News
 
Gravatar
Digital marketing strategies for local businesses.

As every local agency knows, change is a constant in the world of digital marketing. Everything from the marketing channels you target to the local SEO software you use is evolving continuously. For brands to remain relevant and competitive, they must stay agile and keep up with emerging technologies and trends. Integrating these new approaches with timeless strategies is a tried and true way to succeed in today’s digital marketing environment.

What Local Marketing Strategies Are Working Right Now?

Recognizing the trends worth following and the strategies that are likely to provide positive results is a challenge. By working with local marketing experts like Advice Local, you can leverage proven tools and methods trusted by a wide range of partners and sites. Here are some of the strategies we recommend using today.

Embrace Digital Marketing Tools

Digital marketing tools help agencies streamline the management of client websites and Google Business Profiles (GBP), as well as other platforms. By integrating technology you can improve efficiency, automate tasks and make data-driven decisions. Take our own listing management software and directory network as an example. Rather than expending time and money in building such a network, you can simply tap into our finely-tuned solution.

Choose Quality Over Quantity

Whether you’re building citations or creating content, Google and other platforms have made it clear that quality will be rewarded over quantity. If your approach to promoting a local business client involves getting citations from every available directory, that tactic needs to be reconsidered. Instead, build links with high-quality authority sites and only publish content that offers value to the target audience.

Target Consumers Wherever They Are Active

Online marketing helps businesses reach customers where they are most responsive. For example, a local company will benefit from reaching those nearby who are searching via GPS mapping or in-dash apps. Whether conducting local searches or checking reviews, understanding where consumers are active makes it easier to reach them.

Use Omnichannel Marketing

A consistent marketing strategy over multiple channels provides an uninterrupted customer experience. You want consumers to see a cohesive brand identity across a business website, social media, search engines, business directories and mobile apps. Consequently, they will develop a stronger connection with the brand, and this leads to increased trust, loyalty and conversions.

Optimize for Voice Search

In recent years the way that people search for businesses and information has evolved (and this change is on-going). Voice searches using virtual assistants typically reward more conversational content. Voice app technology helps you manage clients’ content for Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and others.

Don’t Limit Your Marketing to Google

There’s an understandable tendency to focus digital marketing efforts exclusively on Google as Google Search, Maps and GBP are crucial for local business marketing. However, don’t miss out on the many additional options – local directories like BubbleLife, DexKnows, Bing Places for Business and Yelp, along with social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

Guard Your Business’ Reputation

A business’ online reputation is more important than ever. Poor reviews and a diminished brand reputation will impact visibility in Google, and make customers think twice when deciding which product or service to buy. A review monitoring tool gives a direct insight into customer sentiment, and also lets you clean up many issues with quick review responses.

Top Digital #Marketing Strategies to Stay Ahead of the Curve by @BernieColeman #SEO
Click To Tweet

Top-Rated Local SEO Software for Digital Brands

At Advice Local, we create cutting-edge software for agencies and local marketers. From listing management to review monitoring, our products help businesses get more traffic and protect their brand reputation. To get started, call (214) 310-1356 or request a demo.

The post Top Digital Marketing Strategies to Stay Ahead of the Curve appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Top web directories for local businesses.

Managing and distributing business listings has been a part of digital marketing for as long as we can remember. However, as the internet has evolved you could be forgiven for thinking that strategy has lost its edge. But in practice, the best directories have adapted, emphasizing quality, trust, interactivity and a series of other factors. So if you’ve stopped submitting client listings to directories – or never even started – it might be time to reevaluate your approach.

How Directories Benefit Local Businesses

The role of directories has evolved significantly over time. Initially serving as essential resources for discovering websites and businesses, they later became primarily a means for acquiring backlinks for SEO. Today, directories have transformed once again, focusing on delivering value through traffic, increased visibility, brand exposure and customer reviews.

5 Business Directories for Enhanced Visibility and Credibility

Finding quality directories for local citation building requires a lot of upfront research. You also need to audit the platforms periodically to ensure the quality hasn’t dipped. If you’re just getting started with listing management, here are five solid choices that have maintained their standards and reputations over many years.

1. YP

YP is one of the most recognized directories, reaching over 60 million consumers each day. The Yellow Pages brand recognition and its place as the largest local ad platform in the U.S. makes it an essential part of any directory listing strategy. For businesses looking to stand out, enhanced listings come with additional features like photos, videos and business descriptions.

2. Superpages

Superpages is a well-established online directory with a wide range of business categories, covering everything from car rentals and pet services to restaurants, plumbers and more. Customers can use the Superpages directory to find local services, monitor reviews, get directions to the business and access opening hours.

3. DexKnows

DexKnows is an online directory with a local focus. With approximately 700,000 monthly visitors, consumers use the platform to find local professionals such as electricians, plumbers and roofers. In addition to the SEO benefits of a listing, using DexKnows allows businesses to build a strong brand reputation within the local community.

4. HotFrog

HotFrog is an international business directory with listings from around the world. Consumers from 38 countries use the platform to identify businesses, products and services across a range of niches. Crafting a detailed listing here provides opportunities for brand building and the ability to increase your reputation with customer reviews.

5. Chamber of Commerce

Chambers of Commerce are trusted around the world, providing opportunities for businesses to network with other local businesses and industry leaders. Its reputation makes listing with the Chamber of Commerce directory an obvious choice for most local companies.

What Listing Management Strategies Work Today?

Success with directories today means applying technology and expertise to create, optimize and modify business listings. Underpinning this listing management approach must be a network of local, national and niche directories that are vetted for trust and authority. Our network was built over several years and features only the highest-quality platforms, along with the option to get listed on Nextdoor for a fee. This combination ensures businesses get the most value from a focused marketing strategy.

5 #Directories That Local Businesses Need and Why They Matter by @BernieColeman #SEO
Click To Tweet

Listing Management Experts for Agencies and Local Marketers

At Advice Local we are listing management specialists, providing real-time submissions to the top business directories. We help agencies manage client listings with a premier directory network and a cutting-edge distribution system. Call (214) 310-1356 or request a demo today.

The post 5 Directories That Local Businesses Need and Why They Matter appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Local business data for AI.

In the coming years AI will shape almost every aspect of local business marketing, from listing management services and review monitoring to data analysis and voice search optimization. This transformation offers a huge opportunity for agencies willing to embrace new strategies. We’re already seeing changes in both user behavior and the integration of AI with Google’s search results. But what role will accurate business data play for local business discoverability?

The Importance of Good Business Data for AI

Many agencies and businesses (particularly those that rely on search engine traffic to reach customers) are concerned about how AI might affect this ability to reach customers. Actually, proactive local businesses can leverage AI to connect with their ideal audience more efficiently.

But is this optimism warranted? We believe so, and it stems from the fact that AI learns from data sources across the web, including business directories, social media, web scraping and user-generated content. By publishing specific data relevant to local businesses – location, hours, services, payment options, attributes, customer reviews and so on – you can become a key reference point for AI-generated searches. The more accurate and consistent the data, the better the chances of appearing in relevant search results.

Increasing Discoverability With Local Business Data Distribution

As a leading listing management provider, Advice Local submits local business data around the web. Over the years we have helped many clients recover lost search placements resulting from inconsistent data by implementing better data monitoring and distribution. By ensuring consistent, accurate data across multiple platforms, businesses can improve their visibility in AI-generated search results, as AI learns from these various data sources.

A recent post from Yext summarizes how this focus on accurate business data will only increase going forward. The post points out that AI tools gather data from many platforms, and are more likely to cite sources like Yellow Pages or Localmint over Google or Bing.

In addition, as AI models are refined you can expect concepts similar to Google’s EEAT (experience, expertise, authoritativeness and trustworthiness) to be commonplace anywhere consumers search for local business information.

Future-Proofing a Local Business for AI Search

So, how can you ensure that your clients will be prepared for changes like Google’s AI Overview and others that are certain to follow?

Consider Search Intent

The attributes associated with a business will likely take even greater priority in AI-generated search results. For example, searching for “family-friendly restaurant” will generate precise results based on keywords from diverse sources like the website, customer reviews and directories. Look to integrate attributes across various sources to better match search intent.

Distribute Data Widely

The Yext post also revealed an analysis showing that brands that synced data with over 75% of their network received a 186% increase in web traffic, compared with those syncing with less than 50%. Distributing data widely is a strategy that works now and will continue to work, as AI relies on a network of sources. See our Data Amplifier Network for an example of a powerful network.

Create a Review Strategy

Review sentiment will help determine if a business is the best option for a particular search query. For example, receiving many reviews referencing low cost could help if a user searches for “affordable hotel near me.” Encouraging and managing customer reviews can provide valuable data for AI to learn from and therefore improve visibility for relevant searches.

Why Accurate Business Data Is Critical for AI-Powered #Search by @BernieColeman #SEO #AI
Click To Tweet

We Distribute Accurate Data to Business Listing Platforms That AI Trusts

Advice Local can help you maintain accurate and consistent business data across many quality listing platforms. Our dashboard solution will ensure you stay on top of AI listing results and the changing nature of local search marketing. Call (214) 310-1356 or request a demo.

The post Why Accurate Business Data Is Critical for AI-Powered Search appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Local SEO for businesses.

When it comes to competing with big brands for broad search terms, small and medium-sized businesses often find themselves at a disadvantage. Fortunately, that’s not the case for local SEO, where the power of listing management services, website optimization and review monitoring can transform search visibility. By focusing on local search strategies, businesses can target customers within their geographic area and gain a competitive edge. But what are the best local SEO techniques for boosting local search placements?

How Can Businesses Increase Visibility With Local SEO?

At Advice Local, we create local SEO tools that help agencies improve their clients’ search visibility. This process involves identifying the actions that deliver results for local businesses and streamlining their workflow.

Our Approach to Listing Management

The old approach to listing management involved casting a wide net and getting businesses listed on many directories, often prioritizing quantity over quality. Today, you get the best results from being strategic and selective.

Business data should be distributed to a curated list of reputable directories – local and industry-relevant where possible. Data must be accurate, and duplicate listings should be quickly identified and eliminated. This consistency builds trust with consumers and search engines.

Taking Google Business Profile Management to the Next Level

Google Business Profile (GBP) occupies a unique space between a traditional business directory and a modern social media platform. While its primary function is to provide business data like contact details, opening hours and services, GBP also encourages interaction and engagement.

Features like creating posts, responding to customers, integrating social media feeds and adding Q&As all boost search visibility. To see some of these features, look at how online marketing helps businesses.

Using Data-Driven Website Optimization

A comprehensive website audit will almost certainly identify opportunities for on-page optimization. For agencies, the gaps in a website’s structure and content offer easy potential for local search wins.

Along with the necessary changes to title tags, descriptions, URLs and internal linking, you can go beyond by integrating local business schema markup, optimizing for featured snippets, creating dedicated location pages and organizing the website into topically-relevant silos. It’s also worthwhile to look for opportunities to develop locally-focused content.

Optimize for Mobile and Voice Search

A significant portion of local SEO traffic now originates from mobile and voice searches, as consumers rely on their smartphones and virtual assistants to find nearby products, services and businesses while on the go. In fact, Statista suggests that the mobile share of organic search engine visits in the U.S. reached 63% in recent years.

Optimizing for mobile requires a responsive design and fast loading times. To appear for voice search queries, focus on natural language and answer FAQ questions within content.

A Proactive Approach to Reviews

As a strategy for boosting local search presence, reviews often go unappreciated. The first part of the process involves making it as easy as possible for customers to leave reviews on GBP, Yelp and other platforms.

But reviews shouldn’t just sit there – your business clients must also respond to reviews. A fast response is good customer service, and it also provides opportunities for natural keyword integration to improve local SEO results. As you help your customers stay on top of new reviews that are received, a quality review monitoring tool can be a great help – and by the way, we include one for businesses at no additional charge.

Local #SEO Strategies for Boosting Search Visibility by @BernieColeman
Click To Tweet

Try the Leading Local Search Management Suite Today

Advice Local develops world-class local search management tools for agencies and marketers. Access our listing management, review monitoring and GBP tools and experience local search technology at its finest. Call (214) 310-1356 or request a demo now.

The post Local SEO Strategies for Boosting Search Visibility appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Free online marketing strategies.

Every day, businesses of all types – from small startups to large corporations – use marketing and advertising to reach new customers. You might think that any serious advertising strategy comes with a high price tag, but many agencies leveraging quality listing management services can attest otherwise. In reality, free or low-cost approaches (such as business listings or social media) can put brands directly in front of their target audiences. Let’s explore how an effective online marketing strategy works.

Top Online Marketing Strategies for Businesses

Whether it’s increased reach, cost-effective customer acquisition, fast results or increased conversion rates, the benefits of online marketing are undeniable. While many strategies exist, the following methods offer a reliable and cost-effective approach for local businesses.

Google Business Profile Optimization

Any successful local marketing strategy must prioritize Google Business Profile (GBP). Agencies managing a client’s GBP will need to optimize every available section, including adding high-quality images, setting relevant categories and of course, ensuring that name, address and phone number are up-to-date and accurate.

  • Create a keyword-rich description, including relevant location and industry terms.

Create GBP Posts

GBP Posts allow businesses to keep customers informed via quick updates. You can add images, engaging content and a call to action, with the post appearing in Google Search and Maps when a user clicks the business’ link.

  • Aim to post new GBP Posts at least every month to maintain consistency.

Schedule GBP Event

Events are an essential marketing tool for a business, helping drive interest and build anticipation. GBP makes it easy to add an event, with options for start and end times, a written description, a photo and a call-to-action button.

  • Create events based on local or seasonal trends to increase engagement.

Add Regular GBP Offers

Providing discounts, coupons and limited-time promotions is a well-established tactic for promoting a business. If the GBP Offer is compelling and demonstrates value to customers, it will almost certainly increase conversion rates.

  • Create urgency or scarcity in an offer to encourage consumers to take immediate action.

Make Use of Bing Offers

Bing Places for Business is similar to GBP in that you have the opportunity to promote deals and discounts. While Bing Offers will not command the same audience as Google’s equivalent, Bing users are typically more affluent and often eager to buy.

  • Experiment with offers like coupons, free shipping or new customer discounts.

Promote via Social Media

The volume of social media users means that there are always opportunities to reach an audience. While social media marketing is highly competitive, it’s an effective way to brand your company and engage directly with people.

  • Repurpose blog articles and video content to create engaging social media posts.

Build Citations for Local Search Marketing

SEO remains the best free advertising method for reaching large audiences. Building citations is crucial to SEO for every local business, as citation building ensures that business data is accurately distributed to the relevant listing platforms. Of course, Advice Local offers support in every aspect of listing management, including our Enhanced GBP Tool for Agencies.

  • Only work with curated networks that prioritize premium directories.

Leverage User-Generated Content

User-generated content is one of the best free online marketing methods for businesses. From reviews and testimonials to customers showcasing products, user-generated content creates social proof and increases brand awareness.

  • Use tools to monitor and respond to reviews for increased customer satisfaction.

How Online #Marketing Helps Businesses by @BernieColeman #SEO
Click To Tweet

Partner With Us to Access Expert Online Marketing Strategies

Advice Local helps agencies increase local search visibility and secure new customers with proven online marketing strategies. To access listing management services and review monitoring, GBP tools and more, speak with our team today. Call (214) 310-1356 or request a demo now.

The post How Online Marketing Helps Businesses appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Local business data submission.

When you ask a local search marketing expert about the key factors influencing local SEO, citations are likely to be near the top of their list. When it comes to managing these local citations you basically have two options – build them yourself, or hire a listing management service. Usually, most agencies achieve the best results by partnering with a reputable provider, as this allows them to concentrate on what they do best. But what exactly does a listing management company like Advice Local do, and what’s involved in the business data syndication process?

How Our Local Business Data Submission Service Works

At Advice Local, we employ the best elements of a conventional listing management service and apply our own unique spin. Agencies and brand partners can expect an unrivaled combination of speed, accuracy and reach for maximum visibility.

We Use a Hybrid Data Syndication Approach

One of the first things you’ll notice about our local listing management service is this hybrid approach. You may be familiar with automated services and manual submissions, and we give you the best of both worlds. Advice Local distributes local business data (via API and manual submissions) to the top data aggregators and directories. With the ability to leverage the speed and efficiency of an API and the flexibility and accuracy of manual submissions, we provide a top-tier service for our clients.

Data Submission to the Platforms That Count

We use a multi-channel distribution approach, submitting your clients’ business data to a broad range of platforms. Over the years we’ve built an extensive network that is rigorously vetted for quality and authority. For a closer analysis, take a look at this comparison of the main citation services. Within the network you’ll find a curated selection of leading data aggregators, voice search platforms, vertical directories in specific industries, GPS mapping platforms and geo-specific local platforms.

Data Suppression to Ensure Accuracy

Data suppression happens to be just as important as the initial submission of business information. Inevitably, business data (such as the address, telephone number, or opening hours) will change and need to be updated. Agencies are often surprised to find that their listing management partners do not offer data suppression. At Advice Local however, we provide this vital service to prevent search engine penalties and a poor user experience.

We’ve Built Custom Google Business Profile Tools

For most businesses, a Google Business Profile (GBP) will be the highest priority – and the biggest source of leads and sales. Recognizing this fact, we’ve created a series of quality GBP tools for agencies. One such tool is GBP Sync, which ensures the GBP data always matches the main database on our platform.

A Premium Directory Listing When You Join Us

While there’s no shortage of directories that will accept business data, many of these low-quality platforms will absolutely do more harm than good. To avoid this, you can work with the highest-quality directories that have real users, an active community, a high authority score – and zero tolerance for spam. For example, Judy’s Book exemplifies these qualities and consistently delivers real value to its users. You’ll be pleased to know that users of our local SEO software and agency tools get a free Judy’s Book listing.

How Advice Local Submits #Local Business Data Around the Web by @BernieColeman #SEO
Click To Tweet

World-Class Business Listing Management Tools for Agencies

As you can see, Advice Local has created a comprehensive business listing platform that syndicates data across the web. If you’re an agency looking for a fast, accurate and responsive local listing management company, we’re the natural choice. To get started, call (214) 310-1356 or request a demo today.

The post How Advice Local Submits Local Business Data Around the Web appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Find quality local directories.

In our current era, just how influential are local citations for an SEO campaign? Although there’s some debate about the significance Google places on citations, no one disputes that listing management services are integral to successful local SEO. However, a common mistake made by some agencies – one that can negatively impact local search rankings – is selecting low-quality directories.

Tips for Finding and Analyzing Quality Business Directories

Citations from high-quality directories contribute positively to any local SEO campaign. Yet, by including untrustworthy, spammy platforms that fail to vet the sites they list, all your hard work can be undermined. Here are some suggestions for finding the directories that will deliver exceptional results for your clients.

Start With Established Listing Platforms

Established platforms like Google Business Profile (GBP), Yelp and Bing Places for Business are safe bets for any business starting out. These platforms are essential in building a local search presence and are trusted for their authority and longevity.

Use Search Engines to Find Local Directories

Optimizing for local search involves demonstrating relevance and proximity to the searcher’s current or intended location. Local directories are effective ways to generate location-specific citations within a city or region. A simple Google search can often uncover relevant local directories.

Get Recommendations From Local Listing Services

A local business listing service submits data to directories for clients. A central part of this process is analyzing the directories to ensure they meet the listing service’s strict standards for inclusion in their network. Through strategic partnerships and relationship building, agencies can receive up-to-date info on solid platforms, as well as those that have lost search engine trust.

Trust Data Aggregators to Syndicate Business Information

Data aggregators submit business data to a network of directories, mapping apps and search engines at once. Working with top providers like Foursquare, Data Axle and Localeze lets you leverage their expertise in evaluating each platform in their network.

Find Platforms With High Domain Authority

Premier listing platforms (called data enhancers) offer high domain authority, trust with search engines, along with an existing user base. From YellowPages and BrownBook to BubbleLife and Judy’s Book, while each site has its own spin they are connected via their adherence to quality.

Identify Vertical Directories in Your Niche

Many of your business clients will operate in niches with dedicated listing platforms. Lawyers, doctors, restaurants and real estate are just some of the industries with niche-specific directories that are full of potential for local SEO. Search Google for business directories, adding the relevant niche keyword.

Analyze Each Directory for User Experience

Before adding a listing, make sure to check the pros and cons of the platform. Use your favorite SEO tool to analyze domain authority and trust scores, look for signs of intrusive ads and spam, assess the site’s layout and read the signup rules.

Work With Trusted Listing Management Services

Working with a dedicated listing management service allows you to tap into an existing network of pre-screened platforms. For a prime example of a wide-ranging collection of trusted platforms, just look at Advice Local’s Data Amplifier Network – the one that is available with our real-time submission service.

How to Find Quality #Directories for #Local Citation Building by @BernieColeman #SEO
Click To Tweet

Try Our Top-Tier Listing Management Services

Advice Local makes listing management easy with our comprehensive distribution service and unrivaled data network. Our local search technologies help digital agencies and local marketers deliver for their clients every day. To try our listing management service call (214) 310-1356, or request a demo today.

The post How to Find Quality Directories for Local Citation Building appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Data aggregators for local search.

Business citations are a key component of any local search campaign, demonstrating accuracy and relevance to the search engines. When it comes to building these citations you have two choices – create them manually, or let a quality listing management service do it for you. Business listing providers like Advice Local are a natural choice for most agencies, offering a fast and cost-effective way to distribute business data. Today we’re focusing on one pillar of the service – data aggregators.

Understanding Data Aggregators and Their Place in the Digital Ecosystem

Data aggregators are centralized platforms in the local search ecosystem. Aggregators collect and distribute business data to a wide range of search engines, apps, navigation systems and other sites that require accurate information about local businesses. For a listing management service and their agency partners, submitting clean data to the leading platforms in real time ensures business clients are discoverable on every platform that matters.

How Data Aggregators Help Increase Local Search Visibility

Most businesses aim to achieve top local search placements for a series of relevant keywords. As one of the essential pillars of a local SEO campaign, data aggregators deliver the following benefits.

Data Accuracy and Consistency

Clean data is crucial for securing and maintaining local search rankings. Google, Bing and others require consistency as a signal that the business is legitimate and trustworthy. Data aggregators like Foursquare, Data Axle and Localeze have substantial networks to distribute accurate data and promote consistency.

Enhanced Discoverability

Discoverability is also a vital factor in local SEO. Helping your business clients get found wherever potential customers exist is the difference between effective and ineffective agencies. Consistently, local marketers become business listing resellers with Advice Local to ensure businesses are found across mapping apps, search engines, navigation systems, local directories and many other platforms.

Local Citation Signals

Citations still play an important role in local search, contributing to visibility in organic search and the Local Pack. Ideally, a business will be listed on major platforms and highly relevant niche sites. This broad backlink profile demonstrates prominence – one of the key SEO ranking factors (as Google explains).

Improved Customer Experience

The best brand-building and marketing efforts won’t matter to a customer who has visited the wrong address or a closed store. These scenarios are some of the results of inaccurate data distributed to popular platforms. Accuracy and reliability are at the heart of a positive user experience. For this reason, Google and other sites often minimize local search visibility if the user experience is poor.

Fast Data Distribution

Efficient distribution is necessary for local search success, even if a client operates in a small niche. Consider how long it would take to submit business data to a directory manually. In contrast, business information can be updated through the Advice Local dashboard and submitted to the data aggregators.

Integrated Local Search Presence

The local search ecosystem extends beyond Google and covers everything from local directories to mapping platforms. The beauty of using data aggregators as part of a business listing service is that updates are distributed in real time to our comprehensive Data Amplifier Network. Whether you’re changing business addresses or extending opening hours, the entire network can stay updated.

Why Data Aggregators Matter for Local #Search Visibility by @BernieColeman #SEO
Click To Tweet

Access the Premier Data Aggregator Distribution Service

Advice Local works with digital agencies and local marketers to create and manage business listings. Speak with our listing management specialists today to help your clients improve their local search visibility. Call (214) 310-1356 or request a demo today.

The post Why Data Aggregators Matter for Local Search Visibility appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Business listing management reseller.

As digital marketing becomes increasingly competitive, local marketers and agencies must continue to find innovative ways to offer value to clients. High-quality listing management services are an ever-present part of this process that helps businesses optimize their local presence. An effective way to leverage the power of this strategy today is to become a business listing management reseller.

What Are the Benefits of Becoming a Business Listing Management Reseller?

A business listing management reseller partners with an established business like Advice Local to sell a comprehensive suite of local SEO and directory tools. Whether you’re a new local marketer wanting access to cutting-edge tools for your clients or an established agency looking for an edge, choosing to resell existing services is often the smart move. Let’s examine some of the benefits of reselling agency solutions.

Take Advantage of the Demand for Local SEO

The growth of local search has dramatically changed how businesses reach customers. Even small local stores can benefit from an online presence, as customers search for more information and reviews before visiting. But simply having a presence is not enough – you need complete listings with optimization and updates. For instance, this data from Google indicates that customers are 70% more likely to visit a business with a complete Google Business Profile. As a reseller, you can capitalize on this need for listing management with first-rate services.

Expand Your Business Services

Many businesses prefer to purchase local search and listing management services from a single provider. Resellers can position themselves as a one-stop shop for digital services by leveraging Advice Local’s suite of products. When your existing services are not fully meeting client needs, it might be time to shop business listing management providers.

Earn Recurring Income

Due to the need for monitoring and updates, resellers of local presence management services can operate with a recurring subscription model. Because business listing submission, optimization and modification are not one-time tasks, a reseller with a list of clients can achieve longer-term financial stability from monthly payments.

Avoid Expensive Development Costs

Business listing management services require ongoing development costs to keep up with platform changes. For most local marketers and agencies, the upfront expense of building a distribution engine (with its recurring management costs) is prohibitively expensive. It’s far easier to partner with a dedicated provider, so you can focus on client acquisition and customer service, along with other aspects.

Stand Out in a Competitive Market

Businesses interested in local marketing services have plenty of choices. However, with the right tools and track record it’s still possible to stand out. At Advice Local, our resellers gain access to a comprehensive listing network of search engines, premium directories, mapping app platforms and more. We’re also meticulous with our listing submission approach, using both APIs and manual submissions.

Scale Your Digital Agency

To scale a digital agency you need to deliver a consistently high standard of service for an expanding client base. Resellers get access to a finely tuned listing distribution system and are able to submit and modify listings in real time. Local SEO software of this kind ensures that agencies can provide the same level of service even as client numbers grow.

Why Local #Marketers Should Become Business Listing #Resellers by @BernieColeman #SEO
Click To Tweet

Become a Business Listing Management Reseller Today

Advice Local develops leading listing management solutions used to dominate local search. If selling business listing management services is a good fit for your local marketing brand or digital agency, contact us to see how we can help. Call (214) 310-1356 or request a demo now.

The post Why Local Marketers Should Become Business Listing Resellers appeared first on Advice Local.

Gravatar
Google Business Profile categories.

As businesses increasingly recognize the benefits of the Google Business Profile (GBP), leveraging all available features is crucial. Our agency relies on a variety of resources to help a business stand out from the competition. We will optimize images, use insights from our GBP tool for local search, choose the best categories and more. While selecting the right business categories might seem rather straightforward, there is significant potential for missteps. Knowing this, what do you need to understand about category selection?

Understanding Google Business Profile Categories for Businesses

GBP categories are labels you assign to a business to describe what it is, as well as its services or products. These categories help Google understand the nature of the business so that customers are connected with the business when searching for relevant products or services.

When setting up a GBP for a business you first select one primary category. This category should be the most representative of its main activity. This primary category has the strongest influence on Google Search and Maps presence. You may also choose up to nine additional categories, and they must represent the core business appropriately.

Why Is Setting the Correct Google Business Profile Categories Important?

Category selection alone does not determine whether a business appears in Google Map results, but does contribute greatly to overall visibility.

  • Improves Visibility – Accurately chosen categories enhance the visibility of businesses in relevant Google searches and Maps results, helping reach the right audience.
  • Increases Relevance – Google determines local ranking using relevance, distance and prominence. Proper categorization ensures you hit the first of these metrics.
  • Boosts Local SEO – Google automatically localizes search results, so when a locally relevant search takes place, factors like categories influence which business gets prominence.
  • Influences Special Features – Some GBP features are category-specific. Setting the correct category unlocks features like online reservations for restaurants, amenities for hotels and so on.

Best Strategies for Selecting Google Business Profile Categories

Making the right GBP category choices now can save a lot of time if you ever need to analyze why an SEO campaign is not going as planned. The following strategies are a quick and effective way to optimize a GBP.

Select the Most Relevant Primary Category

Google offers thousands of category options, allowing you to drill down to a highly specific option. For example, instead of choosing the “Fitness” category, you could opt for “Gym” or “Yoga Studio.”

Include Relevant Additional Categories

Additional categories complement the primary category, thus offering further insight into the services provided by the business. If “Dental Clinic” is your primary category, you could also choose “Cosmetic Dentist” and “Pediatric Dentist” to add additional relevance to the GBP.

Research Competitor Categories

Researching competitors is simple with the GMBspy tool for Chrome. You can quickly check the top Google Maps results and identify common categories. This research lets you know what competitors are doing and see what Google is rewarding.

Apply Category Choices to Your Business Listing Network

If you’re using our comprehensive listing management services, your clients’ data is being distributed to GBP and a host of other platforms. This approach means you can maintain consistency between category choices. Our GBP Sync tool also ensures that categories and other business data are not changed in error.

How to Select #Google Business Profile Categories by @BernieColeman #SEO
Click To Tweet

Contact Us for Comprehensive Google Business Profile Tools

Advice Local creates high-quality tools for Google Business Profile and listing management. We help local marketers and agencies stay on top of business listings with our user-friendly dashboard solution. Call (214) 310-1356 or request a demo today.

The post How to Select Google Business Profile Categories appeared first on Advice Local.