News
 
Gravatar
An AI tool for Local SEO agency success.

Local SEO has changed drastically over the last 18 months, thanks in no small part to answer engines (AE) like ChatGPT. This transition requires adaptive and innovative GEO/AI tools, like Advice Local’s AI Presence Amplifier for local marketers and agencies to meet the moment. Local SEO isn’t dead, search still happens, but it just looks a bit different from the inside. Let’s look at how tools like the AI Presence Amplifier and generative engine optimization (GEO) helps agencies and businesses excel.

Generative Engine Optimization Is the Evolution of Local SEO

If you’ve not heard much about generative engine optimization, you will soon. It’s the latest strategic focus in digital marketing, born out of the conversational way that answer engines summarize and synthesize information. Generative AI takes what began in local search, digs deeper into available online data, and returns to the consumer a broader, clearer picture of a business. GEO ensures that a business shows up properly in these conversational searches and summaries (like Google’s AI Overviews). GEO is the evolved, supercharged version of local SEO.

At Advice Local, we’ve been talking about and planning for GEO most of this year. We recently launched our new tool that cleans and corrects business data to increase a business’ chances of being returned in AI summaries, AI-based search and AEs. Now we can offer you this tool to face the changes brought on by generative AI.

How Do Generative AI Local Search Tools Help Businesses?

While AI presents a big change to search engines, the evolution of local SEO into GEO doesn’t have to completely disrupt how agencies operate, or their client rankings. Our add-on service, the AI Presence Amplifier, shows how SEO and GEO strategies work in tandem.

While local SEO starts with solid listings management and clean citations in directories, data aggregators, and mapping and GPS apps, GEO works to unify and enhance business data in AI search agents. Consistent data is as foundational to GEO as it is to SEO, because unified data across the vastness of the web is vital to a business’ ability to be returned in AI-based searches. AI robots dive deep into information across multiple sources from owned and public media.

The AI Presence Amplifier reviews how business data appears across OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft CoPilot and Perpleixty to return a familiar-looking (for platform partners) AI Publisher Score (APS). This percentage lets you know how complete, correct and structured a business’ data is in the corresponding AE. The higher the number, the more consistent the data.

The APS is a dynamic score based on data available at the time of a scan. The score will change as AI search parameters widen to include more attributes, and of course, it updates when corrections are made to existing data. The great news is that the data can be updated either manually or via API to keep you easily moving through large swaths of data.

Why is all of this important? Consumers still expect accurate content, data and information. An incorrect or missing link to a landing page, product description, address or phone number leads to frustrated customers or lost chances at acquisition. Before this happens, you can assess how the top four (with more to come) answer engines see a business’ data, so you can correct issues before they have the chance to become a problem.

There is much more to get to know about the AI Presence Amplifier and GEO. Stay tuned to Advice Local as the AI Presence Amplifier evolves, and as we evolve with the AI Age. This is only the beginning.


Local #SEO Isn’t Dead – How Our #AI Tool Helps Businesses by @BernieColeman
Click To Tweet


Get an AI Tool for Local SEO to Keep Your Agency GEO-Ready

Advice Local is here to help your business excel in the AI Age with an affordable add-on tool that keeps business listings optimized for traditional search and advanced answer engines. Get to know the AI Presence Amplifier today. Schedule a demo or call us at (214) 310-1356.

The post Local SEO Isn’t Dead – How Our AI Tool Helps Businesses appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Introducing AI Presence Amplifier from Advice Local.

At Advice Local, we’re always cooking up something to help our agency and local marketing partners stay ahead of the game in local search. Today, we’re excited (and proud!) to add an AI tool to our product offering.

Meet AI Presence Amplifier, our newest AI tool. This new tool features an AI Publisher Score (APS) that helps you understand a business’ data available on large language models (LLM) and AI. Another important feature of this product is that our AI tool will correct the business’ data via API or manually, depending on what is needed. In essence, AI Presence Amplifier analyzes and optimizes the business’ data.

Introducing AI Presence Amplifier from Advice Local.

It’s important for our agency partners to understand how their local business clients are performing in desktop, mobile search, and the AI answer engines. This is where our latest solution, AI Presence Amplifier, comes in.

Meet Advice Local’s Newest AI Tool – AI Presence Amplifier

Now, to keep you ahead of other agencies and keep your clients satisfied with how you’re tackling AI and bringing in more sales, let’s review the new Advice Local product, AI Presence Amplifier. We are currently in alpha testing, so there will be updates and changes. You’ll need to request a demo to get a peek at the new AI tool. If you are a current platform partner, please contact your account manager to participate in the alpha testing.

What Does Advice Local’s AI Presence Amplifier Tool Do?

Within your partner dashboard, you can see a business’ visibility percentage based on how consistently its structured data appears across generative AI chatbots, via the aforementioned AI Publisher Score (APS).

This score is based on how much of a business’ data is complete, correct, and structured to meet the demands of traditional and generative search.

For the first time, we’ve applied a dynamic scoring algorithm to AI visibility, calculating a score only against the data that’s available or detectable at scan time. This means the score evolves as more business attributes are surfaced, corrected, or structured for AI engines.

Up to now, consistent data in search engine results pages (SERPs) and directories has been the major key. And in addition to those listings, data must be consistent in any and all sources that AI chatbots utilize (and there are many). This means the data currently returned can be mismatched.

How You Get Access to AI Presence Amplifier in Your Partner Dashboard

AI Presence Amplifier is for businesses with active listing management within your partner dashboard. This product is an add-on to our listing management services, which ensures that businesses are easily found online through the most important directories, data aggregators, GPS and mapping apps.

For those wishing to participate in alpha testing, access already exists within your easy-to-use partner dashboard. The report generates just like the listing management Baseline report. When a scan is completed, so is the AI scan.

From your partner dashboard you’ll be able to select the AI tab to review the business’ APS score. For businesses with inconsistency issues, you simply go to the order screen to place the order. The cost is $10 per business per month (for any business with active listing management).

The Chatbots AI Presence Amplifier Searches

During alpha testing, Advice Local AI Presence Amplifier tool reflects the data from ChatGPT, Gemini, CoPilot and Perplexity. We will soon add Grok, which is integrated into X (formerly Twitter). These are the most used AI chatbots, and in the case of Gemini and CoPilot, they are integrated into their search engine counterparts. They touch so many aspects of traditional search, like Google Business Profiles and Bing Places.

Introducing AI Presence Amplifier from Advice Local.

Business Attributes AI Presence Amplifier Monitors for Consistency

AI Presence Amplifier checks seven attributes. These are aligned with other markers within Advice Local tools for consistency. These attributes are flagged as “Consistent,” “Inconsistent,” or “Missing.” See the categories below.

  1. Description
  2. Location/Business Name
  3. Address
  4. Phone Number
  5. Website
  6. Primary Category
  7. Secondary Category

How AI Presence Amplifier Helps Local Businesses

AI Presence Amplifier helps your agency detect and resolve misrepresented citations before they cost your visibility and the trust of your clients. From missed phone numbers to wrong business categories, every issue is flagged and resolved via API or manual request, right inside your dashboard. And as with each of our tools, it makes it easy to make multiple corrections, saving time, money, and ultimately keeping clients happy.

Generative AI, GEO (generative engine optimization) and AEO (answer engine optimization) are here, they are the next evolution of SEO. They are not a trend to prepare for, they are the current reality we work within. Too many organizations don’t see what information about them is available to consumers, and they are suffering for it.

AI-generated answer snippets in SERPs may contain (and for many organizations, do contain) incorrect data. This frustrates consumers and costs businesses potential customers, clients, patients and patrons. AI Presence Amplifier helps you identify, organize and unify data, ensuring a consistent experience no matter what avenue someone uses to search.

Generative engine optimization (GEO) is no longer optional. AI engines are transforming the way customers discover and choose local businesses. AI Presence Amplifier equips you to control how a business appears across the AI landscape, rather than leaving it to chance. At Advice Local we pride ourselves on remaining up-to-date (and often ahead of the curve) to provide our partners, agencies and local marketers with the tools that make us all succeed.

With the search and AI advancements that occur almost daily, this AI tool will help you to further take control of a business’ data when and where users are searching the most.

If you are a current Advice Local partner, please email your account manager to learn more about getting access to our new AI tool.


Meet Our New AI Tool That Cleans & Corrects Business Data by @BernieColeman #SEO
Click To Tweet


Get Advice Local’s New AI Product, AI Presence Amplifier, Today

We know you’re excited to see how this new tool from Advice Local will help your agency serve your local business clients. To learn more, request a demo if you’re new to Advice Local’s products, or call us at (214) 310-1356. For platform partners, please contact your account manager to learn more.

The post Meet Our New AI Tool That Cleans & Corrects Business Data appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Quality local business citations build AI trust.

While preparing your business for AI readiness, you may wonder what local SEO basics like citations and listings management services have to do with answer engines (AE) and their optimization (AEO). Well, it turns out to be quite a bit. Clean, consistent local business citations, quality content and reliable, robust directories all affect trust signals in AI-based search and answer engine queries. Today we’re diving into another example from ChatGPT to find out how to set up your clients for success in the AI Age.

Build Trust for AI Search With Quality Business Citations

When it comes to local search, consistent business citations are foundational. Making sure the business name, address and phone number (NAP data) matches across owned and public platforms sets it up to be found in various search applications. No matter how much AI changes local search, this key tactic remains the same.

AI improvements are constantly moving forward, but trusted, credible business data that can be indexed by search engines remains a vital component in building strategies for search, whether traditional or AI-powered. Working with a reputable listings management partner to ensure complete, accurate citations reporting to the right directory networks and verticals helps establish these necessary trust signals. But with so many directories out there, how do you know which ones answer engines trust?

Which Local Business Directories Does ChatGPT Trust?

With citations sorted out and easy access and updates taken care of, now it’s time to make sure citations are in the right directories. To learn which directories are trusted by answer engines, I asked ChatGPT directly. Remember, when it comes to answer engines (Gemini, Copilot, Perplexity, Grok, etc.), queries are like conversations. Setting parameters helps AEs return the best data.

Quality local business citations build AI trust.

To make sure the proper variables were covered, I included example directories like YP.com and JudysBook.com in my original question. The answer engine understood my question and its context within local SEO. This gave me confidence that it would return reliable answers.

Quality local business citations build AI trust.

ChatGPT then gave me a listing of nine core directories it sees as sources of quality, consistent NAP data. It called these “essential” based on their SEO value. I’m sure you’re not surprised to see Google Business Profile (GBP), Bing Places or Facebook Business Pages, as they are in such wide use. You can also see the value and authority the answer engine places on each listing and why. It even tells us that it still recognizes MapQuest, even though it’s used less than other map directories.

Quality local business citations build AI trust.

ChatGPT also gave me a list of what it called Trusted Secondary Directories. It told me these were “useful for building citation volume and improving local SEO.” Again, the answer engine gave me a thorough answer, its reasoning, and in the case of Angi.com lets me know which vertical it is popular within. All of this is excellent data and gave me something to check its work against, which in these early days of AI is important.

In addition to these trusted directories, Chat GPT returned information about listings it cautioned against or avoided.

What Directories Do Answer Engine Use Caution With?

There are various types of directories that won’t serve local businesses well and should be avoided. They simply don’t send the trust signals sought by AI and search engine crawlers. Below I included a few examples from my conversation with ChatGPT.

Quality local business citations build AI trust.

The first type of listings returned were those it uses with caution. MerchantCircle is listed here, which is included in Advice Local’s vast data amplifier network. It returned this because there is accuracy in the directory, even though its trust signal is mixed.

Quality local business citations build AI trust.

The next kind of directories ChatGPT avoids when searching for answers are those that are not crawled or indexed by Google. It also excludes those obviously involved in blackhat SEO and pay-for-play links or citations—it’s no surprise these would be excluded.

Quality local business citations build AI trust.

Finally, the AE suggested that I avoid using sites and directories that have low domain authority, lack security protocols, have AI-generated content, as well as those that are old and outdated.

Establishing businesses as trustworthy and placing them in high-caliber data aggregator networks is important to AI, crawlers and algorithms. It is true that large language models (LLMs) are learning, in a sense. The more a business presents accurate, quality citations, helpful content, up-to-date reviews and regular activity, the more likely it is to send necessary trust signals to be learned by AI.

To ensure local business clients show up in search engines and as answers for answer engine queries, it’s important to maintain quality, up-to-date NAP data in varied, trusted directories.


Build Trust With #AI Through Quality Local Business #Citations by @BernieColeman #SEO
Click To Tweet


Work With a Proven Listings Management Company Now

Stay on top of all the latest AI advances with a reputable, award-winning listings management company. Advice Local has the tools to ensure your agency and local business clients have high trust ratings and so much more. Get to know us – request a free demo or call us today at (214) 310-1356.

The post Build Trust With AI Through Quality Local Business Citations appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
How generative AI changes local search.

Generative AI is the hot topic across industries, including speculation and testing within digital marketing. Even with its rapid development, rest assured that building on a solid foundation of SEO basics like clean citations, reputable listings management, and a focus on local intent will keep your clients at the top of search and answer engine (AE) results.

Before we look at specific examples of intent-centered optimization, let’s review some recent AI and local search numbers to help you get inside the heads of today’s consumers.

How AI Changes Local Search by the Numbers

Despite rumors to the contrary, SEO is not dead—and even with the rapid advances of AIs like ChatGPT, neither is Google search. According to a recent study from Bright Local, the new technology is used in tandem with traditional search, and consumer adoption rates vary generationally. Here are some of the statistics.

  • 10% of Gen Z thinks of ChatGPT as their main search platform.
  • 40–60% of searches conducted by a quarter of respondents have local intent.
  • 85% find contact information and open hours “important.”
  • 42% consider proximity (near me searches) to be “important.”
  • 20% conduct local searches directly in maps.

So SEO isn’t going anywhere for the time being, as consumers regularly make multiple searches a day. We also see many people making decisions with immediacy or how soon they intend to visit in mind for location-based businesses. In order for your clients to be found in these AI searches, their businesses must be optimized for traditional and AI-initiated search queries.

The AI Local Search Consumer Experience Breakdown

Search intent and the consumer journey are vital parts of the AI local search experience. Consumers use generative AI products like ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity similarly to the way they use voice assistants. They ask multiple questions, building upon initial answers to learn more. AI local search is conversational.

To make sure your clients show up in these conversations, think about how a consumer searches and what they’re seeing. Let’s look at an example from ChatGPT.

Best chatgpt example.

Here’s a primary query for the “BEST” local mobile groomer. It’s probably no surprise that ChatGPT returns pictures, even one with a review. But it also contains a description longer than the ones seen on Google or Bing SERPS, one compiled of data gleaned from multiple sources (more on that below). This means that traditional local search tactics like pictures with alt text and fresh reviews can get you far in AI search. For many of the people surveyed, if this description was favorable, they would stick with ChatGPT to ask more questions.

Services chatgpt example.

As the consumer continues their questions, “what services do they offer?” makes sense. They need to know if the provider offers what they need. The information is simple and easy-to-read. For this data to be found and to keep the consumer following breadcrumbs to your clients, it must exist in your owned and social media.

Having service pages with easily-read on-page content and code that’s crawlable by AI robots is imperative. For instance, let’s say our consumer likes what they see and will choose this provider—now they’ve got to contact them.

Contact information chatgpt example.

When tasked with finding contact information, ChatGPT returned the phone number, website, email address, service area and social media channels. The example is a mobile-based business, as location-based businesses would also include the physical address. This varied contact information allows the consumer to engage the business however they need to.

So what does this mean for local marketers and agency partners? They must simply continue to place value on listings management and directory placement for their clients. How do we know this? We have two more images for you from ChatGPT.

Sources information chatgpt example.

We asked ChatGPT to show the sources for the data it returned about our example client, and whether it looked at any directories to return contact information. ChatGPT prioritized “official and authoritative” sources like the website, service pages and social media, which we mentioned. We’ll wrap up with a focus on listings management, directories, and the importance of consistency and trust.

Directories trusted chatgpt example.

In this example, the BBB, Google Business Profile, Yelp and the pet vertical were part of the vast directory network deemed trustworthy by ChatGPT to return the client data in our search.

In brief, having accurate, consistently-updated names, addresses and phone numbers (NAP data) available in those directories is vital to your clients’ success.

Yes, we do talk about this all the time, as it’s the basis upon which we build so much more. Whenever clients make a change to any of their data, it has to be updated properly across channels. Listings management takes care of this. Any inconsistencies here can keep your clients out of search results, whether it’s traditional or AI search.

Google, Bing, and the various answer engines are looking for trust signals and citation consistency in directories in addition to synced operating hours, service areas and helpful, engaging content. We’ll continue to talk more about this, so stick with Advice Local to learn more, maintain client satisfaction and stay ahead of the game.


How #AI Is Changing Local #Search by @BernieColeman #SEO
Click To Tweet


Get Knowledgeable Local Search Support and Tools for AI Search

Advice Local continues to provide the tools and tracking to keep our agency partners and local search marketers in the know when it comes to generative AI advances. Get to know more about how we can support you. Request a demo or give us a call at (214) 310-1356.

The post How AI Is Changing Local Search appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Get your local search clients to show up in AI answer engines.

The need for citations has evolved alongside technology, and AI-powered local search readiness is here to stay. As search continues to change, there’s one thing that remains the same—and that’s the need for high-quality citation services.

Just a few short years ago, optimizing for mobile was at the center of local search, quickly followed by voice search preparedness. Today, a business must be optimized for Google Maps, organic search, voice search, mobile search and now AI search.

Why Is AI Search Important for Local Search Clients?

AI is everywhere right now—yes, even in local search. The first popular Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (GPT) seemed to be simply another way to find answers to questions online. However, in a short span of time, GPT and other large language models (LLMs) have become so much more. Consumers can use AI to write their grocery lists after searching for the nearest local store, or use it to plan a future vacation, with excursions to renowned sites included. These are a couple of examples why ongoing management of your clients’ business listings is necessary.

Currently, the largest search engines have incorporated AI into their proprietary web browsers, while other companies use these major search engines to power the data returned in their AI-powered searches.

The Biggest AI-Powered Search Solutions

These AI-powered search solutions (also known as AE’s or answer engines) are changing the way that consumers search for your local business clients online, as well as changing the answers they get when they do search. And in fact, you’re probably already aware of the following answer engines.

  • Gemini was developed by Google. It is integrated into their Chrome web browser and many of their other properties, including the Assistant and Maps.
  • ChatGPT was originally developed by the company OpenAI, but purchased by Microsoft (and is now integrated into Bing). This answer engine’s search component, ChatGPT Search, is powered by Bing.
  • CoPilot is Microsoft’s AE and part of their web browser, Microsoft Edge. It’s incorporated into Bing and their other imprints as well.
  • Perplexity AI is another company that provides a GPT-based answer engine that also uses Bing as the source for its search engine.
  • Grok is part of the social networking site X (formerly Twitter). It is integrated into the platform but also available on its own website, and is being tested as a standalone mobile app in countries abroad. It’s powered and developed by the company xAI.

While Bing is the base search engine for three of the five answer engines listed, Google Search still dominates. As of 2022, 87% of consumers used Google to evaluate local businesses (according to a 2023 Bright Local survey). This is up from 81% in 2021. With all the new answer engines, their rapid growth and adoption, it’s important to keep clients’ data prepared and readily accessible to AI robots, LLMs, GPTs and more. But how?

How Are AI-Powered Local Search Results Determined?

AI-powered search is still developing, and it’s moving rapidly. To keep up, local marketers and agency partners need to optimize client websites, Google Business Profiles (GBP), and other assets to be found in AI-powered local search. So far, we’ve learned that the search results pushed to the top of these queries are determined based on brand trust, citations, reviews, structured data and localized content.

Brand Trust

Consumers want relevant answers quickly, and AI-powered search prioritizes brands with a high level of trust or authority. This is where following Google’s Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trustworthiness (EEAT) guidelines for all the online content of a business is important. Partners using Advice Local’s listings management services can see a client’s authority score in their partner dashboard.

Citations

Consistent, organized data across platforms is vital to the online success of any business. This is exponentially true for AI-powered search results. Distribution of these citations to vast and varied networks is the next step. Advice Local’s data amplifier network handles this, distributing client data to multiple trusted data aggregators. AI robots search these types of data sources for answers, making them very important to local search clients.

Reviews

In a way, reviews add the human touch to AI search. Sentiment is conveyed via star-ratings and written text. On Google, reviews show up as part of AI Overviews and in the Map Pack. It’s always a best practice for businesses to encourage new reviews, and for them to manage and respond to reviews, both positive and negative. This engagement is seen by search engines and picked up by AI models. With reviews being as important as they are, we make it easy for you to monitor reviews on the most popular review sites within your partner dashboard. You can also set up automated reporting to be sent to your clients.

Structured Data

Clean, consistent schema markup makes it easier for search engines, AI robots and LLMs to glean sites for relevant answers. Update this data as needed during site audits and content refreshes, and make it part of the process to be checked whenever a new piece of content is published on one of your client’s websites. Ensure that client sites are able to be read by robots for a chance to show up in AI search results, like AI Overviews or the products listed above.

Localized Content

As you know, hyperlocal content is a big part of local SEO. Consistently posting relevant updates to websites, GBPs and the like keeps content fresh, and increases the opportunity of being featured highly in search results, AI or otherwise.

Even in the fast pace of this emergent AI-powered technology, foundational local search best practices still reign supreme.


Are Your Local Clients Getting Found in #AI #Search? by @BernieColeman #SEO
Click To Tweet


Get Your Agency Clients Found in AI Search and Much More

Get clients optimized and prepared for AI-powered local search with clean, updated citations, award-winning listings management, and Advice Local’s vast data amplifier network. Request a demo today, or call (214) 310-1356 to learn more.

The post Are Your Local Clients Getting Found in AI Search? appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Updated ranking factors for local SEO.

If there is any constant in ranking factors for local SEO, it’s that Google, Bing and all the search engines will always have changes. While SEO best practices like monitoring reviews and keeping accurate citations with trusted listings management services will never go out of style, this is tech, so priorities will shift when new apps, integrations and advances emerge. It’s the mid 2020s, so let’s review what’s changed in local search so you can keep your technology and your clients up-to-date.

The Ranking Factors That Influence Local SEO

We usually receive annual updates to local SEO ranking factors in a report once due diligence, testing and professional surveys are completed. However, this information is based on data originally published in 2023, and minimally updated in late 2024 on the Moz blog.

Google Business Profile

The importance of a correctly managed Google Business Profile (GBP) cannot be overstated in local search results. While these verified business listings contain multiple pieces of information about the business, the three most important are as follows: choosing the most authoritative web page from a website for the main URL on the listing; selecting the most relevant categories (up to 10) for the business; and if possible, including a search term within the business title.

We often talk about how vital a verified and well-managed GBP is, and will continue to provide tips to give our agency partners the edge in local search.

Reviews

Reviews across multiple platforms and from various sources continue to impact Local Pack/Finder rankings. Reviews are a valuable trust signal and will always matter to consumers and search engines alike—staying on top of them is vital to a business’ online success.

Agency partners with active listings management accounts have access to Advice Local’s incredible free Review Monitoring Tool. This allows a bird’s-eye view of multiple review sites in one convenient dashboard, making it easy to pull reports and send information to clients. Client engagement with reviews (positive and negative) can encourage a continuous cycle of new reviews, as potential patrons see the business actively interact with past reviewers.

Gaining new written reviews through an owned website, Google Business Profile, and third-party websites (especially from sites and people with authority) is a relevant signal search that engines cannot ignore.

Citations

Real estate has location, location, location, and for local search it’s citations, citations, citations! No matter how often we talk about consistent, high-quality citations as a foundation for good local SEO, it will never be enough. When it comes to structured citations and clean NAP data, sending to relevant distribution channels can make a difference, as the quality and relevance of the platforms that list client businesses absolutely matters.

This is why ongoing listings management is truly necessary for the businesses that local marketers serve. Citations management has to be a strategic part of any local SEO plan.

On-Page Local Signals

Optimized, quality content that meets technical and grammatical standards is always going to help your website, and makes for a much better user experience. When it comes to local ranking factors, providing solid, authoritative information on locations pages is vital.

Location pages work in conjunction with GBP in search, making it easier for potential customers to find client businesses near them. Setting up these location pages with consistent, visible NAP data including service areas, featured products and services, along with having clear calls-to-action will set your location pages apart. When internal links are used well, this keeps customers on a site, and on a journey once they land there. Take care in creating these pages to see improvements in client rankings.

Off-Page Local Signals

As mentioned above, authority makes a difference. Websites and pages that meet the on-page factors listed above and that have great reviews are more likely to have authority. But off-page local signals coming into client sites from authoritative third-party links will affect rankings too.

Realize that link-building is still alive and well—and these links should be from entities relevant to the business or news sites. These links need anchor text that makes sense, hopefully including key search terms. These links should also come from diverse sources.

These are a few of the most important local search ranking factors that a business needs to consider. Keep in mind that every industry also has distinct factors affecting their rankings. Pinpointing which factors make the most impact on specific businesses is best accomplished by using tools like the suite available through Advice Local.


Best Ranking Factors for Local #SEO by @BernieColeman
Click To Tweet


Get Your Clients’ Listings Optimized for Local Search

Get all the tools you need to move your clients’ rank higher in the local pack, maps and organic search. Advice Local’s all-in-one dashboard can improve your agency’s services today. Request a demo or call us at (214) 310-1356.

The post Best Ranking Factors for Local SEO appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Advice Local’s tips to reverse a Google Business Profile suspension.

As you know, Advice Local’s proprietary listing management services allow your clients to take control of their Google Business Profile and more. Despite efforts to maintain the guidelines for Google Business Profiles (GBP), keeping them functional, easy to use for online search and full of good information, profiles occasionally get suspended. While this restriction isn’t good news, by following these steps clients can restore their profiles.

Appealing a Google Business Profile Suspension

To begin, clients need to ensure their profiles adhere to Google’s Business Profile guidelines, then they’ll want to gather their proof. The time it takes to appeal a GBP suspension isn’t long, but preparation is key to increase the chances of success. Once the evidence submission form is open, users only have one hour (60 minutes) to submit all documentation, so having everything scanned and ready to go is important.

Qualifying Evidence for Overturning a GBP Suspension

The following items can be used as evidence for a GBP Appeal.

  • Business license
  • Official business registration
  • Tax certificates
  • Utility bills (electricity, internet, etc.)

It’s a best practice to submit as much qualifying proof as possible. In this case more is absolutely better, because once that form is closed nothing else can be added. As always, make sure the business name and address on the documentation matches the NAP for the GBP.

Submitting the GBP Appeals Application and Evidence

When all the documentation is ready, open the GBP appeals tool and select the correct account and profile. Once inside, the client or account manager can see the restricted profile, the reason for the restriction, and a link to the policy violation. Knowing this helps in the reversal process.

If the prompt appears to submit evidence, Google highly recommends following this step to strengthen the appeal. When everything is complete, click Submit Appeal. And in case a prompt does not appear here for evidence, there is another step after submitting the appeal.

After the initial appeal information is complete, select Add Evidence. Remember, once the window is open you’ll only have 60 minutes to do so. Review the business data once again and check for any inconsistencies. Next, select Upload Documents then Choose File to select your evidence. There’s even space to provide more context based on the situation. After adding all evidence, select Submit. Then it’s time to wait for an email from Google with their decision (usually made within 3–5 business days). However, this short waiting period will not always apply, as the recent wait time is around 6 weeks for appeals filed directly by the business.

Current Advice Local agency partners with an active listings management service can submit a support ticket in the partner dashboard to get our team’s help with filing the appeal. For an additional fee, you can be assured that everything is being done correctly, also shortening the wait time. We’ve had great success getting these suspensions reversed much more quickly than when a business does it on their own.

Additional Information About the GBP Appeals Process

After Google reviews the appeal they are likely to require that the business do a video verification (in addition to submitting evidence). This is one more step that teams need to prepare for ahead of time. Review our tips on how to speed up GBP verification to get ready.

While waiting for a response, the status of the appeal can be tracked in the affected GBP. The status will read as one of the following:

  • Submitted.
  • Approved.
  • Not Approved.
  • Can’t Be Appealed.
  • Eligible for Appeal.

In the event of a rejected appeal, the team can submit further information for an additional review. This will allow one more chance to submit info not previously included—and this is why we suggest submitting as much evidence as possible with the initial appeal.

How to Deal With Issues After the GBP Is Reinstated

If you run into any issues after the GBP is reinstated by Google, the great news is that Advice Local is always here to support you as you help your clients. Our Enhanced Google Business Profile Tools give the control to maintain updates to the business and keep it from further suspensions. These include the power to auto-reject public edits, monitor reviews through the dashboard, keep listing data updated with GBP Sync, analyze profile authority and more.

These tools allow our business partners and their clients to stay on-track and up-to-date to avoid Google account and GBP guideline violations.


How to Get a #Google Business Profile Suspension Overturned by @BernieColeman #SEO #GBP
Click To Tweet


Get Access to Our Enhanced Google Business Profile Tools Today

This is one of many listing management services offered by Advice Local. To learn more about all of our tools to keep your clients out of GBP suspension and keep ranking in the local pack, request a demo or give us a call today at (214) 310-1356.

The post How to Get a Google Business Profile Suspension Overturned appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Speeding up the Google Business Profile verification process.

At Advice Local, we are all about providing our agency partners with the best tools to manage their clients’ Google Business Profile (GBP), and our enhanced Google Business Profile Tool is one of them. Once a client’s GBP is verified, you can utilize our solution to monitor it. For instance, our GBP tool keeps a client’s data synced to maintain NAP integrity over time, keeps out bad data with auto reject public edits and more.

Access to these incredible tools from one user-friendly dashboard is another reason to complete the Google Business Profile verification as quickly as possible. But first, let’s dive into the process.

Methods for Verifying a Local Business on Google Business Profile

If you have already created a Google Business Profile for the business, let’s dig into verification methods. If the business is not yet on Google, add it now. And if it hasn’t been claimed yet, take the time to do it. Claiming a business on Google is essential to manage the data and have favorable local search results.

1. Google Business Profile Video Verification

Video verification is the most common verification method Google requires. While the response is speedy, this method often demands that business owners record multiple items to prove their legitimacy. Businesses with a physical storefront, businesses that are service-based (or are what Google calls “hybrid”) can use this method.

What You Need to Know About GBP Video Verification

  • As an agency, unless you physically go to a client’s location, you will not be able to complete the verification for the business.
  • The video must be recorded from within the Google Business profile on a mobile device and be a continuous shot, as no editing is allowed.
  • The person recording will want to have all the documentation prepared in advance and have a plan for the shoot.
  • Address it like making a storyboard. Having all the proper information and required shots pre-planned will lead to faster verification.
  • Remember, this may need to be done twice, so keep track of what’s being done.

Verification requirements are based on the type of business but always cover three main categories.

  • Proof of Location
  • Existence
  • Management

Ways to show proof include recording storefront and street signage, the street address on the building’s exterior, nearby businesses or landmarks and entry areas. Additional proof can come from a showroom or dining area, work areas with desks or workstations, business cards displayed and so on. You can also provide proof through a business name on permanent fixtures such as tools or a work truck, a service location, access to official business documentation like permits, and management access to a point-of-sale system. For more details and to learn about Google’s categories, review their video verification help page.

After the video is recorded and submitted, Google typically responds within five days with a message indicating “successful” or “unsuccessful.” If the verification is not successful, the message will state why, and offer another chance to get it right.

2. Verify a Business’ GBP by Phone, Text or Email

Verification on Google Business Profile by phone, text or email remains a simple way to get the job done. From within the profile, a manager chooses to receive a PIN via phone call or text message. Once received, it’s just a matter of inputting the number.

Email is just as simple. From the profile, select email verification and follow the instructions provided within the response. Within a short time (up to five days) it’s complete and done!

What You Need to Know About This GBP Verification Process

  • This option is not available for all businesses.
  • If verifying by phone, Google will call the number listed within the GBP.
  • If verifying by text, Google will send the message to the number listed with the GBP.
  • If verifying by email, the email address needs to be a branded domain that matches the website URL listed on the GBP.

3. Get a GBP Verified With a Live Video Call to Google

Similar to video verification, managers will want to prepare before initiating the live video call. They’ll need to show proof of location, the business or equipment, and management.

  • From the profile, access the verification menu from a phone with a camera. Follow the listed steps to connect to an associate.
  • During the call they’ll ask for video proof that could include the area around the location (like other businesses and the street name), marketing materials, tools or equipment, and access to employee-only areas or information.
  • After the call, a waiting period of up to five days begins. At the end of that time, Google will notify the manager whether the verification was successful or not.

4. Google Business Profile Verification by Mail

If two weeks isn’t too long to wait, local business verification by mail is still available (and at times required).

  • From the Google Business Profile, request a postcard for GBP verification.
  • Make sure the mailing address is correct and request the code. Avoid making any address changes while waiting for a response, as processing time could be extended.
  • When the postcard arrives, simply input the code into the proper section on the correct profile.

Again, Google will respond within five days with a message indicating success or failure.

After Verification, Monitor Local Maps Rankings With Our Help

Once the business’ Google Business Profile has been verified you’ll want to continue monitoring it, and this includes tracking map rankings in Google Maps and the local finder. Advice Local’s Google Maps Local Rank Tracker tool can assist with this task.


How to Speed Up Google Business Profile Verification by @BernieColeman #SEO #GBP
Click To Tweet


Help Clients Navigate the Google Business Profile Verification Process

Now that you know how to speed up the Google Business Profile verification process, it’s time to see more about how Advice Local can help you better service your local business clients. Call us at (214) 310-1356 or request a demo now.

The post How to Speed Up Google Business Profile Verification appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Local listings partner questions.

Choosing the right local listings partner is the best way to help your business clients increase their search visibility. Expert listing management services use real-time submissions to leading directories to ensure your clients’ business information stays accurate and consistent. But how can you be sure that a listings partner will deliver the results a business expects?

Top Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Local Listings Partner

Asking questions of a potential local listings company is the best way to determine a dependable partner from one that could put your agency’s reputation and client relationships at risk. At Advice Local, we recommend asking the following questions before settling on a partner.

Which directories and platforms are included in your network?

A comprehensive listings network should include high-quality local, national and niche-specific directories. Beyond directory platforms like Superpages and YP, business data should also be submitted to data aggregators, search engines, voice search platforms, GPS mapping apps and vertical directories.

How do you ensure business data accuracy?

Identifying how a company validates data is one of the most important questions to ask before hiring a citation builder. Inaccurate data can seriously harm a business’ chances of ranking for local search terms, so make sure listings are verified against a central database to guarantee consistency.

Do you use automated or manual business listing submissions?

Automated submissions are fast, though you can run into problems with some platforms. In contrast, manual submissions offer accuracy (but with a slower, more resource-heavy approach). At Advice Local we combine the best of both methods by using a hybrid submission process.

Can you provide white-labeled reporting for business clients?

White-labeled reporting lets agencies and local marketers provide professional analytics under their own brand. This data is crucial for communicating the value of the service to clients, helping secure long-term business relationships.

Do you offer add-on services that complement listing management?

Accessing a range of local presence management tools from a single dashboard can simplify your agency’s operations. While primarily you might need listings distribution, a range of add-on services could make your agency more attractive to new clients. For more on this check out our post on what a local listings partner can do for you.

Are dedicated Google Business Listing services available?

Google Business Profile (GBP) is usually considered the most important directory for search visibility. Consequently, the best services will include tools to improve GBP monitoring and management. At Advice Local we have several solutions including GBP Sync to ensure consistent data, and GBP Auto-Rejection to prevent bad data caused by public edits.

Can you help me secure new local listings clients?

Attracting new clients to your business listing services is a consistent challenge for agencies. Options such as Advice Local’s Listing Management Sales Tool can help. Simply embed the website widget and secure new leads when they request a comprehensive visibility report.

How can I track my clients’ search engine rankings?

Tracking search engine rankings is necessary to check that your citation building process is working. An accurate rank tracker tool automates this process for agencies, while also demonstrating the effectiveness of the service to client businesses. Among our local SEO software and agency tools, you’ll find a local rankings tool for Google organic results and Maps.


What Questions to Ask a Local Business #Listings Service by @BernieColeman #SEO
Click To Tweet


Partner With a First-Rate Local Listings Partner

Advice Local has partnered with digital agencies and local marketers nationwide to provide results-driven listing management services. Speak with our team to access our business listings services, review monitoring tools and other top-rated SEO products. Contact us at (214) 310-1356 or request a demo today.

The post What Questions to Ask a Local Business Listings Service appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Local listings partner services.

Partnering with a local listings company is one of the most reliable ways to help your business clients get found online. But how can you tell if the local SEO software and agency tools you’re investing in are producing results, or holding you back? The reality is that not all listing management providers are the same. If your local listings partner is failing to innovate, using outdated methods and submitting to low-quality platforms, it might be time for a change.

What Local Listing Management Features Do We Offer to Partners?

At Advice Local we focus on relentlessly optimizing our core local listing management service, while adding new, cutting-edge tools to help agency partners secure new clients and deliver superior results. Let’s look at the features you should expect from a top listing management company.

Listing Management Services to Maximize Local Visibility

Up-to-date, accurate data is critical for local businesses to maintain search visibility. We use real-time submissions to stay on top of business listings, incorporating a hybrid approach of APIs and some manual submissions where appropriate.

Our Data Amplifier Network has been curated over many years and includes only high-quality trusted directories, search engines, GPS platforms, voice assistants and more. Business listings are claimed, created and optimized to prevent inaccurate or outdated information and build a powerful local presence.

Local Rank Tracking for Google Maps and Organic Search

Tracking local rankings is crucial for monitoring the effectiveness of an SEO campaign over many months. Advice Local partners get the first keyword tracked for free (based on the primary GBP category), with the option to purchase nine additional keywords.

While many tracking tools focus on organic search, we focus on tracking Google Maps results, including hyperlocal tracking for precise locations within the target area. It might be time to shop for business listing management providers if your existing provider doesn’t offer these additional features.

Review Monitoring for Brand Reputation Management

Checking reviews has become an integral part of the buying process for many customers. Businesses therefore need an effective way to monitor customer sentiment and respond quickly to feedback. In response we’ve included a free high-quality review monitoring tool for active partners.

Agencies can check clients’ reviews on major platforms like Google and Yelp, with access to notifications, overall ratings and recency scores. This direct access to vital information will help you manage your brand reputation from a central dashboard.

Listing Sales Tool for Agency Websites

Getting new leads is one of the prime challenges for digital agencies. Our free business listings sales tool is built to simplify the process and secure new leads directly from your own website.

Simply customize the sales widget to suit your site, then add it on your homepage (or every page of your website). When a business completes the visibility report form, the data is sent to your Advice Local partner dashboard for a follow-up sales call.

Advanced Google Business Profile Tools

For most businesses, Google Business Profile (GBP) is the most important listing platform. Consequently, we developed Enhanced GBP Tools for agencies, allowing you to sync GBP data with a central database to ensure accuracy (for no additional cost). You can also auto-reject public edits to your clients’ Google Business Profiles with our tool for free.

Want to see for yourself? Then try out our listing management and local SEO software demo. You’ll get to analyze GBP insights and check that your client’s authority, reputation and influence have been optimized correctly.


What Has Your Local #Listings Partner Done for You Lately by @BernieColeman #SEO
Click To Tweet


Try Our Top-Rated Local Listings Services Today

For the best listing management services, review monitoring tools and rank tracking solutions, speak with the team at Advice Local. We help businesses increase their search visibility and reach more customers. Contact us at (214) 310-1356 or request a demo.

The post What Has Your Local Listings Partner Done for You Lately appeared first on Advice Local.