways SaaS Companies Can Excel With Digital Marketing
10Oct By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

5 Ways SaaS Companies Can Excel With Digital Marketing

Running a software company is a challenge, and one of the biggest obstacles you face is how to get your name known when there’s so much competition.  The good news is that with the right digital marketing strategies, SaaS companies can build their brand, attract new customers, and grow their business. Are you ready to learn how to succeed? Let’s dive into five ways SaaS companies can excel with digital marketing. 1. Take Advantage of SEO SEO for SaaS B2B companies is essential if you want to grow your business without shortening your runway significantly. Many marketing strategies are very capital-intensive, and it doesn’t have to be that way. When you have excellent SaaS SEO, you can turn your website into a 24/7 salesperson. The right optimization and keywords will help you capture lead...
Read More
5 of the Best Marketing Strategies For Software Companies
9Oct 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

5 of the Best Marketing Strategies For Software Companies

There are some people in the software world who believe that if a product or service is good enough, it will sell itself. In reality, however, a solid marketing strategy is the only way to consistently attract potential customers.  At the same time, though, coming up with a marketing plan requires research so that you can get a good understanding of what your audience is looking for. If you aren’t sure where to start with that research, you’ve come to the right place. We’re here to help you learn about marketing techniques that can help set your company up for growth and success.  Here are five of the best marketing strategies for software companies.  Be Clear About The Problem Your Product/Service Solves  Getting your business in front of your target audience is a very important part of m...
Read More
4 Ways to Make Your SaaS Website Work Hard For You
9Oct By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

4 Ways to Make Your SaaS Website Work Hard For You

You work hard to create assets for your SaaS business, including your website. The goal, of course, is to have these assets work hard for you. A great SaaS website can bring in ideal customers 24/7, build your brand, and more. But it only works hard if you design it to do so. The right web design and SaaS SEO is essential if you want to grow your business. Here are four ways to design your website to work hard for your SaaS business. Write With the Customer in Mind We see three common mistakes when it comes to SaaS website content. The first is that it can be full of technical language that customers struggle to understand. B2B content is often more technical than consumer-focused information, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be confusing. After all, even in B2B, the reader is still a hu...
Read More
5 Tips to Maximize Search Engine Optimization
8Oct By John VuongNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

5 Tips to Maximize Search Engine Optimization

If you have a website, you know that it’s hard to get noticed in the noise. There are over 1.8 billion websites online right now, with more going live every minute.  How do you get your website noticed by ideal customers? How can you stand out from competitors? The answer is search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is a long-term strategy of finding the keywords your ideal customers are using to search for your products and services and optimizing your website to focus on them. Maximizing SEO isn’t easy. Here are five tips that can help. Take Advantage of Local Keywords If you run an HVAC company, you might be tempted to focus on keywords like “HVAC” or “heating and cooling.” Unfortunately, you’ll find that those keywords are extremely competitive. Larger businesses with huge budgets have pro...
Read More
6 Things to Look For in Top SEO Companies
7Oct 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

6 Things to Look For in Top SEO Companies

Working with an SEO company is one of the best ways to maximize your digital marketing without wasting time and money. Great SEO companies can take over your website marketing and deliver ideal leads and ready-to-buy customers consistently over time. Unfortunately, there are some not-so-great SEO agencies out there as well. So how do you ensure that you’ve found an excellent fit? Here are a few things to look for. Expertise With Businesses Your Size It’s an unfortunate fact that many SEO agencies are focused on large, big-budget clients. If they serve small or medium-sized businesses at all, they do so reluctantly and with poor service.  There’s no reason you should be pushed to the side because of your size. The best SEO companies will have a lot of experience with smaller companies and b...
Read More
How To Build An Online Presence That Attracts Customers
6Oct 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

How To Build An Online Presence That Attracts Customers

These days, the internet is the first place many people go when they’re looking for something. Whether they need the answer to a question or want to find the best products and services, their search usually starts online. For those reasons, it’s important that your business has an online presence. Without it, you could be missing out on countless dollars.  At the same time, however, not all online presences are equal. There are some companies whose internet presences actually turn people away. In order to help you avoid becoming one of them, we’ve put together some helpful tips on how to build a strong online presence that attracts customers.  Let’s get into it! Make Sure Your Website Is User Friendly More than likely, your business already has a website. But is your website as good as it...
Read More
6 Key Benefits of SaaS SEO Services
5Oct By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

6 Key Benefits of SaaS SEO Services

Should your SaaS business pursue search engine optimization (SEO) as a key marketing strategy?  For us, this is an easy question, because we know the many benefits our clients see when they use SEO marketing. However, we see a lot of SaaS businesses spending a tremendous amount of money on capital-intensive marketing strategies like pay-per-click, social media ads, and more. This article will showcase the many advantages of using SaaS SEO services so that you can focus your marketing efforts in a way that will best grow your business. You’ll Get More Organic Traffic Traffic you have to pay for is fine enough, but what happens when the budget runs out? All of that traffic — and sales — disappear.  Organic traffic allows you to invest upfront and get ongoing traffic and leads, day after day...
Read More
Leveraging Conversions with GMB Bookings/Reserve with Google
3Oct By Allie MargesonNo Comments
googe optimize, Google My Business, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Leveraging Conversions with GMB Bookings/Reserve with Google

Leveraging Conversions with GMB Bookings/Reserve with Google - Whitespark The Google My Business Booking feature, or Reserve with Google, allows businesses to integrate specific supported booking systems with their GMB listing, which gives customers the ability to make an appointment directly from the listing. This feature can get your b...
Read More
Here’s What You Need To Know About Growing Your SaaS Company
3Oct 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

Here’s What You Need To Know About Growing Your SaaS Company

Whether you’re just getting started in the SaaS industry or simply wanting to expand your business, it’s important to have a good understanding of how to grow your SaaS company. No matter the size of your business, growth should always be the goal.  By taking the proper steps, you can build a business that will leave your customers satisfied and your competitors struggling to keep up.  Let’s talk about what you need to know about growing your SaaS company.  Identify Your Target Audience Understanding your ideal customer is one of the most important steps to building and growing a business. As much as you’d like everyone to be interested in your product/service, that isn’t realistic. Instead, you need to know exactly what kinds of people you should be marketing to. Creating buyer personas ...
Read More
2021 Local Search Summit – Day 3 Action Items & Recommendations
2Oct By Jessie LowNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, On-page SEO, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

2021 Local Search Summit – Day 3 Action Items & Recommendations

2021 Local Search Summit - Day 3 Action Items & Recommendations - Whitespark The #WLSS is officially complete and our final event day covered E-A-T, Google Justifications, reports, effective copywriting and more. We opened the day discussing Diversity and Inclusion in Digital Marketing – this is a very important topic. We implore t...
Read More
5 Marketing Trends To Be On The Lookout For In The SaaS Industry
2Oct 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

5 Marketing Trends To Be On The Lookout For In The SaaS Industry

The marketing landscape is always changing, and the SaaS industry is no exception. As a business owner, you probably understand the importance of staying in the loop, but you may not know where to look for information. The good news is that we are bringing the information to you. In this post, we will discuss some of the biggest marketing trends that people in the SaaS industry should be paying attention to.  By building a good understanding of these trends, you can help your business remain competitive. Keep reading to learn more about what you should be keeping an eye on in the marketing world.  Your Company’s Story Will Be More Important Than Ever Let’s face it, there are very few companies out there that are selling something that is truly unique. In an industry where people can often ...
Read More
Thin Local Rankings: Why and How to Think Thick, Not High
1Oct By PhilNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, Uncategorized

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

Like my post? Please share! Business owners, SEOs, and others refer to good local search rankings as high and bad rankings as low, but they don’t look at whether their rankings are thick or thin.  If you just turn your head to the side 90 degrees, you’ll see weaknesses and opportunities you probably missed before.  You’ll see ways to thicken up your local visibility, and that will be glorious for business. What’s a “thin” ranking?  The short answer is it’s the same problem as when a baseball team doesn’t have a “deep bench,” and loses a game every time something goes even a little wrong.  You want visibility / rankings that can withstand a lot going wrong, because if you’re in business for long enough and if you depend on Google visibility enough, that’s exactly what will happen. The longe...
Read More
2021 Local Search Summit – Day 1 Tips & Insights
29Sep By Jessie LowNo Comments
googe optimize, Google My Business, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, On-page SEO, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

2021 Local Search Summit – Day 1 Tips & Insights

2021 Local Search Summit - Day 1 Tips & Insights - Whitespark Day 1 of the 2021 Local Search Summit is complete. 🔥 Today’s sessions covered the whole gamut of local search marketing advice. We’re sharing takeaways, advice, or a tip for each talk. If you couldn’t make it to the event, you can still catch the next two days wit...
Read More
5 Ways Working With A SaaS SEO Agency Can Help Grow Your Business
29Sep By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

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

Over the last decade, SEO has become a very important part of the digital marketing world. At this point, if you aren’t doing SEO (and doing it right), you’re at risk of being left in the dust by your competitors.  Implementing SEO into your marketing strategy can help improve your businesses’ online reputation and generate more traffic to your website which can ultimately result in more sales. However, if you’re not an experienced SEO professional, you may not be seeing the kinds of results you want.  By working with a SaaS SEO agency, you can set yourself up for success. A good agency will help improve your company’s online presence and put you in a position to bring in more customers. Keep reading to learn five ways a SaaS SEO agency can help grow your business.  Gives You Time To Work ...
Read More
Local Competitors Violating GMB Guidelines? Here’s What You Can Do
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...
Read More
What Top Web Designers Know That You Don’t
23Sep By John VuongNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, SEO APP & Web Development, seo company, seo services

What Top Web Designers Know That You Don’t

Do you ever wish you could read the minds of top web designers and get the secret tips you need for your website? Good news: you can!  At Local SEO Search, our website designers have decades of combined experience creating effective, optimized small business websites. If you’re interested in what they know that you don’t, you’ll want to keep reading! Here are our top tips for website design. A Pretty Website With No SEO Is a Wasted Investment Imagine that you have a beautiful storefront. You know your customers will absolutely love it and will be eager to buy the products and services you offer. There’s just one problem — no one knows the store’s address, so no one can find it. That’s what it’s like to have an attractive website without search engine optimization (SEO). It’s beautiful and...
Read More
5 Steps to GMB Products Set-Up via Google Product Editor
22Sep By Claire CarlileNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

5 Steps to GMB Products Set-Up via Google Product Editor

Have you tried using GMB Products to promote important product pages on your website?If not, you may be missing out on a valuable opportunity to showcase products and drive customer interactions in Google Search.Google officially calls this feature “Product Editor,” but you’ll likely hear it referred to as “GMB Products” in marketing circles.Either way, although GMB Products has existed since 2018, it first popped into many businesses’ Google My Business dashboards when it came out of beta in early 2020.What are GMB Products?GMB Products are sometimes confused by some with “Product Posts,” but these are actually now one and the same thing.Screenshot from GMB Dashboard, September 2021“Add Product” in the Posts section of GMB now populates a product rather than a post.AdvertisementContinue R...
Read More
5 Reasons Why a WordPress Website is Perfect For Small Businesses
22Sep 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 services

5 Reasons Why a WordPress Website is Perfect For Small Businesses

There are a lot of options when it comes to building your small business website. If you purchase a domain name from a popular site, that provider might also have a website builder available.  You can also use other builders, such as Wix or Squarespace. However, we always recommend a WordPress website for small businesses. In fact, 38% of the internet already uses WordPress! Why? There are several reasons. Let’s take a look! WordPress is Free & Open Source As a business, you need to do more with fewer resources every day. Having a website builder that is free and is consistently updated by developers around the web is ideal. Many free options are wimpier versions of a paid product, but that’s not the case with WordPress. The free platform and the hundreds of free themes are robust, co...
Read More
4 Myths About Web Design Solutions to Bust Today
21Sep By John VuongNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, SEO APP & Web Development, seo company, seo services

4 Myths About Web Design Solutions to Bust Today

Having high-quality web design is essential to building your brand and growing your business online. However, not all web design solutions are created equal.  There are a lot of misconceptions about web design, especially among small and medium-sized business owners. We’re here to help bust through the myths and understand the truth. That way, you’ll get high-quality web design solutions that really make a difference for the bottom line of your business. Are you ready to bust some myths? Let’s get started. Web Design is Simple Creating a website today is easier than in the past. There are a variety of website builders and software programs that walk you through the process step-by-step.  However, that doesn’t mean that great design is simple. It’s one thing to create a website. It’s anothe...
Read More
6 Pages Your New Website MUST Have
18Sep By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, SEO APP & Web Development, seo services

6 Pages Your New Website MUST Have

Are you getting ready to create a new website? Congratulations! A website is one of the most important digital marketing tools a small business can have. You’re probably overwhelmed by all of the choices and technical details. There’s a lot to think about and you’ll need to decide how to design and brand your website. However, today we’re keeping things simple. What pages are an absolute MUST-HAVE before you launch? Here are six you absolutely can’t afford to miss. Your Homepage Every website comes with a homepage. It’s the first page that a visitor sees if they enter your business website in the address bar. However, not very many businesses have an effective homepage. You have only a few seconds to capture the attention of a visitor. Your homepage can do that by having clear branding, a...
Read More
Key Learnings from LocalU Advanced, August 2021
18Sep By Claire CarlileNo Comments
Blog, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

Key Learnings from LocalU Advanced, August 2021

 I’ll let you into a little secret. If you’re super-duper into local SEO, and you’re not already attending LocalU Advanced you’re missing a trick. This is where the top minds and actual practitioners in the space get together and share ALL-NEW content including research, case studies, how-tos, and much, much more. I got the chance to attend the last event on August 31, and, as always, I bloody loved it. So much that I wrote up the key takeaways from my favorite talks from Joy Hawkins, Rachel Anderson, Greg Gifford, Dana DiTomaso so that you can enjoy them too! Joy Hawkins: Make Your Images Worth a Thousand Words Ah, I do love Sterling Sky’s Joy Hawkins, I always get some great takeaways any time I listen to her speak, and using images more effectively is something I’m always looking to ups...
Read More
5 Reasons Small Business Owners & Marketers Can’t Miss the 2021 Local Search Summit
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 ...
Read More
3 Little Known Facts About the Google My Business Cover Photo
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...
Read More
Your Guide to Better Local SEO Rankings
11Sep By Local VikingNo Comments
AdNouncement Lite, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

Your Guide to Better Local SEO Rankings

This post was sponsored by Local Viking. The opinions expressed in this article are the sponsor’s own.If you’re working on local SEO projects and managing Google My Business (GMB) listings, you’ve probably scrambled to answer at least one of these questions:How can we increase our visibility?How can we expand our ranking coverage?My GMB listing is “filtered” or stuck – what now?Don’t fret – we’ve got you covered!Everything you need to know about ranking and visibility for Google My Business is in this comprehensive guide from Local Viking.Learn actionable local SEO strategies based on years of serving large agencies in a white-label fashion, owning a portfolio of general and niche agencies, and working with marketing teams on national GMB campaigns with over thousands of locations across t...
Read More
How to Get Better Results for Your GMB Listing with Fewer Tools
10Sep By Local VikingNo Comments
AdNouncement Lite, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

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

This is a sponsored post written by Local Viking. The opinions expressed in this article are the sponsor’s own.With a portfolio of agencies managing Google My Business (GMB) listings, client acquisition dialed in, and workload piling up, the birth of Local Viking was a true baptism by fire.We needed something that could start the journey of containerizing reporting, help our staff automate some of the mundane optimization activities, and lead the charge into a more accurate and sensible rank tracker for our clients.If you want to check out the day-to-day strategies we use in our real-life agencies that rank thousands of GMB listings, download this free guide.If you’re looking for quick GMB management tips, then you might find our 15-Minute Marketing Methodology case study useful.But if you...
Read More
4 Known GMB Issues & What To Do About Them
9Sep By Ben FisherNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

4 Known GMB Issues & What To Do About Them

It can be frustrating when a free service like Google My Business is not working as you expect it to. And I totally understand that you get a ton of business from your Business Profile on Search and Maps.The Google My Business team understands this, as well.Support is doing the best that they can — particularly given what a tumultuous year it’s been in local search.In this article, you’ll learn about four of the Google My Business issues being worked on as of mid-May/June 2021.You’ll also find helpful steps you can take to resolve these issues and improve your own listings.What Happens When You Report an Issue to GMB?It can help to know how the Google My Business team prioritizes fixes when they receive a bug report.Typically, Product Experts (like yours truly) will see an issue in the com...
Read More
5 Ways to Know You’ve Found a Great Web Design Firm
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-...
Read More
4 Lesser-Known Local SEO Tips Even the Experts Miss
8Sep By Heather CampbellNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Webinar

4 Lesser-Known Local SEO Tips Even the Experts Miss

More people are searching for local businesses than ever before.This also means local search has never been as competitive as it is today.So how can local businesses stand out and rise in the rankings?How can you make it easy for customers to easily find your business and connect with you?On June 9, I moderated a sponsored Search Engine Journal webinar presented by Jared McKinney and Matt Boyce of Podium.They shared tips on how to rank higher in search using some lesser-known local SEO tips.Here’s a recap of the webinar presentation.Data from Google and other sources tells us that local searches consistently lead to actual visits to physical locations.But often, local businesses don’t pay attention to simple yet impactful tactics that can actually make a difference for their SEO.What follo...
Read More
Are You Making These Big Mistakes with Your Google My Business Listing?
7Sep By Heather CampbellNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Webinar

Are You Making These Big Mistakes with Your Google My Business Listing?

Google My Business can be one of the most valuable tools for any local business – one that can help you gain customers or clients and, most importantly, revenue.However, many GMB listings are suffering from all-too-common, critical issues.On June 16, I moderated a sponsored Search Engine Journal webinar presented by Mark Luckenbaugh of Local Viking.He shared how to make sure you’re avoiding these pitfalls – whether you manage a single GMB listing or thousands of them.Here’s a recap of the webinar presentation.Are you making it hard for local customers to find your business when they’re searching for you?If your business is not showing up for relevant search queries, then you probably need to look into your Google My Business (GMB) profile.Most GMB issues can’t be resolved through brute for...
Read More
The Complete Guide to GMB Attributes for Local SEO
6Sep By Marshall NymanNo Comments
Enterprise SEO, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

The Complete Guide to GMB Attributes for Local SEO

Google My Business (GMB) attributes are a uniform way for businesses to share what they offer and what a customer can expect when using that business.They are also a way for a business to optimize its local search presence. The more detailed a listing is with attributes, the more likely that listing could rank for a specific targeted search with an attribute modifier — for example, [accessible restaurants near me] or [miami hotels with free wifi].In this blog post, you’ll discover the different types of GMB attributes available to businesses depending on your primary business category, and how local marketers can best leverage these attributes.Types of Google My Business AttributesThere are two types of attributes within a listing on GMB: factual or subjective.Factual attributes are mainta...
Read More
How to Create a Winning Local SEO Strategy for Your Business
6Sep By Jason HennesseyNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

How to Create a Winning Local SEO Strategy for Your Business

With 90% of consumers searching for local businesses online, local SEO is an essential marketing tool for businesses looking to attract potential customers.Whether you have a physical location or an online business that serves a specific location, you need a strategy for targeting localized searches and users in your area. This is how you rank higher in Google search, outshine your competitors, and attract even more customers.In this guide, you’ll learn how to create a local SEO strategy for any business to generate more traffic from local search.Does Your Business Need a Local SEO Strategy?First off, not all businesses need local SEO. Only businesses that serve a specific geographic location (or several) need to rank in local search for the key terms potential customers are searching for ...
Read More
A Guide to Responding to Positive and Negative Yelp Reviews
5Sep By Tom McLoughlinNo Comments
Digital Experience, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

A Guide to Responding to Positive and Negative Yelp Reviews

When it comes to making a purchase decision, the majority of potential customers will look to reviews for help.It doesn’t matter whether this is choosing a restaurant, booking a holiday, or picking somewhere to visit at the weekend; what other people have to say matters.Yelp is a platform that allows customers to leave such reviews for the businesses they have visited and supported, from cafes to cottage rentals and everything in between.Whilst (we hope) the majority of Yelp reviews you receive are positive and full of praise, there are always going to be times when a negative experience brings this average down. It’s important to bear in mind that your responses to these comments can have as much influence as the reviews themselves, both good and bad.Responding to reviews is the best way ...
Read More
5 Top Enterprise Local SEO Challenges (& How To Solve Them)
5Sep By Andrew ShotlandNo Comments
Enterprise SEO, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

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

Local SEO is a strange beast. Mastering it for an enterprise requires both knowing how to do “national” SEO, Google My Business SEO, and then understanding how Google treats your target search queries in different markets.That means there is an infinite number of challenges in enterprise local for search marketers.What Are the Most Common Challenges in Enterprise Local SEO?Prioritizing local with internal stakeholders.Having a single source of truth for location data.Optimizing store locators.Google My Business management & optimization.Building a local search presence for service area businesses and marketplaces.1. Prioritizing Local InternallyIt sounds strange, but I can’t tell you how many multi-location organizations we have worked with where the locations were not the priority for...
Read More
A Guide to Star Ratings on Google and How They Work
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...
Read More
Hiring Toronto Web Designers? 5 Essential Questions to Ask
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 ...
Read More
5 Ways to Take Your Small Business Marketing to the Next Level
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...
Read More
The 5 Essential Steps of the Web Design Process
2Sep By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, SEO APP & Web Development, seo company, seo services

The 5 Essential Steps of the Web Design Process

Having a website is the online version of having a store in your community. You would never try to operate your small business in your town without a store, and in the same way, you aren’t visible online without a website. What does it take to design an effective website? It’s not as complex as you might think, although you definitely benefit from a professional helping you get it right.  Here are the five essential steps of the web design process to keep in mind as you build or optimize your online presence. Know the Goals of Your Website In most cases, the goals of a small business website will be simple: rank well on Google search results, engage visitors with high-quality content, and turn those visitors into ongoing customers. However, if you aren’t clear on those objectives in advan...
Read More
How to Use Local Keywords to Rank Higher on Google
1Sep By Shane BarkerNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

How to Use Local Keywords to Rank Higher on Google

Did you know that 76% of people who search for a nearby business on their smartphones visit them within a day’s time?Or that 28% of these searches end in a purchase?That’s the power of local SEO – and local keyword research.Choosing the right keywords for your business can help you rank better for competitive keywords related to your product and industry.While local searches may yield lower search volumes, it’s more about intent and driving traffic ready to convert.You need to make it easy for consumers to find your local business on Google and other search engines.So how do you find and use keywords to help increase your local search rankings?Read on to find out.Local Keyword ResearchYou first need to know which search queries are helping people find your business.Optimizing your website ...
Read More
The 8-Step Web Design Checklist For Your Small Business
1Sep By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

The 8-Step Web Design Checklist For Your Small Business

As a small business owner, your website is your online storefront. You put a lot of thought and effort into your physical store, thinking carefully about signage, layout, and branding.  It’s essential to put the same care into your website design. Studies show that 94% of a visitor’s first impression is based on the design of the website. Fortunately, there are a lot of tools available to help you. Great web design no longer requires you to have a tech degree or understand website coding. Instead, you can use website builders to DIY your website, or choose a professional marketing agency to partner with for a website redesign. What do you need to have to ensure a successful website? Here is a checklist you can use. 1. Choose Your Domain Name & Hosting Your domain name is the website t...
Read More
5 Top Local Business Concerns, Solved
31Aug By Sherry BonelliNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

5 Top Local Business Concerns, Solved

Google My Business (GMB) is one of the best ways for a local business to rank higher on Google.Whether it’s through the local 3-pack, the local finder, or Google Maps, having your business on GMB helps you get found by interested shoppers, consumers, and clients.But it’s not always easy. Every day, we see dozens of questions from local business owners and digital marketing agencies on the Google My Business Help Community Forum.Many of the issues there are unique and require a deep dive into their specific situation.However, there are some more common questions users have about Google My Business. Here are five GMB problems users often encounter and how to help solve them:Why are changes we didn’t make appearing on our GMB profile?What if I can’t find a category that fits my business model...
Read More
How to Use GMB Posts & Facebook Events for Local Marketing
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. ...
Read More
Google Explains Importance of GMB for Local Search
30Aug By Roger MonttiNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, News, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Google Explains Importance of GMB for Local Search

Google’s John Mueller answered a question about the difference in SEO between an informational search query and a query for a local service. Mueller answers the question and followed up by explaining what a business needs to do to rank for local search queries, stressing the importance of Google My Business (GMB).What’s the Difference Between Local and Informational Search Queries?A “Local Search Query” is a search question that someone types into Google when they are looking for a service or a store that is in their geographic area.Examples of a local search business can be a a plumber, a restaurant, a retail store or a lawyer.And informational search query is one where a searcher is trying to find information, like, for example, the cast of a movie, a product review or instructions on ho...
Read More
7 Ways to Improve Local SEO & Attract New Business
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...
Read More
5 Ways to Boost Your SEO With Third-Party Reviews
28Aug By Marshall NymanNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

5 Ways to Boost Your SEO With Third-Party Reviews

Third-party reviews offer invaluable insight from an unbiased perspective on your business. They also instill trust with potential customers, which may help guide their decision to purchase your product or service.In fact, nearly half (42%) of internet users in the U.S. cite reviews from other customers as a feature that would most increase their likelihood of buying a product.When compared to first-party reviews, third-party reviews can also appear more credible to a searcher. After all, a business is unlikely to publish negative reviews on its website.Whether you’re looking to convert searches into sales or improve your search ranking, focusing on enhancing your reviews’ search engine optimization (SEO) efforts can achieve both. Reviews are a heavily weighted local search ranking factor,...
Read More
15 Local SEO Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
27Aug By Jason HennesseyNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

15 Local SEO Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Local SEO is the leading driver of organic traffic for local businesses. And with around 5 billion searches per day, Google search is the place to get your business found by people searching for products or services like yours.But optimizing for local search isn’t always a simple task.It takes keyword research, on-page optimization, and much more to turn your website into a local traffic-generating machine. Even the savviest of SEO professionals make mistakes along the way.Here, you’ll learn about the 15 most common local SEO mistakes and find simple tips to help you avoid them when optimizing your website or listings.15 Common Local SEO Mistakes Businesses MakeUnlocalized Keyword Targets.No Customer Reviews.Inconsistent NAPW Data.No Directory Profiles.No Google My Business Listing.Ignorin...
Read More
15 Local SEO Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
25Aug By Jason HennesseyNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

15 Local SEO Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Local SEO is the leading driver of organic traffic for local businesses. And with around 5 billion searches per day, Google search is the place to get your business found by people searching for products or services like yours.But optimizing for local search isn’t always a simple task.It takes keyword research, on-page optimization, and much more to turn your website into a local traffic-generating machine. Even the savviest of SEO professionals make mistakes along the way.Here, you’ll learn about the 15 most common local SEO mistakes and find simple tips to help you avoid them when optimizing your website or listings.15 Common Local SEO Mistakes Businesses MakeUnlocalized Keyword Targets.No Customer Reviews.Inconsistent NAPW Data.No Directory Profiles.No Google My Business Listing.Ignorin...
Read More
5 Ways to Boost Your SEO With Third-Party Reviews
23Aug By Marshall NymanNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

5 Ways to Boost Your SEO With Third-Party Reviews

Third-party reviews offer invaluable insight from an unbiased perspective on your business. They also instill trust with potential customers, which may help guide their decision to purchase your product or service.In fact, nearly half (42%) of internet users in the U.S. cite reviews from other customers as a feature that would most increase their likelihood of buying a product.When compared to first-party reviews, third-party reviews can also appear more credible to a searcher. After all, a business is unlikely to publish negative reviews on its website.Whether you’re looking to convert searches into sales or improve your search ranking, focusing on enhancing your reviews’ search engine optimization (SEO) efforts can achieve both. Reviews are a heavily weighted local search ranking factor,...
Read More
Will Google Remove a Google Maps Review After the Owner of the GMB Page Replied to It?
16Aug By PhilNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Uncategorized

Will Google Remove a Google Maps Review After the Owner of the GMB Page Replied to It?

Like my post? Please share! Yes, Google may remove Google Maps reviews that the owner/admin of a Google My Business page wrote a public reply to.   Responding to a review doesn’t seem to validate it in Google’s view, as in, “Well, if business owner replied to it, it must be legit.”  Your response to a review doesn’t fossilize that review for eternity. Every now and then a client gets a bad review from a non-customer, a real customer with a bogus or irrelevant complaint, a slimy competitor, or another  questionable source, and the question I get is: “Should I report the review to Google or should I reply to it?”  If you’re wondering the same thing, I’d say you should do both.  Report the review and reply to it in a circumspect way (if you think you’re better off with a response up for all t...
Read More
How to Respond To Negative Reviews
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 ...
Read More
A Great Way to Get Customer Pics
14Aug By Claire CarlileNo Comments
Blog, googe optimize, Google My Business, google optimization, google seo, News, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

A Great Way to Get Customer Pics

In March of this year, Google announced a ‘photo update’ feature that gives Google Maps users on Android devices a new way to upload photos to your Google My Business profile. I’ve only just spotted it being used ‘in the wild’, and haven’t seen much in the way of coverage, so I thought it worth sharing some details on how it works, what you need to know, and what it could mean for the future of GMB (specifically Google Posts). After all, the features you know about but your competitors don’t are the ones that make you stand out when searchers compare businesses. Read on to find out more! What are Google My Business ‘Photo Updates’? We’re all familiar with the contents of the ‘By owner’ tab in the updates section. This is where we see our Google My Business Posts, new photos and updated hou...
Read More
9 Reasons Your SaaS Company Should Focus on SEO
12Aug By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

9 Reasons Your SaaS Company Should Focus on SEO

If you have a B2B software company, you know that the most important thing you can do to improve sales is to build relationships. You are probably working on a dozen long-term relationships right now, hoping to be able to convince decision-makers that your software is the right answer for their needs. So why should you worry about SEO?  Search engine optimization is about being found on Google by people who are actively searching for information about your industry. What you might not realize is that often prospects searching on Google are further down the funnel — in fact, they might be ready to buy today. What is B2B SaaS SEO? Why should you use it? Here’s what you need to know.  What is B2B SaaS SEO? Search engine optimization is a way of attracting organic leads based on terms and phra...
Read More
Does Moving Your Business Impact Rankings? [2 Case Studies]
9Aug By Joy HawkinsNo Comments
GMB, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

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

Posted Aug 9, 2021 by Joy Hawkins When I first started working in the local SEO industry, we feared clients telling us that they were planning on moving their offices.  There was the thought that because of NAP consistency and duplicate listings, moving was a local SEO nightmare.  Fast forward 15 years and I’m actually seeing several scenarios where relocating can actually help increase your rankings. Case 1:  We had a business that was in the home services space and was set up as a service area business with Google My Business.  Because he didn’t have a physical office, he used his home address on the listing.  When he ended up moving to a new apartment, we updated the address on his listing. The ...
Read More
Are You Making These Big Mistakes with Your Google My Business Listing?
8Aug By Heather CampbellNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Webinar

Are You Making These Big Mistakes with Your Google My Business Listing?

Google My Business can be one of the most valuable tools for any local business – one that can help you gain customers or clients and, most importantly, revenue.However, many GMB listings are suffering from all-too-common, critical issues.On June 16, I moderated a sponsored Search Engine Journal webinar presented by Mark Luckenbaugh of Local Viking.He shared how to make sure you’re avoiding these pitfalls – whether you manage a single GMB listing or thousands of them.Here’s a recap of the webinar presentation.Are you making it hard for local customers to find your business when they’re searching for you?If your business is not showing up for relevant search queries, then you probably need to look into your Google My Business (GMB) profile.Most GMB issues can’t be resolved through brute for...
Read More
The Complete Guide to GMB Attributes for Local SEO
8Aug By Marshall NymanNo Comments
Enterprise SEO, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

The Complete Guide to GMB Attributes for Local SEO

Google My Business (GMB) attributes are a uniform way for businesses to share what they offer and what a customer can expect when using that business.They are also a way for a business to optimize its local search presence. The more detailed a listing is with attributes, the more likely that listing could rank for a specific targeted search with an attribute modifier — for example, [accessible restaurants near me] or [miami hotels with free wifi].In this blog post, you’ll discover the different types of GMB attributes available to businesses depending on your primary business category, and how local marketers can best leverage these attributes.Types of Google My Business AttributesThere are two types of attributes within a listing on GMB: factual or subjective.Factual attributes are mainta...
Read More
How to Create a Winning Local SEO Strategy for Your Business
7Aug By Jason HennesseyNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

How to Create a Winning Local SEO Strategy for Your Business

With 90% of consumers searching for local businesses online, local SEO is an essential marketing tool for businesses looking to attract potential customers.Whether you have a physical location or an online business that serves a specific location, you need a strategy for targeting localized searches and users in your area. This is how you rank higher in Google search, outshine your competitors, and attract even more customers.In this guide, you’ll learn how to create a local SEO strategy for any business to generate more traffic from local search.Does Your Business Need a Local SEO Strategy?First off, not all businesses need local SEO. Only businesses that serve a specific geographic location (or several) need to rank in local search for the key terms potential customers are searching for ...
Read More
A Guide to Responding to Positive and Negative Yelp Reviews
7Aug By Tom McLoughlinNo Comments
Digital Experience, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

A Guide to Responding to Positive and Negative Yelp Reviews

When it comes to making a purchase decision, the majority of potential customers will look to reviews for help.It doesn’t matter whether this is choosing a restaurant, booking a holiday, or picking somewhere to visit at the weekend; what other people have to say matters.Yelp is a platform that allows customers to leave such reviews for the businesses they have visited and supported, from cafes to cottage rentals and everything in between.Whilst (we hope) the majority of Yelp reviews you receive are positive and full of praise, there are always going to be times when a negative experience brings this average down. It’s important to bear in mind that your responses to these comments can have as much influence as the reviews themselves, both good and bad.Responding to reviews is the best way ...
Read More
5 Top Enterprise Local SEO Challenges (& How To Solve Them)
6Aug By Andrew ShotlandNo Comments
Enterprise SEO, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

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

Local SEO is a strange beast. Mastering it for an enterprise requires both knowing how to do “national” SEO, Google My Business SEO, and then understanding how Google treats your target search queries in different markets.That means there is an infinite number of challenges in enterprise local for search marketers.What Are the Most Common Challenges in Enterprise Local SEO?Prioritizing local with internal stakeholders.Having a single source of truth for location data.Optimizing store locators.Google My Business management & optimization.Building a local search presence for service area businesses and marketplaces.1. Prioritizing Local InternallyIt sounds strange, but I can’t tell you how many multi-location organizations we have worked with where the locations were not the priority for...
Read More
7 Ways to Improve Local SEO & Attract New Business
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...
Read More
5 Ways to Take Your Small Business Marketing to the Next Level
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
5 Top Local Business Concerns, Solved
4Aug By Sherry BonelliNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

5 Top Local Business Concerns, Solved

Google My Business (GMB) is one of the best ways for a local business to rank higher on Google.Whether it’s through the local 3-pack, the local finder, or Google Maps, having your business on GMB helps you get found by interested shoppers, consumers, and clients.But it’s not always easy. Every day, we see dozens of questions from local business owners and digital marketing agencies on the Google My Business Help Community Forum.Many of the issues there are unique and require a deep dive into their specific situation.However, there are some more common questions users have about Google My Business. Here are five GMB problems users often encounter and how to help solve them:Why are changes we didn’t make appearing on our GMB profile?What if I can’t find a category that fits my business model...
Read More
How to Use GMB Posts & Facebook Events for Local Marketing
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
Google Explains Importance of GMB for Local Search
3Aug By Roger MonttiNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, News, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Google Explains Importance of GMB for Local Search

Google’s John Mueller answered a question about the difference in SEO between an informational search query and a query for a local service. Mueller answers the question and followed up by explaining what a business needs to do to rank for local search queries, stressing the importance of Google My Business (GMB).What’s the Difference Between Local and Informational Search Queries?A “Local Search Query” is a search question that someone types into Google when they are looking for a service or a store that is in their geographic area.Examples of a local search business can be a a plumber, a restaurant, a retail store or a lawyer.And informational search query is one where a searcher is trying to find information, like, for example, the cast of a movie, a product review or instructions on ho...
Read More
Ultimate Guide to Getting Started with Email Marketing for SMBs
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...
Read More
5 Top Local Business Concerns, Solved
30Jul By Sherry BonelliNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

5 Top Local Business Concerns, Solved

Google My Business (GMB) is one of the best ways for a local business to rank higher on Google.Whether it’s through the local 3-pack, the local finder, or Google Maps, having your business on GMB helps you get found by interested shoppers, consumers, and clients.But it’s not always easy. Every day, we see dozens of questions from local business owners and digital marketing agencies on the Google My Business Help Community Forum.Many of the issues there are unique and require a deep dive into their specific situation.However, there are some more common questions users have about Google My Business. Here are five GMB problems users often encounter and how to help solve them:Why are changes we didn’t make appearing on our GMB profile?What if I can’t find a category that fits my business model...
Read More
How to Use GMB Posts & Facebook Events for Local Marketing
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. ...
Read More
Do Google Posts Impact Ranking?
27Jul By Joy HawkinsNo Comments
GMB, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

Do Google Posts Impact Ranking?

Posted Jul 26, 2021 by Joy Hawkins One of the most frequent questions I get asked related to Google posts is if they impact where a business ranks in the local pack.  To answer this question, we did a test recently on a few inactive Google My Business listings. TLDR Adding Google posts to Google My Business (GMB) listings had no measurable impact on rankings in the local pack. The Methodology: To test this, we picked 3 different Google My Business (GMB) listings that we started adding Google posts to.  These 3 listings had no SEO efforts whatsoever (no content, reputation, or link building efforts) and were in small towns.  2 of them were for marketing companies that were set up as service-area bus...
Read More
6 Reasons SEO Beats Social Media Ads Every Time
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...
Read More
Google Now Shows ‘Ranking Factors Box’ in SERPs to Explain Results
25Jul By Jamie PitmanNo Comments
Blog, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, News, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

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

Want to find out why your competitor’s page is No. 1 in Google organic SERPs? Well, now you can! (To the extent that Google is willing to tell you, anyway.) That’s because Google yesterday announced a feature that shows a selection of reasons for ranking individual pages in SERPs, bringing some much-needed transparency to search. via GIPHY Source: Google This feature is a section called ‘Your search & this result’ but it doesn’t have a catchy name yet, so we’re calling it the ‘Ranking Factors Box’, simply because, well, it’s a box that displays ranking factors! The Ranking Factors Box is an extension of the ‘About this result’ box, which is accessible by clicking the ‘three vertical dots’ at the end of a search result and was originally launched back in February of this year. Where is...
Read More
5 Ways to Take Your Small Business Marketing to the Next Level
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...
Read More
How to Succeed With Google Posts: What We Learned From Analyzing Over 1,000 Google Posts
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...
Read More
Google Starts Cheering Anti-Spam Edits in Google Maps
15Jul By PhilNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Uncategorized

Google Starts Cheering Anti-Spam Edits in Google Maps

Like my post? Please share!Just about every day I send in edits on Google My Business pages that have committed one party foul or another, but this is the first I’ve seen Google go out of its way to encourage those edits: It was a partial edit of a business’s name, in which I removed a single stuffed-in keyword.  I find two things interesting, at least in this case.  The first is that I made that edit back in 2018.  The second is that that edit has stuck for almost 3 years, even though it would have been easy for the business to add back in the keyword.  Often when you make a Google Maps edit on the name of GMB page and Google agrees with your edit and makes the change, the business just changes the name back to whatever it was, and Google doesn’t do anything about it.  Often it becomes a...
Read More
5 Top Enterprise Local SEO Challenges (& How To Solve Them)
15Jul By Andrew ShotlandNo Comments
Enterprise SEO, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

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

Local SEO is a strange beast. Mastering it for an enterprise requires both knowing how to do “national” SEO, Google My Business SEO, and then understanding how Google treats your target search queries in different markets.That means there is an infinite number of challenges in enterprise local for search marketers.What Are the Most Common Challenges in Enterprise Local SEO?Prioritizing local with internal stakeholders.Having a single source of truth for location data.Optimizing store locators.Google My Business management & optimization.Building a local search presence for service area businesses and marketplaces.1. Prioritizing Local InternallyIt sounds strange, but I can’t tell you how many multi-location organizations we have worked with where the locations were not the priority for...
Read More
What We’re Seeing From the June & July Core Updates [Case Study]
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 ...
Read More
Shoehorning Cities into the Address Field of a Google My Business Page
8Jul By PhilNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, Uncategorized

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

Like my post? Please share! I may have seen this before, but it must not have registered with me until I saw it more than once on the same page of Google Maps results.   In any event, it’s new to me.  Below is an example.  Do you see what’s out of place? Is it the plump business name?  Nope.  Keyword-stuffing like that is omnipresent.  What else looks odd? That “service area” – Holy Moses!  Has Google started displaying in Google Maps all the cities in your GMB service area?  That’s what I thought at first, but notice: the cities are in the “address” field. The street address is in the address field, but so are 12 cities (known as “suburbs” in Australia) and communities the business serves. That isn’t a fluke, because on the very same page of Google Maps results is another GMB page with...
Read More
A Guide to Responding to Positive and Negative Yelp Reviews
1Jul By Tom McLoughlinNo Comments
Digital Experience, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

A Guide to Responding to Positive and Negative Yelp Reviews

When it comes to making a purchase decision, the majority of potential customers will look to reviews for help.It doesn’t matter whether this is choosing a restaurant, booking a holiday, or picking somewhere to visit at the weekend; what other people have to say matters.Yelp is a platform that allows customers to leave such reviews for the businesses they have visited and supported, from cafes to cottage rentals and everything in between.Whilst (we hope) the majority of Yelp reviews you receive are positive and full of praise, there are always going to be times when a negative experience brings this average down. It’s important to bear in mind that your responses to these comments can have as much influence as the reviews themselves, both good and bad.Responding to reviews is the best way ...
Read More
The Complete Guide to GMB Attributes for Local SEO
29Jun By Marshall NymanNo Comments
Enterprise SEO, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

The Complete Guide to GMB Attributes for Local SEO

Google My Business (GMB) attributes are a uniform way for businesses to share what they offer and what a customer can expect when using that business.They are also a way for a business to optimize its local search presence. The more detailed a listing is with attributes, the more likely that listing could rank for a specific targeted search with an attribute modifier — for example, [accessible restaurants near me] or [miami hotels with free wifi].In this blog post, you’ll discover the different types of GMB attributes available to businesses depending on your primary business category, and how local marketers can best leverage these attributes.Types of Google My Business AttributesThere are two types of attributes within a listing on GMB: factual or subjective.Factual attributes are mainta...
Read More
How to Create a Winning Local SEO Strategy for Your Business
29Jun By Jason HennesseyNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

How to Create a Winning Local SEO Strategy for Your Business

With 90% of consumers searching for local businesses online, local SEO is an essential marketing tool for businesses looking to attract potential customers.Whether you have a physical location or an online business that serves a specific location, you need a strategy for targeting localized searches and users in your area. This is how you rank higher in Google search, outshine your competitors, and attract even more customers.In this guide, you’ll learn how to create a local SEO strategy for any business to generate more traffic from local search.Does Your Business Need a Local SEO Strategy?First off, not all businesses need local SEO. Only businesses that serve a specific geographic location (or several) need to rank in local search for the key terms potential customers are searching for ...
Read More
How to Influence “Years in Business” in the Local Pack Results
28Jun By Joy HawkinsNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, Uncategorized

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

Posted Jun 28, 2021 by Joy Hawkins In this Guide: Why you should add an opening date Earlier this year, Google started to display opening dates in the local pack results.  If you choose to not add your opening date inside Google My Business (GMB), Google will often pick a date based on other sources – and these sources could easily be wrong.  I recently did an audit for a business that was displaying as being open for 7 years, when in reality they have been open for 23 years!  Since Google actually allows you to control this, there is no reason why you wouldn’t want to fill it out.  In the example below, what would you be more likely to choose – the business that has been open for 3 years, the on...
Read More
Google My Business Management 101
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...
Read More
Are You Making These Big Mistakes with Your Google My Business Listing?
23Jun By Heather CampbellNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Webinar

Are You Making These Big Mistakes with Your Google My Business Listing?

Google My Business can be one of the most valuable tools for any local business – one that can help you gain customers or clients and, most importantly, revenue.However, many GMB listings are suffering from all-too-common, critical issues.On June 16, I moderated a sponsored Search Engine Journal webinar presented by Mark Luckenbaugh of Local Viking.He shared how to make sure you’re avoiding these pitfalls – whether you manage a single GMB listing or thousands of them.Here’s a recap of the webinar presentation.Are you making it hard for local customers to find your business when they’re searching for you?If your business is not showing up for relevant search queries, then you probably need to look into your Google My Business (GMB) profile.Most GMB issues can’t be resolved through brute for...
Read More
Most Common Website Errors and How to Fix Them (Part 2)
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, ...
Read More
4 Lesser-Known Local SEO Tips Even the Experts Miss
15Jun By Heather CampbellNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Webinar

4 Lesser-Known Local SEO Tips Even the Experts Miss

More people are searching for local businesses than ever before.This also means local search has never been as competitive as it is today.So how can local businesses stand out and rise in the rankings?How can you make it easy for customers to easily find your business and connect with you?On June 9, I moderated a sponsored Search Engine Journal webinar presented by Jared McKinney and Matt Boyce of Podium.They shared tips on how to rank higher in search using some lesser-known local SEO tips.Here’s a recap of the webinar presentation.Data from Google and other sources tells us that local searches consistently lead to actual visits to physical locations.But often, local businesses don’t pay attention to simple yet impactful tactics that can actually make a difference for their SEO.What follo...
Read More
4 Known GMB Issues & What To Do About Them
14Jun By Ben FisherNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

4 Known GMB Issues & What To Do About Them

It can be frustrating when a free service like Google My Business is not working as you expect it to. And I totally understand that you get a ton of business from your Business Profile on Search and Maps.The Google My Business team understands this, as well.Support is doing the best that they can — particularly given what a tumultuous year it’s been in local search.In this article, you’ll learn about four of the Google My Business issues being worked on as of mid-May/June 2021.You’ll also find helpful steps you can take to resolve these issues and improve your own listings.What Happens When You Report an Issue to GMB?It can help to know how the Google My Business team prioritizes fixes when they receive a bug report.Typically, Product Experts (like yours truly) will see an issue in the com...
Read More
The Top 12 Advantages of Internet Marketing For Your Small Business
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...
Read More
BrightLocal Welcomes Claire Carlile as Local Search Expert
11Jun By Kristian BannisterNo Comments
Blog, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, News, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

BrightLocal Welcomes Claire Carlile as Local Search Expert

We’re delighted to announce that Claire Carlile has joined BrightLocal as our in-house Local Search Expert. Claire’s one of the most respected and well-loved people in the local search industry, always bringing a wealth of first-hand experience and unique perspectives to the content she produces and the wisdom she shares. A rare breed, Claire combines a deep understanding of local search and digital with extensive knowledge of the fundamentals of marketing. She boasts an envious academic background in marketing which allows her to approach projects with a strategic and research-driven mindset. We took notice of the great content Claire was creating a couple of years back and jumped at the chance to get her involved in our own content initiatives. Earlier this year, Claire created an amazin...
Read More
How to Get Better Results for Your GMB Listing with Fewer Tools
10Jun By Local VikingNo Comments
AdNouncement Lite, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

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

This is a sponsored post written by Local Viking. The opinions expressed in this article are the sponsor’s own.With a portfolio of agencies managing Google My Business (GMB) listings, client acquisition dialed in, and workload piling up, the birth of Local Viking was a true baptism by fire.We needed something that could start the journey of containerizing reporting, help our staff automate some of the mundane optimization activities, and lead the charge into a more accurate and sensible rank tracker for our clients.If you want to check out the day-to-day strategies we use in our real-life agencies that rank thousands of GMB listings, download this free guide.If you’re looking for quick GMB management tips, then you might find our 15-Minute Marketing Methodology case study useful.But if you...
Read More
How to Build Back Customer Loyalty After Covid-19
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-...
Read More
Most Common Website Errors and How to Fix Them (Part 1)
5Jun 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 services, The Top 10

Most Common Website Errors and How to Fix Them (Part 1)

Owning a website is more than just ensuring that your page loads quickly and appears professional. You also need to make sure it does not contain damaged links and is free from errors. The thought of a major website error can be daunting. For business owners especially, even just a minute of website down could mean loss of sales and revenue. Fortunately, most website errors are easy to solve. Even for those without a programming background, you can get your site up and running in no time. You only need to know where to start. We’ve put together a list of common website errors and the steps you can take to fix them. 400 Bad RequestThis error indicates that the website server cannot understand or will not process the request you sent, like a request to load a webpage, due to what it perceive...
Read More
Review-Gating is Against the Google My Business Guidelines
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...
Read More
Your Guide to Better Local SEO Rankings
4Jun By Local VikingNo Comments
AdNouncement Lite, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services

Your Guide to Better Local SEO Rankings

This post was sponsored by Local Viking. The opinions expressed in this article are the sponsor’s own.If you’re working on local SEO projects and managing Google My Business (GMB) listings, you’ve probably scrambled to answer at least one of these questions:How can we increase our visibility?How can we expand our ranking coverage?My GMB listing is “filtered” or stuck – what now?Don’t fret – we’ve got you covered!Everything you need to know about ranking and visibility for Google My Business is in this comprehensive guide from Local Viking.Learn actionable local SEO strategies based on years of serving large agencies in a white-label fashion, owning a portfolio of general and niche agencies, and working with marketing teams on national GMB campaigns with over thousands of locations across t...
Read More
10 Years of Local Search Blogging
2Jun By PhilNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Uncategorized

10 Years of Local Search Blogging

Like my post? Please share! Today marks 10 years since I started blogging about local SEO and related topics, and in my view it marks the real start of my business and all that’s brought – including 400+ posts, way more skill, great clients, a great living, some friendships, a better understanding of my place on this dustball, and a bit of fun along the way. Therefore, as Klingon ritual dictates, I must offer up a few stray thoughts today, even if there is an 80% chance it’s all irrelevant to you and a complete waste of your time.  On the other hand, if you’re a business owner who’s interested in the blogging or “content” thing, or if you’re a longtime reader here, or if you’re a local SEO-er, there may be bits and pieces of interest to you. As I alluded to in my post from 5 years ago, I h...
Read More
Service Pages and Local SEO: 20+ Principles to Make Them Your Rock-Solid Foundation
28May By PhilNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo services, Uncategorized

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

Like my post? Please share! I work with clients on all kinds of local-visibility-related challenges, but you would not believe how much time I spend on service pages: explaining, critiquing, troubleshooting, inventorying, creating, and refining them, and then doing it all over again. By “service page” I mean any page that’s focused on a specific service you offer.  But everything I recommend here also applies to whatever you may offer: products you sell, medical treatments you perform, legal cases you handle, etc. Service pages can help you in many ways, including in that they: Turn more of your visitors into customers, no matter how good or bad your search engine visibility is. Can bring you most of the organic rankings you’ll get. Can pop you into the Google Maps results / local 3-pac...
Read More
SEO Code of Ethics: Boost Your Visibility the Right Way
28May By John VuongNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

SEO Code of Ethics: Boost Your Visibility the Right Way

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of setting up your website and online presence in a way that captures the attention of your ideal customers.You want folks to find your website when they do searches about your industry, and to be engaged by the content on your website and blog. This will help educate leads about your offerings and build their trust in you, so they ultimately become customers.However, there are right and wrong ways to go about SEO. It’s important any agency you work with adheres to an SEO code of ethics so you can trust that your website will be boosted by Google rather than penalized.What is ethical SEO? Let’s take a look!What Colour is Your Hat?You may have seen high-quality SEO companies, such as Local SEO Search, talk about implementing only “white hat” t...
Read More
How “Glocal” Content Marketing Helps International Brands Stay Local
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...
Read More
SEO Consulting: 9 Things to Know Before Choosing a Consultant
19May By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

SEO Consulting: 9 Things to Know Before Choosing a Consultant

There are over 1.8 billion websites in existence, and getting yours noticed might seem hopeless. After all, you’re a small business, and you have a lot on your plate.You’re focused on providing the best products and services for your customers, and you have to manage your employees. You don’t have an entire department ready to do your marketing for you.You can’t throw in the towel, either. The key is to find help, and ensure it’s the right help.You’ve heard of search engine optimization (SEO). Is an SEO consultant the way to go? Or should you hire an SEO service provider?The answer is yes. You need both — and you can get them in the same agency. Here are the 10 things you need to know before getting started with SEO consulting.1. You Need An SEO PlanIf your small business is going to succe...
Read More
SEO Consulting: 9 Things to Know Before Choosing a Consultant
19May By John VuongNo Comments
Business advice, googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

SEO Consulting: 9 Things to Know Before Choosing a Consultant

There are over 1.8 billion websites in existence, and getting yours noticed might seem hopeless. After all, you’re a small business, and you have a lot on your plate.You’re focused on providing the best products and services for your customers, and you have to manage your employees. You don’t have an entire department ready to do your marketing for you.You can’t throw in the towel, either. The key is to find help, and ensure it’s the right help.You’ve heard of search engine optimization (SEO). Is an SEO consultant the way to go? Or should you hire an SEO service provider?The answer is yes. You need both — and you can get them in the same agency. Here are the 10 things you need to know before getting started with SEO consulting.1. You Need An SEO PlanIf your small business is going to succe...
Read More
How to Fix Common Service Area Business Issues in Google My Business
17May By Sherry BonelliNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local Search, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services

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

When it comes to Google My Business’s rules and guidelines there is a lot of room for improvement.Yes, they have rules written down, but those guidelines are vague in many areas and contradictory in spots.That makes things confusing for even the smartest marketer or business owner. Trying to understand some of GMBs guidelines is almost like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube in a dark room.And the rules pertaining to Service Area Businesses (SABs) seem to be the most confusing.In this column, you’ll learn about the most common problems SABs experience in Google My Business — and how to solve them.What is Unique About Service Area Businesses in GMB?Service Area Businesses are those lacking a physical storefront location where customers can visit.SABs have employees that go out to their customer...
Read More
Why Do I See Different Rankings Than What My Rank Tracker Reports?
12May By Darren ShawNo Comments
googe optimize, google optimization, google seo, Local SEO, pagerank, search engine optimisation, search engine optimising, search engine optimization, SEO, seo company, seo services, Whitespark Weekly

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

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