News
 
Gravatar
Learn about the 2018 ranking factors and how to leverage them in 2019.

Google’s ranking factors have long been a mystery – they probably keep their list in a secret vault right next to KFC’s secret recipe and the secret ingredient in Coca Cola. But digital marketers don’t give up easily. We weren’t going to sit around, waiting for the day when Google finally decides to share the list with us. We’ve been taking action year after year to find out how to optimize a local business’ online presence – if you want to see how, just request a demo today.

2019 is no different than years before. We’re hard at work to get businesses found online, which means trial and error. We’re investigating what works for us and what’s worked for others – basically acting as the online version of Sherlock Holmes. Of course, since most keep what works for them extremely private, I can only provide what our years of experience at Advice Local have revealed.

What We Know About Ranking Factors

We all know that Google is smart. How smart, you ask? At least as smart as a 5th grader – and getting smarter by the minute. This means the techniques that worked a gazillion years ago – like adding targeted keywords left and right – are no longer working.

In 2018, some of the local search ranking factors we focused on included:

  • A claimed and optimized Google My Business listing, complete with Posts, Events, Deals and Photos.
  • Number of quality citations, including vertical-specific local directories.
  • NAP (name, address and phone number) that is consistent throughout directory listings.
  • Real customer reviews and ratings on authoritative sites like Yelp, Amazon or Google, and how the business interacts with them.
  • Strong social signals on platforms like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
  • Backlinks from authoritative sites – quality trumps quantity.

These didn’t work just for us. The 2018 Local Search Ranking Factors backed us up.

Infographic representing the 2018 Local Search Ranking Factors

Local Ranking Factors for 2019

A lot happened in 2018 that helped us understand how Google works – at least a little bit! On top of everything that was already a ranking factor in 2018 and before, there is a lot more that needs to be made priority in 2019. Let’s explore some of these now.

Secured Sites

Back in summer of 2018, consumers reported seeing a “not secure” warning when trying to access a HTTP website on Chrome. Did you miss the earlier HTTPS memos? Google announced that they wanted websites to add encryption to their connections by using HTTPS. We got the memo way back in 2017 and started fixing client sites then. If HTTPS is still a mystery to you, read up on it here.

According to Emily Schechter, Chrome security product manager, “this makes it easier to know whether your personal information is safe as it travels across the web, whether you’re checking your bank account or buying concert tickets.” Users are given a warning so they can decide if they want to continue to the unsecure website, or go back and try another site.

Of course, having a security certificate or SSL is more important than ever for local businesses, as the warning brings distrust to potential customers who won’t think twice before going to the competition.

Even before Google’s announcements in earlier years, the online world saw a rise in HTTPS connections – particularly from big sites like Facebook, Yahoo, Twitter, YouTube, Reddit, and, of course, Google. But today, encryption is still not as common with local businesses. If these businesses don’t want to miss out on potential clients, they need to think about getting a SSL right now.

Mobile-friendly Websites

2018 was an important year for mobile devices. Not only did Google finally start rolling out their mobile-first indexing, but Kleiner Perkins’ Internet Trends Report 2018 showed that mobile usage is at an all-time high, with consumers spending an average of 6 hours per day on a mobile device.

It’s clear that mobile devices are not going anywhere. Google knows this, which is why having a mobile-friendly website that is responsive and easy to use will be one of the ranking factors for 2019. And, if you are debating if a business should go with a mobile app, mobile website or responsive web design, we’ve covered that topic, too.

Content Length and Quality

Content will always be king – I’ve said it before and I’ll say it as many times as necessary. There’s no way around it. If a local business wants to place high in search engine results pages (SERPs), they have to tell Google that they’re experts in the subject, and that they have authority and trustworthiness. The main way of showing Google that they can trust a particular business is by having content with E-A-T (expertise, authoritativeness and trustworthiness).

It’s not just about putting content out there to keep a website feeling fresh as opposed to outdated. Content needs to be valuable to the reader and provide something that they would otherwise be lacking. In short, if a consumer finishes reading a blog post or an article and their feedback is “I didn’t know that, thank you,” the business has done a great job with E-A-T.

Another important aspect is length. Once upon a time, 300 words was all a page needed to rank, but the competition is so tough that 300 words are simply not cutting it anymore. We’ve seen an increase in websites with pages that have between 500 to 1,000 words, with some publishing even more words per page and more often. But be careful with fluff.

Finding a happy place between too little and too much is the best advice I can give you.

Long-Tail Keywords

I was all about voice search in 2018 – and with good reason! Voice search is now part of local SEO and we, as marketers, need to embrace it. Optimizing for voice search will be essential to get businesses found online, which is why I wrote this roadmap to get them there and why we added the Voice Search Readiness Score to our Online Visibility report.

One of the main changes that local businesses need to make comes in the form of keywords. People use a more natural way to search via voice – instead of searching for “plumber near me,” they’d probably ask their digital assistant to “find the best plumber in my area.”

Local businesses need to adapt their content to this type of search – the business that includes complete phrases and answers questions like “which is the best Mexican food restaurant in the area?” will win the customer.

So, what are long-tail keywords?

  • Long-tail keywords are usually phrases consisting of four or five words that make up a thought.
  • They are very specific to a particular type of business, product or service.
  • Depending on the type of search, they can be a question.

While too much fluff is a bad thing, some filler words will help a page surface in voice search results. Answer questions how a person would talk, not a robot.

Long-tail keywords attract the attention of search engines when people use them to search for exactly what they need. It’s not the same to simply search for a plumber in McKinney, Texas as it is to search for a plumber who can unclog a toilet today.

Optimized Images

We wrote an article on the best image sizes for Google My Business, but Google My Business is not the only thing that needs optimized images. Images that haven’t been optimized for the web take time to load, which results in a diminished page speed and a bad user experience. Search engines don’t like this and neither do consumers.

In addition to the above, images with no descriptions or with titles full of random letters and numbers will never get found online – meaning a missed opportunity for a local business to earn potential customers. In fact, Google Images produces one fourth of all search traffic. Yes, all search traffic. Can you even picture how many potential customers that is?

Optimized images need to:

  • Have a proper file name – one that is related to the content on the image and the page.
  • Have a compressed size between 75k to 100k, except for images meant to be printed or used as wallpapers.
  • Include image metadata. This is as important as any other metadata included on a local business’ website. They need to include a description, an alt text and a caption.
  • Be engaging. Businesses should go for good-quality images that will captivate consumers’ eyes.

Businesses Should Focus on Being the Best

Forget about any type of black hat SEO tactics – trying to cheat Google simply won’t work anymore. Gaming the system to build links or getting fake reviews and followers is not a help, but a hindrance.

Local #Search #RankingFactors – What’s Hot for 2019 by @BernieColeman #SEO
Click To Tweet

Ready for some good news? We help our partners help their local business customers. Request a demo to learn about our award-winning local presence management solution today.

The post Local Search Ranking Factors – What’s Hot for 2019 appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Get the answer to what is local SEO and how important it is

Local SEO is a digital marketing strategy that consists of targeting the local market through search engine optimization tactics. It’s perfect for service-based businesses, or for businesses located in a certain area that don’t want to target a nationwide audience. Before we start diving into the specifics of local SEO and the wonders it does for local or multi-location businesses, let’s talk about what search engine optimization is.

What Is SEO?

SEO – or search engine optimization – is a series of digital strategies that bring online visibility to brands and businesses. These strategies include creating a website that is user-friendly and keyword-optimized, as well as constantly crafting content that is valuable and interesting to readers. A website that always has fresh content will give potential customers the idea that business is booming and that the company takes good care of their clients, while at the same time telling Google that they have E-A-T.

Google’s E-A-T means “expertise, authoritativeness and trustworthiness.” It is one of the top three considerations for Page Quality. When a business consistently puts out content showcasing that they are experts, have authority and are trustworthy in a particular subject, Google ranks them higher. Higher rankings equal greater online visibility.

SEO is extremely important for brands, online publications and magazines that target a nationwide – or even a worldwide – audience. They want to get traffic to their websites; it doesn’t matter where that traffic comes from. For local businesses – a plumber, for example – it’s not just about getting traffic to their website. It’s about getting conversions, which only come from high quality traffic. To get conversions, a plumber would need to create content that is optimized to attract local searches in the areas they serve.

The Importance of Local SEO

As we mentioned before, local SEO is a search engine optimization strategy that targets local customers. In order to reach that desired audience – the one that will turn traffic into high quality traffic that actually converts – it’s essential that a local business is visible in the right places.

If a local business is not visible online, are they even visible at all?

There is only a limited number of potential customers looking for a local business offline – by walking or driving around the neighborhood, or maybe by getting a direct referral from a friend. When a business’ online presence is not duly optimized, they are missing out on the potential customers that are finding their competitor instead of them.

Did you know that 46 percent of all searches on Google are seeking local information? People in the online world are not joking around. They’re spending their time searching for things they actuallywant or need – as opposed to mindlessly walking around a shopping center, for example. Online consumers are purposefully looking for a service in their area, and once they find what they’re looking for, 76 percent of them will visit a local business within 24 hours.

Local businesses that are not visible online are definitely losing potential customers to the competition.

What Constitutes Local SEO?

Local SEO is not just one thing. Local SEO is a big strategy comprised of a group of smaller tactics. Some of these tactics include online business directories, local citations, reviews, social signals and link building, among others. Let’s explore the most important of them.

Online Business Directories

Online business directories make up one of the best local SEO tactics for local businesses; this is also one of our specialties, so make sure you request a demo today to see how we help local businesses get found online through listing management. Having an optimized website is only a start – local businesses need to have that website seen by the right people. Business listings do just that. They showcase a local business’ information to their local audience, instantly increasing the reach and online visibility of the business.

One of the most important listings for local businesses – if not themost important – is Google My Business (GMB). This powerful listing lets businesses share posts, photos, events and special deals & offers. It also provides a way for businesses to communicate with potential customers through Google Messaging and gives the business’ customers a platform to leave reviews. Here’s a little something we wrote to help you master Google My Business in 2019.

According to David Mihm, 90 percent of a business’ leads are coming from Google, and a large portion of that 90 percent can be attributed to Google My Business. This is reason enough to focus on creating a GMB listing.

In addition to GMB, Bing, Yelp and smaller niche directories are just as important. Each allows for the business’ NAP (name, address and phone number), and many will also include a link to the business’ website, which helps to build trust among search engines and consumers. When submitting a business to online directories, it is important to submit to the best of the best. Quality listings are just as important as quantity. Here lies the list of best directories for 2019.

Another plus of having well-optimized listings on GMB, Bing and Yelp is that they allow voice-enabled devices to spotlight the business in voice searches. This voice search readiness infographic tells you all about it.

Local Citations

Citations are mentions of a business. Online citations, one of our areas of expertise, usually include the name, address, phone number and URL of a business – think of an online version of the Yellow Pages. Local citations are found in local directories and can help a local business receive exponential reach, helping them to get found online by potential customers who may not have found it otherwise. All of this, of course, applies only if the business data included in the citation is accurate.

Inaccurate – or bad – data can have the opposite effect on a local business. It can result in a lack of trust from potential buyers who have trouble identifying a business’ actual phone number or current address. Wouldn’t you lose trust in a plumber in McKinney, TX if your call is answered by an accountant all the way in Southlake, TX instead? The answer is most likely yes.

The best way to deal with bad data is to get it cleaned up. Our free Online Visibility Report can help with that. You can run the report for any local business, then follow these steps to get rid of that bad data.

Once a business’ data has been cleaned up, they can then focus on building consistent citations across the web. Submitting a local business’ information to data aggregators, local directories, review sites, social media platforms and niche directories is the best way to build citations. These citations must be constantly monitored to ensure their accuracy.

Reviews

Would you hire a roofer that has a rating of 2 stars on Google with claims of the roof leaking one week after the job is complete? Probably not. The online world and the increase in access to information have resulted in the need to trust what other people say about the products or services you – as a consumer – want to purchase.

Reviews are so important because 97 percent of consumers say that reviews influence their buying decisions. Even further, 88 percent of consumers have also said that they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

These mind-blowing stats only show that reviews can make or break a local business. Reviews are not only important to attract customers, they are also essential to send signals to search engines. These signals tell search engines, like Google, important information about a website – they impact the website’s placement in search results. This doesn’t mean that a business with bad reviews is automatically sent to the digital dungeons, but the business should be doing everything in their power to encourage positive reviews and respond to them – even those that are bad.

What Is Local #SEO? @BernieColeman explores here!
Click To Tweet

Local SEO Will Help Pave the Path to Success

We’ve only hit the tip of the iceberg on what local SEO is. Download our Epic Guide to Local SEO and take a deep dive into each of the components that make up a comprehensive local SEO strategy.

Local SEO is the way to go for any local business that wants to receive the right kind of traffic from the right kind of consumer – and we know exactly how to achieve this. Request a demo today to see how our local SEO technology and services help local businesses get found online each and every day.

The post What Is Local SEO? appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Get the list of best directories for 2019

When a business is looking to get found online, the best technique is to submit their NAP (name, address, phone number) and other important information to online business directories. Not just any directory or every directory, but the best of the best online directories.

We’ve talked before about how to choose the best directories, but in this ever-changing online world, it’s important to know the real facts before entrusting a brand’s information to an online directory.

The Best Directories for 2019

We’ve compiled a thorough list of online directories that we consider the best for 2019 based on a number of conditions, including domain age, traffic, and everything that makes them a reliable directory. Take a look below!

Directory Name Domain Age G!idx Domain Authority Traffic KwDomain
A Greater Town 11 yrs 0 mon 412,000 63 10,836 133,747
A Greater Town offers worldwide recommendations, and it’s domain authority score only exemplifies this, along with its G!idx.
Alignable 6 yrs 8 mon 3,410,000 63 243,223 1,431,573
Alignable is only six years old and already supplies 3,000,000+ pages of data to Google. Get on board with them!
AmericanTowns 18 yrs 10 mon 242,000 68 18,274 61,711
AmericanTowns is great due to their ability to connect right into local communities. Their domain authority score, their keyword usage, and their G!idx helps them stand out.
Apple 31 years, 8 mo. 99,500,000 97 150,456,019 16,123,079
Not only is Apple a trustworthy, 31-year-old domain, but it also has a domain authority score of 97– what all sites should strive to achieve. With over 150,400,000 visitors, it’s the place to be.
Bing 22 years, 9 mo. 2,290,000 94 8,584,291 1,774,260
Bing is a reliable search engine that is also highly ranked in terms of a superior domain authority score of 94. Having been around for almost 23 years with a loyal following, Bing is a great directory.
Brownbook 11 yrs 3 mon 33 73 1,057 343
Brownbook’s domain has achieved a high authority score, meaning it is trustworthy, legitimate, and a solid directory.
BubbleLife 16 years, 3 mo. 124,000 52 3,594 23,054
BubbleLife has been a trusted geographically-based blog for 16 years and counting, with substantial potential for more traffic locally.
Chamber
of Commerce		 21 years, 2 mo. 1,010,000 70< 20,122 276,148
Utilizing Chamber of Commerce is in the best interest of all local businesses. With Google indexing over 1,000,000 of their pages, it’s best to get listed there as soon as possible.
CityOf 21 yrs 10 mon 65,800 50 12,313 64,545
CityOf is knocking keyword domain out of the park with over 64,000 keywords in just the first 10 pages of their site.
Citysearch 22 yrs 11 mon 1,690,000 87 161,883 1,416,760
Citysearch has almost 23 years experience as a domain, a supreme score of 87, and keywords to boot.
CitySquares 13 yrs 3 mon 243,000 66 12,755 80,428
CitySquares has over 12,700 visitors each month, and a solid domain authority score of 66.
Company 24 years, 4 mo. 2,710 61 2,985 1,458
Based in San Francisco, Company offers comprehensive tools to get local businesses running from the ground up. Their domain is over 24 years old.
Cylex 25 yrs 10 mon 474,000 60 22,816 0
After 25+ years of exemplifying their presence as a successful directory, Cylex achieves, on average, 22,816 site users monthly.
Dun &
Bradstreet		 24 years, 8 mo. 14,000 71 206,531 36,194
Dun & Bradstreet know how to utilize keywords, with over 36,000 listed on the first 10 pages of their site alone. This is vital for both rank and visibility.
DexKnows 14 years, 11 mo. 2,600,000 70 345,144 1,420,311
DexKnows has a solid domain authority score of 70, 2,600,000 pages currently indexed by Google, and over 1,400,000 keywords.
eBusinessPages 17 yrs 11 mon 44,300 67 2,045 18,564
eBusinessPages has solidified their domain authority score at 67 and has provided Google with over 44,000 pages of data.
eLocal 21 years, 0 mo. 41,100 63 20,453 19,171
eLocal has two decades of experience as a domain, a solid domain authority score, and other qualities.
EnrollBusiness 9 yrs 8 mon 24,300 63 1,180 26,142
EnrollBusinesss is doing fantastically in terms of their Google Index and keyword usage to drive traffic.
Express
Business
Directory		 7 yrs 11 mon 120,000 65 N/A 10,418
ExpressBusinessDirectory is only almost 8 years old, yet they have gained Google’s attention tenfold in terms of the data it provides.
EZlocal 14 yrs 7 mon 281,000 69 28,847 219,782
EZlocal’s domain authority score is firm, and with over 28,000 visitors each month and a high use of keywords, they are achieving real visibility.
Foursquare 16 yrs 7 mon 44,500,000 92 13,262,253 10,899,452
With a whopping 44,000,000+ pages being indexed by Google, and a 92 DA score, Foursquare is a listing directory force to be reckoned with.
Factual 18 yrs 1 mon 2,160 57 N/A 3,454
As one of the fundamental data aggregators, Factual has been trusted for 18 years and counting with businesses’ data.
FedBiz
Directory		 1 yrs 1 mon 3 14 2 11
The FedBiz Directory is still a fledgling but on the rise with their keyword domain and authority score.
Google 21 yrs 2 mon 2,230,000,000 94 589,306,977 282,125,365
Without a doubt, Google is where all businesses need to be listed. With almost 600,000,000 as their traffic metric, 94 as their domain authority score, and their establishment as a trusted name, Google is king.
Here 23 years, 5 mo. 5,160,000 83 204,008 398,490
Based in the Netherlands, Here has a sizable domain authority score of 83 and over 300,000 keywords being utilized.
Hotfrog 15 yrs 6 mon 342,000 77 33,088 223,640
Every month, over 30,000 go to Hotfrog for listings and recommendations.
Hubbiz 18 yrs 7 mon 132,000 61 4,567 51,172
Hubbiz has been around for almost 20 years, offers 132,000 pages of usable data to Google, and has over 50,000 visitors each month.
iBegin 20 yrs 2 mon 1,540,000 63 25,770 297,085
iBegin has submitted 1,540,000 pages of data to Google thus far and has a trustworthy domain authority score.
Infobel 21 yrs 2 mon 6,770,000 65 8,363 70,870
Infobel is an impressive company out of Belgium that has provided Google with 6,770,000 pages of data and more information for people and places worldwide.
Judy’s Book 15 yrs 3 mon 153,000 63 24,064 179,321
Judy’s Book is another local directory that has an incredible 153,000 pages being indexed by Google to get business information out there to the consumer.
Localmint 8 yrs 10 mon 416,000 43 238,746 746,080
Localmint has a sleek site, 416,000 pages with data going right to Google, and is only almost 9 years old. They are also keyword savvy, with almost 750,000 in their first 10 pages.
LocalStack 11 yrs 2 mon 967,000 55 35,895 579,991
With 967,000 pages being Google indexed and almost 600,000 keywords being used in the first 10 pages, Local Stack has solidified authority.
Localtunity 5 yrs 5 mon 887 30 7 643
Localtunity is only 5 years old and has already hit a domain authority score of 30. It is a promising site and has almost 900 pages of data being utilized by Google.
MakeItLocal 13 yrs 6 mon 11,800 44 1,687 14,009
MakeItLocal is a great directory for the local business community and will only expand as times goes on.
Merchant
Circle		 14 years, 1 mo. 552,000 87 8,556 74,003
Merchant Circle’s domain authority score of 87 is excellent, and so is their 74,000+ keyword domain.
My Local
Services		 17 yrs 2 mon 31,200 52 1,594 24,780
My Local Services has developed a sizable reach and has impressed Google, with over 31,000 pages with data being indexed.
N49 18 yrs 9 mon 357,000 60 4,119 83,807
N49 uses over 83,000 keywords in only a fraction of their pages to help generate traffic to their site.
Navmii 10 yrs 6 mon 1,440 44 986 326
Navmii is a decade-old mapping and navigation service that provides Google with 1,440 pages of unique data, primarily about location.
Opendi 17 yrs 11 mon 1,070,000 59 95,220 911,933
Opendi is ideal for local and large-scale businesses to be listed on due to its reach– over 95,000 new, potential consumers.
showmelocal 12 yrs 3 mon 887,000 71 22,327 272,395
showmelocal attracts over 22,000 users each month and utilizes over 270,000 keywords to get their site ranking.
Superpages 22 yrs 9 mon 12,700,000 86 753,411 4,101,509
Superpages is 23 years young, is at the top of it’s game with a domain authority score of 86, and has almost 13,000,000 pages currently being indexed by Google for data.
TomTom 22 yrs 8 mon 277,000 81 219,841 75,094
Many people utilize TomTom’s navigation technology. The domain has over 200,000 monthly users worldwide.
Top
Rated
Local		 7 yrs 9 mon 9,540 49 7,840 9,417
Top-Rated Local works out of Virginia and has an apt score of 49 for their domain authority, which is sizable and growing.
Tupalo 12 yrs 2 mon 167,000 74 510 3,333
While lower in terms of traffic, Tupalo is a high supplier of data to Google that makes it something for businesses to optimize.
Uber 23 yrs 4 mon 220,000 91 7,219,266 464,416
Believe it or not, Uber has been an established domain for over 23 years. With over 7,000,000 people using it every month, it’s important that a brand’s information is listed correctly.
USCity 20 yrs 2 mon 11,600 58 906 3,767
USCity has a domain authority score of 58. 60 is an ideal score for directories, so this indicates that the domain has great potential.
Waze 18 yrs 7 mon 5,380,000 81 819,334 1,282,626
Waze is the choice for real-time location data, and with a G!idx of over 5,000,000 pages, businesses make sure they can be found.
WherezIt 13 yrs 5 mon 45,800 56 833 10,214
WherezIt is based in Vermont and offers 45,800 pages of local business information and community happenings to Google.
WhoDoYou 16 yrs 9 mon 626,000 56 10,524 240,375
WhoDoYou has a good amount of time under their belt as a domain, as well as a satisfactory domain authority score.
Yalwa 12 yrs 3 mon 62,900 53 4,869 44,048
Yalwa has been a domain for over 12 years and also uses a high keyword count of 44,000+ in only the first 10 pages, meaning they are committed to getting businesses seen.
YaSabe 12 yrs 0 mon 303,000 63 1,785 23,824
YaSabe is based in Georgia and is a Spanish directory for listing businesses, building careers, and more. Their keyword usage is superb in terms of traffic generation.
YelloYello 12 yrs 4 mon 59,900 69 939 3,382
YelloYello is a worldwide directory that provides visibility and large amounts of data to get businesses, large and small, noticed.
YellowBot 13 yrs 6 mon 1,050,000 81 21,206 536,033
YellowBot supplies Google with over 1,000,000 pages of data on businesses, and is a highly rated domain authority.
411 Listings 2 yrs 11 mon 7 16 21 6
411 Listings is still up and coming, but has the potential to become a highly performing directory for local and large-scale brands.

Now that you know which directories are the best to submit local businesses to in 2019, you are on your way to success!

Best #Directories for 2019: The List That Local Marketers Love by @GetPlacedLocal #SEO
Click To Tweet

We’re Here to Help

Submitting to each of these manually can be quite tedious. Request a demo today and explore how we can submit business information to these directories in real time.

 

* Note: Data points as of November 16, 2018

The post Best Directories for 2019: The List That Local Marketers Love appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
What's in the Cards for Local SEO in 2019? Experts Weigh In

2018 is finally gone. It was a fun and exciting year for the local SEO industry! We got voice search-ready, we compared citation services, we got familiar with Google’s plus codes, and we made sure we were optimizing Google My Business images according to their latest guidelines. Now, it’s time to ring in the new year and see what 2019 will bring for local businesses.

Will voice search play an even bigger role for local SEO and local businesses in 2019? What about machine learning? I asked some industry experts to weigh in, and I even got them to share a secret or two with you.

On Voice Search

You’ve seen and heard me talk about voice search a lot lately, but it’s only because I’m really passionate about it. I believe that voice search is revolutionizing local SEO and the digital marketing industry. Before you know it, more and more brands and businesses will be found via voice search and will jump on the trend. Local businesses cannot afford to be behind and should be looking at ways to get voice search-ready. A good way of doing this, according to LSA’s Greg Sterling, is to complete information and claim profiles in Google My Business and Yelp.

Michelle Stinson Ross from Apogee Results said that voice search is already critical for local home service businesses. “[A] close second is navigational voice searches for directions to your business or recommendations for your type of business,” she added. Beanstalk Internet Marketing’s Dave Davies had similar thoughts. “Self-driving cars and ‘near me’ terms are going to massively shake up how we find things and how we interact with the world,” he shared.

As for challenges that come with voice search, Brandon Schmidt from YDOP said, “No longer can you be satisfied with ranking second or third for a search; the top spot will get all the attention, traffic and business over the competition.”

I’ve talked before about everything local businesses can do to get found on voice search, but Michelle had some good thoughts on that as well. She said that local businesses need to consider optimizing for voice queries that get customers to their door. Not all keyword rankings are made the same, so it’s not just about optimizing content – it’s about optimizing the right content.

On Machine Learning

Machine learning is basically what makes computers smarter. More intelligent computers naturally lead to an intrinsic change in local SEO – in all SEO, really – because of the way search engines crawl a page. Redundant, thin content that doesn’t give the reader a valuable experience will not help a local business rank better, even when it includes all the right keywords. In fact, it might even hurt the business’ rankings.

Joe Youngblood at Winner Winner Chicken Dinner hopes that “machine learning will help us do more heavy lifting of data and understand what to optimize on a page-by-page basis, enabling us to keep up with algorithmic changes at a more granular level.” Grant Simmons from Homes said that machine learning should make local SEO easier if local businesses can fully provide the structured data to search engines. He continued to direct local businesses to Google My Business, as that’s the perfect way for them to provide the structured data Google is craving. It’s all about “how relevant” you are to the consumer, according to Denise Casagrande from PCG Digital.

In the end, local SEO is all about stellar content. For Bill Hartzer of Hartzer Consulting, optimizing content for machine learning “still comes down to keyword research.”

On Their SEO Secrets

Everyone has a different opinion when it comes to the secret for a successful local SEO strategy. For Garrett Sussman at Grade.us, reviews are key, while for Bill Hartzer, it’s all about content and consumer education. Low-cost advertising on the Google Display Network plays a big role for David Szetela at FMB Media. User experience is a must to get conversions, per Michelle Stinson Ross.

For us at Advice Local, it’s about finding the right balance. You must have great content, accurate citations and listings – preferably submitted in real time to avoid discrepancies – and you have to partner with the right people.

What’s in the Cards for Local #SEO in 2019? Experts Weigh In by @BernieColeman #DigitalMarketing
Click To Tweet

We worked hard the entire year to help local businesses get found online. Request a demo today to see how we can help you, too.

The post What’s in the Cards for Local SEO in 2019? Experts Weigh In appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Voice Search Readiness – The What, Why and How for Local Businesses

It’s been a few years coming, but voice search is no longer a thing of the future. With tech powerhouses like Amazon, Google and Apple working hard to make it happen, voice search readiness is more important than ever – especially for local businesses.

Did you know that 46 percent of voice search users look for a local business on a daily basis? Yes, on a daily basis! That means any local business that is not yet voice search-ready is missing out on potential customers. And I’m not talking about the young crowd only; everyone from Gen Zers to Gen Xers are using voice search on the regular.

The Convenience of Voice Search

Ever since we began interacting with technology, we’ve been constrained by the screen. We’ve always needed a way to tell our computers, tablets or smartphones what we need them to do for us. But with voice search, typing is not necessary anymore, making screens almost obsolete.

Anyone can use voice search, from kids who don’t yet know how to read – but are perfectly capable of asking Alexa to read them a story or play them a song – to the older guys who may still be in denial about needing reading glasses.

The best thing about voice search is that it’s everywhere. If you take a look around you right now, I can guarantee you’ll find at least one voice assistant. It could be Siri, the Google Assistant or Bixby on your smartphone, Alexa on an Amazon device, Cortana or Siri on your computer… and let’s not even talk about smart speakers, which are only getting smarter by the minute.

Voice search is not only easy to use, it’s also convenient. It was only a matter of time before it started a revolution in the local SEO industry and beyond – from ecommerce to light switches. Needless to say, voice search readiness has never mattered more for local businesses.

Voice Search + Local Businesses = Perfect Match

Like I said before, people of all ages are comfortable using voice search on a regular basis. In fact, 58 percent of consumers said they have used voice search to find local business information within the last year, with a large percentage of them using voice search every day.

According to a study by BrightLocal, 76 percent of smart speaker users perform local searches at least weekly. Consumers also use voice search to find additional information on local businesses they already know about.

If you’re curious to know if a particular business is voice search-ready, just ask your smartphone! Or better yet, take our voice search readiness test. It’s groundbreaking, easy to use and extremely helpful for any local business.

Voice Search Readiness for Local Businesses

Take a look at our infographic below to see just how local businesses can get voice search-ready. And when you decide you love it (because I know you will), make sure you scroll to the bottom and grab the embed code to share it on your own blog.

Getting Local Businesses Voice Search-Ready

Go the Extra Mile

When it comes to voice search readiness, local businesses shouldn’t rest on their laurels. There’s simply too much to do! To get started, just download our complimentary guide: Voice Search for Local Businesses, Franchises and Brands: The Guide to Getting Found.

#VoiceSearch Readiness – The What, Why and How for Local Businesses by @BernieColeman #Infographic #SEO
Click To Tweet

Getting local businesses voice search-ready can be a little tricky, especially when you have multiple businesses that need help. Let us help you! Request a demo today to learn more about the services we offer to people like you, and how we get local businesses found online.

Share this Image On Your Site

The post Voice Search Readiness – The What, Why and How for Local Businesses [#Infographic] appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
The Top Hits of 2018 to Help You Conquer Local Search in 2019 and Beyond

As hard to believe as it is, it’s almost 2019! While the new year is bound to have plenty in store for the local search world with new innovations and trends, it’s important to remember all of the ground covered by Advice Local in 2018.

Local Search is Forever Changed – Use These Top 18 Articles to Prepare for 2019

These 18 articles topped the charts in the hearts and minds of our readers this year – perhaps they’ll do the same for you. Maybe they are a reread for you; if this is the case, share them all over again for others who weren’t as lucky!

1. Epic Local SEO Strategies to Pave the Way Into 2019

Advice Local’s comprehensive “Epic Guide to Local SEO” covers all of the bases to detail the strategies that come together to create a complete brand online. In 2019, many of these points will still ring true! However, 2019 will still be a year of change, so do your prep work now to get ready. Read the full article and download the infographic here.

2. The Latest in Local Listing Management – Citation Services Compared

One of the most important things to consider when launching a local campaign is who handles a brand’s citations. This article does a comparative analysis of the major companies available to do so. You’ll also take a dive into the ways that Advice Local stands out in the creation and claiming of listings, GPS and POI submissions of data, and Vertical and Geo-Specific listing submissions. Read the full analysis here! 

3. Making Local Search Trends Simple in 2018 Infographic

In August of this year, Advice Local released the Making Local Search Trends Simple in 2018 Infographic, which broke down everything that a brand and local business needs to understand when it comes to local search. From NAP, to reviews, to incorporating a substantial social media presence into the plan, all of the points covered will help you navigate the crazy world of local SEO!

4. The DIY SEO Audit: Optimizing a Local Business Presence for Search Engines

A four-part DIY SEO audit could mean the difference between being seen and being invisible online. The article discusses using the facets of technical SEO, on-page SEO, off-page SEO, and competitive analysis to solve whatever problem is in the way and get a brand ranking high – an easy, unbelievably beneficial tool! You’ll also want to review the other posts in this series, as they made the top cut, too.

5. Getting the Gist of Plus Codes on Google Maps

Even now, many people out there would respond with a confused look if asked what a Google Plus Code is! However, Plus Codes can be a saving grace for local business owners who work out of their home but still want to have an online presence! It’s a series of digits and numbers that serve as both an address and security measure. Still confused? Read all about them and you won’t be anymore!

6. What Happens When Online Impacts Life Offline: The Big Takeaways From the 2018 Internet Trends Report

The Internet Trends Report is released annually, and it is a must-read for every digital marketer. In 2018, the biggest takeaway after dissecting it is that people’s online lives are converging with their offline ones in today’s day and age. Is that scary or fascinating? Time to read and find out! This year’s report was a good one.

7. Google’s Got the Goods

Ahh, the New Year’s Google post! Let’s face it: Google will always be king, and their tools are only increasingly helping local business owners with each passing year. With new GMB updates, algorithm tweaks, and Google Analytics, everyone needs Google on their side. Here’s how to get started.

8. Mobile-Friendly or Mobile-First? It’s App vs. Website

Saying that we live in a mobile world isn’t groundbreaking stuff! But, there is a new question presented for businesses to decide: to have a mobile website or a mobile app. Having a mobile-friendly website is the crucial jumping off point, but an app has numerous additional benefits, too. Read all of the pros and cons on each option now!

9. What is Local Presence Management? Helping Brands Conquer the Internet

There’s nothing like a little refresher course on all that is necessary for a brand to shine online! Starting from what it is to why it’s important, this article discusses why implementing a local presence management solution is key to staying on top for everyone!

10. What is Google’s Mobile-First Index and How Can a Business Prepare for It?

As mentioned in the article, Google’s mobile-first index essentially creates an environment where, if a website is not optimized for the mobile audience, it could get lost in the shuffle and not be highly prioritized. This is not a good thing, and it needs to be rectified fast! This post not only includes the why, but it also highlights the tools needed to reverse this problem quickly.

11. Seven Trust Factors for Improving Search Results Placement

To be at the top of a search, a brand’s website will have to prove itself trustworthy in the eyes of Google, Bing and other major search engines. Improve a site’s authority, security and the other factors mentioned in the article, and a website is golden in the eyes of the internet!

12. The Local Presence Management Strategy All Businesses and Brands Need

Well, the title really says it all when it comes local presence management. To stay relevant and accessible, brands and businesses need to have a well-planned, thorough online presence. Read about all of the moving parts, and if you find any gaps, remember Advice Local is always here to help!

13. Why Agencies Need Local Listing Management Partners

Local listing management partners are what makes an agency as well-rounded and successful as can be. More than anyone, Advice Local knows what it takes to make a client’s campaign a success. Adding partners to the pipeline is the secret to growing and scaling. Here’s why agencies need listing management partners and the characteristics to look for when picking one.

14. The 2018 Guide to Best Image Sizes for Google My Business

This topic is a popular one because of how important images are to local business listings! The last thing a business or brand needs is bad photos damaging their reputation. Read the article now and get all of the guidelines and size specifications for the best looking Google My Business listing on the web!

15. Mastering Content Curation: Content Curation Methods

Content is key, and the best content impacts every nook and cranny of a business’ online presence! Whether it’s blogging, social media or even landing pages, reading up on how to curate the best content is the key to long-term success online. Make sure to take in the rest of the series after reviewing this post. It’s a great source to learn how to properly build influence online.

16. The 2018 Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Directories

Every year, Advice Local revisits what directories are the best for local business listings! This helpful article and infographic details some of the traits to look for when choosing the best directories, as well as those that made the cut for 2018.

17. The Google 1-2-3’s for You: Meet the Super-Empowered Consumer

The Super-Empowered Consumer wants it fast, accurate and yesterday. It exists to some degree in all of us. Take in this article to explore this kind of consumer, Google’s thoughts on them, and some powerful stats that are not only eye-opening, but could be detrimental to a brand’s campaign without factoring them in.

18. The Voice Search Readiness Prep List: Helping Local Businesses Get Found

Lastly, to wrap up the 2018 Advice Local roundup and perfectly usher in the latest publication, “Voice Search for Local Businesses, Franchises and Brands: The Guide to Getting Found,” it’s time for the voice search readiness prep list. Voice search is the new norm, and in years to come, it could be one of the only ways people search. Start checking boxes off your list by reading this article!

The Hits of 2018 to Help You Conquer Local #Search in 2019 and Beyond by @LissaDuty #SEO #AdviceLocal
Click To Tweet

There’s Always Help Available – Here Are the Last Few Tools You Need in Your Arsenal

Along with “Voice Search for Local Businesses, Franchises and Brands: The Guide to Getting Found, Advice Local’s “Epic Guide to Local SEO” and other print resources are free and downloadable!

It’s highly encouraged that all partners, brands and local business owners garner as much information as they can to be ready for 2019!

We have the tools, the team and the talent. Request a demo today to learn how Advice Local can help you and your local business clients prosper in 2019 and beyond.

The post The Top Hits of 2018 to Help You Conquer Local Search in 2019 and Beyond appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Mastering Google My Business in 2019 and Beyond

2019 is fast approaching, and with it comes the opportunity to ramp up all your local business digital marketing strategies. 2018 was a big year for Google My Business, and if the predictions are true, Google My Business (GMB) will be even more important in 2019. Keep reading to learn how to beat out the competition online.

Google wants searchers to use their search engine as much and as long as possible, which is why they’ve implemented featured snippets, answer boxes, Google My Business posts and deals, and the knowledge panel – which varies per industry. With that in mind, it is safe to say that GMB will likely play a key role in Google’s ranking factors for 2019.

It’s All Starts With a Google My Business Listing

A good GMB listing should include all the information on the local business’ website, readily available for consumers without having to leave the search engine. After all, businesses that provide this information are likely to get a preferential treatment on SERPs.

Local businesses are always on my mind, and nothing makes me happier than helping you help them get found online. This post will give local businesses and agencies alike all the information they need to create, claim and optimize a GMB listing in 2019. Let’s get started.

Creating a GMB Listing

The first step into the GMB journey is to create a listing. Go to Google to create a free business profile. There is no maximum number of listings per account now, so you can manage them all through a single business profile. Please note that you’ll need a Gmail account to create a profile.

Start by typing the name of the business. If there’s no listing for the business, you’ll be prompted to create a new listing, but if it already exists, you might need to claim it instead. Here’s a how-to on claiming a GMB listing and how to optimize one – I highly recommend you check it out.

Google My Business Name

The process for creating a new GMB listing is pretty straightforward. Just type in the information requested, including the business’ address, category – you’ll choose this from a list of options – and contact details.

The last step to creating a listing is to verify it.

How to Verify a Google My Business Listing

Getting to Know the GMB Dashboard

Once you’ve successfully created or claimed a local business’ GMB listing, you’ll get access to the GMB Dashboard. From the dashboard, you can create a post or an offer, add an image, update the business’ information, check the business’ insights, manage reviews, set up Google Messaging, and more.

Home

Like in real life, Home is where you’ll want to spend most of your time. It gives you a snapshot of everything that’s going on with the business’ listing. You can easily reply to reviews, view the latest customer photos and manage GMB posts. It also lets you see the latest insights of the business and how the listing is performing.

Posts

This is the place where you’ll add new Posts for the business listing. Posts can include something interesting to share with the business’ potential customers, events, offers and even featured products.

Fun fact: if you add products to the GMB listing, they will appear with the tag “sold here” when people use them as a keyword. Local businesses should always make sure they add the products and services they offer.

Creating a GMB Post

How to optimize a GMB Post:

  • Always add an image.
  • Make sure the topic is interesting and related to the business.
  • Keep it short and to the point – remember that GMB Posts can be 1,500 characters at the most.
  • Change them constantly. Posts only last seven days! To keep up, make sure you have one ready to go when the previous one expires.

For more insights and an in-depth walk-through, take a look at our detailed article on how to create a GMB Post.

Info

The Info panel lets you update the local business’ information as needed, from the business’ NAP (name, address and phone number) to service areas, websites and services offered. It also lets you add or edit a business description.

Business hours can also be edited from this panel, which is particularly helpful during the holidays. A local business’ potential customer will likely do a Google search to see if the business is open during the holidays, or if they have special hours. Give clients the information they need straight from a trustworthy source and leverage this feature.

Within the Info panel, the business can add attributes like Veteran-Led and Women-Led. This is a great way to share more about the business with those viewing the business or map listing.

The business can also add their products and services from the Info panel. Besides this being important to surface in desktop searches, this will help the business listing surface in voice search queries.

Learn How to Add Google My Business Hours

Insights

In the online world, nothing is more important than data. Local businesses need to know what works, meaning what gets customers through the door and converts them into clients. That’s where data comes in. For this purpose, Google My Business has Insights.

GMB Insights gives you a snippet of how the local business is doing in terms of searches and viewers. From keywords to photo views and customer actions, Insights reveals it all. Don’t worry – I have a detailed walk-through for understanding GMB insights for you.

GMB Search Insights - How Customers Find a Business In Search

Reviews

Did you know that 84 percent of people trust online reviews as much as they trust a friend? With these numbers, it’s safe to say that reviews can make or break a local business. It’s essential to address them all in a timely manner. Local businesses don’t want clients thinking they’re unresponsive or that they don’t admit to their mistakes.

Google My Business allows for an easy way to manage reviews. From the Reviews panel, the business can easily spot new reviews, those that have been replied to and those that are still waiting to hear back.

Learn how to reply to GMB customer reviews

Did you know that consumers get notified when a local business replies to their review on a GMB listing? The emphasis that Google has placed on reviews for the past few years – but particularly over the last few months – is very telling of just how essential reviews are for a local business.

Addressing reviews – good or bad – is extremely important, but nothing is more important than gettingreviews! There are a few things that local businesses can do to get more reviews. Learn them all here.

Messaging

Google offers an easy way for local business owners to communicate directly with potential customers. The Google My Business app is available for mobile devices on Apple’s App Store and on Google Play.

How to Use the Google My Business Mobile App

Through the app, business owners can not only manage their listing, but also reply to any messages or questions from potential customers. The app is free! You can download it here for iOS devices, and here for Android devices.

Photos

Photos and videos are highly encouraged on Google My Business listings. That’s why Google lets you add photos and videos to any local business listings you manage directly through the Photos panel.

As with everything else, Google has specific guidelines on the type of images and videos that can be added to a listing. Don’t worry – we have all those requirements and the best images sizes for a Google My Business listing, plus how to optimize a listing using photos.

Through the Photos panel, the business can also see the images uploaded by customers, as well as insights on how many views each photo or video has gotten.

Google My Business Images

Website

This is useful for any local business that doesn’t have a website or is getting started. It’s where you’ll personalize and optimize a Google-built website. While this type of website gets the job done, local businesses should look into a professionally built website to really highlight and showcase their products and services. A website needs to include certain pages, like location pages and Contact Us, for example, as well as other technical mumbo jumbo that I won’t bore you with right now. Just trust me on this: a business must have their own website on their own branded domain. Here are some reasons why.

GMB Includes the Little Things, Too

Other features available through the GMB Dashboard include:

  • Lets you easily manage people who have access to the local business’ listing, as well as the type of access they have.
  • Add New Location. Perfect for multi-location businesses!
  • Manage Locations. You can quickly see the status of the business’ locations, including if the listing is published and recent updates.

When It Comes to GMB – This Is the Real Deal

Google My Business has been going strong for a while now, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. Now is the time to take action! We‘ve covered a lot and I want to make sure you walk away with something tangible – download my “5 Strategies to Win in Search Results With a Google My Business Listing.” You’ll love it so much that you’ll want to share the download link with your friends.

Mastering #Google My Business in 2019 and Beyond by @BernieColeman #SEO #GMB
Click To Tweet

Making sure all your clients’ GMB listings have been created (or claimed) and optimized – and that they are continuously updated – can be a daunting task, but we are here to help. Request a demo today to see how we help partners like you get local businesses found online every single day.

The post Mastering Google My Business in 2019 and Beyond appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Found Out Why Voice Search Readiness Is Important and How to Prepare Local Businesses

2018 is drawing to a close, and I think we can all safely say that the last quarter of the year has  been highly focused on the ever-evolving concept of voice search readiness!

There is so much to be said about voice search; it’s an innovation that is making its mark in every industry. Here are some of the ways that we are getting our clients and ourselves ready at Advice Local.

Voice Search Readiness is Changing How We Play the Game

To prepare for voice search readiness and to get local businesses found by voice assistants, you first have to fully understand it. Today, I’m going to give you an overview, plus a slew of resources to take a deeper dive.

It’s Not Just for Millennials – The Big Kids Like to Play, Too

As voice search continues its climb to being the top option for searching today, many assume that older generations are not interested in it. But here’s the thing…the largest age-group of voice search device users were between the ages of 35-44, according to Stone Temple Consulting.

Its simplicity and ease of use is narrowing the generational gap exponentially, which is huge! Having the answers to questions in seconds is making the entire population more digital, which will provide new data like nothing else. You could say it’s creating an entirely new generation – the Voice Search Generation.

Getting Business Listings Voice Search-Ready Requires Effort

At Advice Local, optimizing a brand’s or business’ listings so that the business is findable on both desktop and mobile search is one of the foundational pillars. This goes beyond the business’ name, address, phone number (NAP) and expands to their business hours, photos, customer reviews, and more.

For a business to be voice search-ready, it needs more information than the basic bases covered on a business listing. Leveraging features like the Community Q & A available through Google My Business (GMB) listings, or adding things like products, services, and menus will further help a listing get more exposure through voice search. Here’s the roadmap to getting local businesses found in search.

Voice Search Readiness Expands Beyond Business Listings

I’m sure you have heard the saying “Content is King” more times that you can count on both your hands. I’ve heard it and written it so much that it kinda makes me want to cringe, but it’s the truth. When it comes to voice search, content is in fact king. It drives which results surface and which don’t.

Content that is already in the top 10 results is more likely to be a voice search result, with featured snippets and answer boxes leading the charge. These results are typically what is read aloud by a voice assistant. As I have shared before, in order to optimize content for voice search, it needs to be conversational and include natural language. Keyword-stuffed content doesn’t equal results when it comes to voice search. Write for people, not the machine, to win in voice searches. When in comes to voice search and SEO, this is what local businesses need to consider.

Put a Google Assistant Under the Tree This Year

There are numerous devices on the market today to integrate voice search into everyday life. But, which one is the best? Well, in May of 2018, Stone Temple Consulting concluded that the Google Assistant performed the best of all mobile voice search enablers, with a 93% accuracy rate of all 5,000 questions it was asked.

47% of smart device users use their assistants beyond the everyday, easy questions like the current weather conditions. Think about all of the data that could be harnessed! But get this: Adobe Analytics concluded that after this holiday season, smart speaker ownership will rise to 48%. These devices are so popular because they make lives easier – now who wouldn’t want that for Christmas?

Get the Guide and Win More Voice Search Results

We are beyond ready to meet the challenge that voice search presents for local businesses, brands and franchises moving forward.

The question is whether or not the local businesses you represent are. We have the voice search guide and resources to get you and them there. Download The Guide to Getting Found today.

The #VoiceSearch Readiness Prep List: Helping Local Businesses Get Found by @BernieColeman #SEO
Click To Tweet

Voice Search Readiness Is Not Optional

No business, no matter the size, can afford to opt out of voice search readiness! Run our free visibility report today and find out how the local businesses you represent rate with our voice search readiness test. Run our report and we’ll ask Alexa, Siri and Google for you!

The post The Voice Search Readiness Prep List: Helping Local Businesses Get Found appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Get the Scoop – The Google My Business API v4.3 Is Here

Just this week, Google announced that they have updated their API for the third time this year. Google My Business API v4.3 is here, and we’re excited about it!

Google My Business API v4.3 Is a Winner – Here’s Why

There are quite a few components of the GMB v4.3 update to unpack, and simply put, these new, highly effective features further optimize GMB listings. Let’s get started.

Using Questions and Answers Is Now Easier

By now you’re probably aware of the Questions and Answers feature available within the Google My Business (GMB) listing. Originally released in August of 2017, when it initially rolled out it was only available on mobile and accessible solely on Android (through Google Maps). Now however it’s available on all mobile devices and in desktop searches.

With this update, we see the most significant changes in relation to Questions and Answers. Traditionally, business owners or managers of the listings could write and answer questions through the GMB dashboard only. With this API update, it allows for the retrieval of Questions and Answers for individual locations. In addition to retrieving the questions via the API, additional questions can be added, edited or deleted entirely through the API. This is great for multi-locations, brands, and franchises that have many locations to monitor and update.

The New GoogleLocations Features Help With Accuracy

The new GoogleLocations report, available via API, will make it easier for local presence management companies like Advice Local to pull all the location data for a brand or franchise. We’ll be able to easily identify locations that have been reported by users for items such as “location is not an actual location” or “location is spam, fake, or offensive.” While some of these reports may be accurate, we’ll be able to confirm the accuracy more quickly.

The other GoogleLocations update will allow Google via the API to easily provide recommendations for locations they suspect a brand or franchise may own, but have not yet claimed.

Image Optimization Is Getting an Upgrade Too

At Advice Local, you know we’re all about optimized Google My Business listings, and this includes images. With images, each component is equally important – from the images’ relevance to the business, to being the right size, quality, plus licensing needs. Via the API, we can now offer a little context to each image, and we’re excited to share that! For those who think this is no big deal in the big picture, think again. The new media description feature can further showcase what a business’ location has to offer, and that absolutely pays off.

Using the best and right images is so important that we have written an entire article dedicated to the subject! Take a look at the “Best Image Sizes for Google My Business” now, if you haven’t already.

A Few More Updates Google My Business API Users Will Love

The Bulk-Read Reviews update is pretty straightforward. Now via the API, users will be able to retrieve an ordered list of reviews for a maximum of 200 verified locations in a single call. How useful is that?

API v4.3 will offer Price List specifications for businesses. Items can now be labeled as “Services” or “Food.” While a small update, the food service industry will certainly benefit.

Finally, no more wondering how many times an individual chain has appeared in search results. Chains_Queries will now provide this information.

Get the Scoop – The #Google My Business API v4.3 Is Here by @BernieColeman #GMB #SEO
Click To Tweet

Why Are These Google My Business API v4.3 Updates a Winner?

Every time Google makes an API update, it makes it easier for us to better serve you – our partners – the agencies, brands, franchises, and SMBs that we represent. Google is committed to every business, large or small, and so are we.

We’re always here for our partners, so to find out why you should become one, request a demo today!

The post Get the Scoop – The Google My Business API v4.3 Is Here appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Five Local SEO Myths That Are Causing Harm to Local Businesses

When it comes to local SEO, there are many myths and half-truths that people like to repeat – or things that were true once upon a time – before Google made a change for the gazillionth time. Outdated information in blog posts, slide decks and guides has left local businesses with a lot of misinformation.

Local SEO Myths That Must Be Dispelled Immediately

While some of these strategies may have been true or even worked well in the past, they are now definitely causing more harm than good. But don’t worry! I’m here to address this – and debunk a few local SEO myths along the way.

1.  Google My Business Is Not as Important

I’m not the bearer of bad news here, because facts are facts. And the fact is: Google My Business (GMB) is one of the more important parts of local SEO. If a local business hasn’t claimed or created their GMB listing, they are losing out – not only on potential customers, but also in telling Google what their business is about, where they are located, their phone number, business hours and much more.

If a business’ information is not updated – or if the GMB listing is not optimized – they have fewer chances to attract customers to their goods or services.

2. The Only Important Thing About Business Listings Is the NAP

The contact information (name, address and phone number, or NAP) of a business is absolutely essential. After all, that’s how they get found online and offline. But there are other aspects of a business listing that are just as important to attract local customers and beat out the competition.

Most business listings let business owners include descriptions, images, and offer deals without sending users to a website. Google My Business takes it even further by letting businesses add posts, create events, and offer promotions that a consumer can claim.

3. Google Penalizes GMB Listings That Break Their Guidelines

Google has specific guidelines that businesses should follow in order to represent their business on GMB. They include everything from eligible businesses to business descriptions, NAP and business hours.

One important aspect to consider on GMB’s guidelines is the use of categories. It is against the guidelines to use category names within the business name. This SEO strategy has gotten many a listing taken down.

Breaking this or any other rule could result in Google suspending the listing. There is no algorithm that Google uses to lower a business’ GMB ranking for breaking their GMB guidelines. Instead, they just suspend the GMB listing until the issue is resolved.

4. Backlinks and Citations Are the Same Thing

Thinking that citations and backlinks are the same thing is a common misconception, but that is most certainly not the case. Some people also think that when a business has online citations, they don’t need backlinks to boost their SEO. Both of these statements couldn’t be further from the truth!

I’ve talked at length about citations – and a business might want to try our step-by-step local citation audit! But long story short, online citations are mentions of a business in an online directory. They usually include NAP and the business’ URL – although this last one isn’t always available. The more positive mentions – or clean citations – that a business has, the more chances they have of reaching potential customers in their geographic area. It’s truly about quality citations, not just quantity.

Some citations will include a link (aka backlink) and others will not. Backlinks are links to a business’ website pages or posts around the web. Not all backlinks will include a citation (mention of the business) with the link.

While there’s much debate around the topic, backlinks are one of the more relevant ranking factors for Google, but they are also a way to build authority.

5. Reviews Are Useless

Some people seem to think that nobody reads reviews online. For a while, fake reviews were a big issue in the online world. Unethical marketers and businesses paid people to write positive reviews on their own products, or negative reviews on their competitors’ products. Trusting reviews was an act of faith.

But consumers have gotten smarter, and people who write these fake reviews have not. Countless articles on spotting fake reviews on websites like Amazon, Yelp, or even Google My Business expose certain tell-tale signs that a review is fake.

In fact, according to BrightLocal, 93 percent of local consumers use reviews to determine if a local business is good or bad.

Not only do consumers care about reviews, they are basing their decisions on them. Reviews are far, far from useless. And if a local business has negative reviews, it’s best to address them in a polite, apologetic manner instead of deleting them. This gives the business owner the chance to either apologize for a bad situation, or set the record straight.

Here are some ways that local businesses can get more reviews– and can address any negative reviews they may have.

Five Local #SEO Myths That Are Causing Harm to Local #Businesses by @BernieColeman #GMB
Click To Tweet

Help Is a Click Away

It’s not always easy to distinguish a myth from the truth. Along with dispelling a few myths as we did above, to show you how much we care about getting found, Advice Local has an entire guide to help you tackle local SEO. Download the “Epic Guide to Local SEO” now.

Staying up-to-date with all the changes that are constantly going on around the web is not an easy task. At Advice Local, we have a team of dedicated local SEO professionals serving our agency, franchise and brand partners, plus our SMB clients. Request a demo today to see how we help local businesses get found online every single day!

The post Five Local SEO Myths That Are Causing Harm to Local Businesses appeared first on Advice Local.