Local Listings Management Explained – As Simply As Possible

People always ask us for the most basic explanation of local listings management and its benefits. So we will take the time to explain it like we would to a five-year-old!

So here we go!

Do you know what a phone book is? It’s a big book with lots of phone numbers in it. If you need to find someone’s phone number, you can look it up in the phone book.

Well, nowadays, people don’t use phone books as much anymore. Instead, they use the internet to find phone numbers and other business information.

Local Listings Management is like ensuring that a business’s phone number, address, and other important information is correct and up-to-date on the internet. In this way, people can find the company more quickly when they search for it online.

So, just like you need to make sure your name, address, and phone number are correct in your school directory, businesses need to make sure their information is right on the internet so people can find them.

How does this work?

Local Listings Management ensures that a business’s information is accurate and consistent across various online platforms that display business information, such as search engines, social media platforms, review sites, and directory websites.

This information includes the business name, address, phone number, website URL, hours of operation, and other details that customers may need to know. For example, if someone searches for a restaurant on Google, they should be able to see that restaurant’s correct address, phone number, and website in the search results.

Having accurate and consistent information is essential because it helps customers find the business more efficiently, leading to more customers and sales. It also allows companies to appear more trustworthy and legitimate to potential customers.

Local Listings Management can be time-consuming and complicated, especially for businesses with multiple locations. That’s why many companies use software tools or hire other companies, called agencies, to manage their local listings.

By regularly monitoring and updating a business’s information across various online platforms, Local Listings Management can help improve a business’s online presence and attract more customers.

Can you give me an example that I can relate to?

Well, think of it this way – have you ever played a game of hide and seek with your friends? You know how you want to ensure nobody can find you when you’re hiding, right? So, you try to find the best hiding spot, like behind a tree or under a bush.

Businesses are playing the opposite game – they want to ensure people can find them easily. So instead of hiding, they want to be seen. That’s why they must provide correct and up-to-date business information online.

Just like when you’re playing hide and seek, if someone can’t find you, they might give up and stop looking. But if you’re easy to find, they can come and see you and play with you. The same thing goes for businesses – if people can’t find the company online, they might give up and go to a different business instead. But if they can find them easily, they’ll be more likely to visit them and become customers.

Local Listings Management is like having a really good map that helps people find a business.

If a business has correct and up-to-date information on the map (like the right address and phone number), more people can easily find them. This can help the business get more customers, make more money, and be more popular.

It’s kind of like when you have a really cool toy that all your friends want to play with. If your friends know where you live (like the business’s correct address on the map), they can come over and play with you anytime they want!

We specialize in local listings management. Ask us how we can help your business location stand out on Google and other directories.

Why Isn’t My Business Showing up on Google Maps and Search?

We often get asked, “Why Isn’t My Business Showing up on Google Maps and Search?” To understand why you need to understand how that happens in the first place.

Google My Business, now known as Google Business Profile Manager, is a platform that allows businesses to manage their online presence on Google, including on Google Search and Google Maps. With Google Business Profile Manager, location-based companies can create and manage a free business listing that appears when people search for their business on Google. The listing can include important information such as the business’s address, phone number, hours of operation, and more. Google Business Profile Manager also helps people track and respond to customer reviews and post updates and offers to engage with their customers.

So why isn’t my business showing up on Google Business Profile Manager?

There are a few reasons your business might not appear on Google Business Profile Manager. One possible explanation is that your business isn’t claimed on the platform. To appear on Google Business Profile Manager, you must first claim your business listing by verifying that you are the owner or authorized representative of the business.

To qualify for a Business Profile on Google, a business must make in-person contact with customers during its stated hours. Another possible reason is that your business might not be eligible to appear on Google Business Profile Manager. This platform is primarily for local businesses that serve customers at a specific location. Therefore, if your business is not local or has no physical location, it may not be eligible to appear on Google Business Profile Manager.

Finally, it’s also possible that your business is not appearing in search results because it needs to rank higher. For example, suppose your business is eligible to appear on Google Business Profile Manager but needs to show up in search results. You may need to optimize your business listing and improve your online presence to improve your platform visibility.

What’s the best way to get my business to appear on Google Maps and Search?

The best way to get your business to appear on Google Business Profile Manager is to claim and verify your business listing on the platform. Claiming your location involves providing information about your business, such as your business name, address, and phone number, and then verifying that you are the owner or authorized representative of the company. You can do this by following these steps:

  1. Go to https://www.google.com/business/ and click “Start now” to claim your business listing.
  2. Enter the name and address of your business, and select the correct business category from the drop-down menu.
  3. Choose whether you want to verify your business by phone or by mail. If you choose to verify by phone, you will receive a call from Google with a verification code that you will need to enter to complete the process. If you choose to verify by mail, Google will send a postcard with a verification code to the address you provided for your business.
  4. Once you have received your verification code, enter it on the Google Business Profile Manager website to claim your business listing.

Once you have claimed and verified your business listing on Google Business Profile Manager, you can manage your business information and respond to customer reviews on the platform. You can also use the platform to post updates and offers to engage with your customers and improve your visibility on Google.

What is the best way to optimize a Google listing for Maps and Search?

There are several ways to optimize your Google Business Profile listing to improve your visibility on the platform and attract more customers. Some of the best ways to do this include, after you claim your listing, are:

  1. Add detailed and accurate information about your business, including your business name, address, phone number, hours of operation, and services or products offered. Being detailed will help customers find your business and understand what you have to offer.
  2. Add high-quality photos of your business, products, or services. Visual content can help attract customers and give them a sense of what to expect when they visit your business.
  3. Encourage customers to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile. Positive reviews can improve your visibility on the platform and help attract more customers.
  4. Use the platform to post updates and offers, such as promotions or events, to engage with your customers and improve your visibility on Google.

Follow these steps to optimize your Google Business Profile listing, attract more customers, and improve your online presence.

Does having a presence on other directories help me rank higher on Google Maps and Search?

Having a presence on other directories, such as Yelp or Bing Places, can help improve your Google Business Profile Manager ranking. Why? Because search engines, including Google, use information from various sources when determining a business’s ranking in search results. Having a presence on multiple directories can provide search engines with more information about your business, which can help improve your ranking on Google Business Profile Manager.

In addition, having a presence on other directories can help improve the visibility of your business to potential customers. Many people use directories, such as Yelp or Bing Places, to find businesses in their area, and having a presence on these platforms can help attract more customers to your business.

Overall, having a presence in other directories can improve your ranking on Google Business Profile Manager and increase the visibility of your business to potential customers.

What are some of the outcomes I can expect by claiming my business on Google Maps and Search?

You can expect several outcomes by claiming your business on Google Business Profile Manager. Some of the most significant benefits include the following:

  1. Improved visibility on Google. When you claim your business on Google Business Profile Manager, your business will appear in search results when people search for businesses like yours on Google. The result will be a complete online presence, more views of your listing and more customers who call, visit your website or have walk-in traffic.
  2. Accurate and up-to-date business information helps you get found more easily. By claiming your business on Google Business Profile Manager, you can ensure that the information about your business, such as your business name, address, and phone number, is accurate and up-to-date.
  3. Ability to respond to customer reviews. Google Business Profile Manager allows you to track and respond to customer reviews, which can help improve your reputation and attract more customers.
  4. The ability to post updates and offers. With Google Business Profile Manager, you can post updates and offers, such as promotions or events, to engage with your customers and improve your visibility on Google.

Overall, claiming your business on Google Business Profile Manager can help improve your visibility on Google, provide accurate and up-to-date business information, and allow you to engage with your customers in new ways.

So the next time you think, “Why Isn’t My Business Showing up on Google Maps and Search?” remember that you’ve come to the right place!

To learn more about Google My Business and how to optimize your listing for Google Search and Map so your location is found, read our complete guide.

All About Local Listings Management with Devin Thomas of Uberall

Is your business taking advantage of local listings and the power of a platform like Uberall?

Having a proper local listings management strategy is a little thing that can go a very long way for local business owners. And the potential for such a strategy to make a significant impact is real.

Why? Because local listings sit at the core of a small business’s visibility and can genuinely be one of the most powerful marketing tools when used thoughtfully.

So what exactly is a local listing?

A local listing is a directory where your business can appear. Some of these platforms are well-known and popular, such as Google Business Profile (in other words, Google Maps and Search), Bing, Facebook and Apple Maps. Customers can easily access your business name, address, phone number, photos, social links and other important information when your listing appears in search results.

In a recent episode of A Little Marketing, we spoke with Local Listings expert Devin Thomas. Devin shared his insights into all things local listings, including Google Business Profile Manager (formerly Google My Business), and how innovative software tools can help small business owners efficiently manage their listings.

Our chat with Devin revealed how impactful local listing management is for small businesses. Here’s what he had to say:

Devin Thomas of Uberall discusses the importance of using a local listing management platform.  

The Importance of Local Listings Management

“More than half of searches, in general, are local,” says Devin. “This means that when someone is typing something into the search engine on Google or another search platform, they’re looking for something locally. So local listings are your key to ensuring that you appear in those searches.” Devin says your business visibility increases by 60% when registered with local listing directories.

Essentially, it’s all about consistency. “The more you’re there, it builds that psychological familiarity,” says Devin. “Customers trust consistency. You’re present on apps, maps, social media platforms, and many other online directories when you manage your local listings. So not only are you raising your business’ visibility by being present on these local listing platforms, you’re building up a consistent image for your customers.”

Another critical benefit of local listings: “It generates free and organic traffic to your website.”

Lastly, managing your local listings allows you to create an accurate brand image. If you’re not managing your local listing, your business might still be listed online on different directories but not with correct or accurate information. That’s why it’s crucial to verify your profile and manage your listing to control the narrative of how your business appears in searches.

So how can you manage your business’ local listings properly? Devin gives us an answer: Uberall.

Local Listings Management with Uberall

Uberall is a fantastic tool for local listing management. “There’s an importance of being visible across the board unilaterally; that’s where Uberall comes in,” says Devin, “[Uberall] makes sure that you’re present consistently.”

When you manage your local listings with Uberall, Uberall does the work for you. Have your business information changed, such as hours, address and other little details? Enter them into Uberall’s platform, and all changes get syndicated to all of the directories in your plan. That way, when a customer searches for you on 40-plus business directories, your hours are presented consistently across all of them. Because let’s be honest, there is nothing more frustrating than inaccurate business hours online!

Google Business Optimization

Getting the most out of your local listings is about building consistency across the board. If you want to get the most out of your local listings as a marketing tactic, the best thing you can do as a small business owner is to optimize your Google Business Listing. So why is Google Business optimization so important? “It’s important to stay engaged – an effortless but vital way to impact search rankings and build trust with Google positively,” says Devin.

So how can you do this? Devin says that constantly updating your profile on Google is critical. Add photos, update social links, create Google posts –  anything you can do to boost your engagement. Keep adding new content, and keep engaging with your customers via reviews. Your business’ visibility will thank you.

Local Listings Management Resources

Need help setting up and managing your local listings? Optimize your Google Business Listing with a directory strategy that delivers customers, managed and optimized by our experts. Click here for a 2-month free trial!

Already have your listings set up and curious to know how your local listings compare. Get your free local listings health report here!

For more free information on local listing management and all that it can do for your small business, listen to our episode with Devin here on YouTube!

Specific Ways to Generate More Income From Your Local Listings

Did you know that you can generate more income from your local listings? Simply by having and managing a local listing, you can boost revenue!

Of course, having a local listing is excellent for overall exposure for your business, but you can also use this strategy to generate more income!

If you don’t already have local listings for your business, check out our step-by-step guide on how to get set up. If you already have local listings – such as a Google Business Profile Manager (formerly Google My Business) – our tips below will help you optimize your local listing to get the most out of your Google listing ROI.

Here are five ways that you use Google Business Profile Manager to generate sales:

1. Messages

Did you know that customers can get in touch with you via your Google Business Profile? Turn on the “Chat” button on your Google Business Profile Manager to allow customers to send messages to you. By using this feature, you can answer questions and tell your business story. Messaging attracts new customers to your business and gives your business more authenticity. In addition, messages allow for more engagement with customers, which can help boost traffic to your store.

For example, if a customer is wondering if your business offers a specific service, they might message you to inquire about that service. If you respond promptly and the customer is satisfied with the answer, they’re more likely to come in and visit your business – rather than do business with another company.

It’s vital that you answer all customer messages promptly. Not only will Google deactivate the message feature for your business if you don’t respond quickly, but customers can also see the average time your business responds to messages. In addition, reacting fast boosts trust and engagement between your business and the customer.

2. Pointy

Another effective local listing strategy to turn online browsers into in-store shoppers is Pointy from Google. Pointy from Google is a sales-boosting tool that retail store owners with a Google Business Profile listing can use.

Pointy connects your in-store inventory to your Google Business Profile so that customers can see what products you have in stock. It’s an efficient way to let customers know what you sell. For example, let’s say that you sell beauty products. If a local consumer is searching for a specific moisturizer in stock, Pointy can show them that your business carries that product – and that it’s available. This feature also keeps track of your live inventory, making things convenient for you and your customers.

3. Google Posts with Specific CTA

Another great way to increase income with your Google Business Profile Manager is via Google Posts. You can add a post to your Google Profile with a CTA. For example, this CTA could include phrases such as, Get Started, Sign up here, Visit us today, Call now, Subscribe, and others.

Add CTAs to a post about a new menu item, a post promoting your social media pages, or just an update with basic information encouraging customers to visit your business. Adding a CTA to your Google posts is a great way to generate leads – and hopefully more foot traffic to your business.

4. Website Traffic

With a Google Business Profile, cross-promotion is easy! Link your business’ website to your listing to encourage customers to visit your website. 56% of customer actions on a Google Business listing are website visits. More web traffic can result in more sales via your website and more brand awareness – which is always good for revenue.

5. Drive Foot Traffic

Last but certainly not least, you can use your local listing to drive more foot traffic into your business. Maintaining a listing with plenty of accurate and up-to-date information will attract more in-person traffic. And more in-person traffic means more revenue!

Optimize your Google Business Profile Listing to Increase Revenue!

Ready to take your Google Business Profile Manager to the next level and generate more income from your local listings? With local listings management, you can optimize your listings to attract more customers and complete more sales. And our team of digital marketing experts can help you get set up! Contact us today for a free local listing management consultation.

Why You Need a Good Local Listings Strategy in the First Place

Is your business using one of the most effective local marketing tools available – a local listings strategy? If not – you should be!

Having a local listing is key to drawing local attention to your business. A local listing gives your business credibility and makes it easier for local consumers to discover your business and learn more about it. And more search engine attention for your business means more foot traffic – and increased revenue! For example, 72% of consumers that did a local online search ended up visiting a store within five miles.

Local Listings Strategy In Action

For example, let’s say you’re in the mood for sushi. Unless you already have a “go-to” sushi spot, you’ll probably use a search engine to type in “sushi near me” or some variation of that phrase. What will show up on the search engine are various sushi restaurants nearby. The stronger the local listing, the higher it will rank. And there’s a good chance you’ll get sushi from one of the first few listings that showed up in the search. This means that setting up a listing – such as a Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) – is key to bringing in more traffic.

But to reap the benefits of having a local listing, you must be sure you have a strategy. Simply registering your business on Google isn’t enough. An excellent local listing strategy is necessary if you want to be found locally, gain new customers, increase foot traffic, and boost revenue.

What is a Local Listings Strategy?

A local listing is an online profile of your business and business information. For example, on Google, you can set up a Google Business Profile, which makes it easier for customers to find your business when doing a simple Google Search. Your Google Business Profile will have information such as your business name, what your company does, business address, business phone number, photos, reviews, and any other information relevant to your business. Think of it like a mini website for your business, with all the necessary business information available on Google.

So essentially, a local listing strategy is the strategy behind your listing or listings to boost local SEO. Good local SEO increases your business’s visibility within local searches. When a local consumer searches for something relevant to your business, an excellent local listing strategy will rank you higher in the search results.

The Benefits of a Good Local Listing Strategy

An excellent local listing strategy can get you far. Here are a few key benefits of having a good local listings strategy:

  1. Low-cost exposure.
    If you know how to manage your local listings, then it’s essentially free. However, if you want to ensure that your local listing performs the best it possibly can, then a digital marketing expert can help. Hiring an expert to help you gain exposure with local listings is still one of the most cost-effective digital marketing avenues you can take.
  2. It’s an effective SEO strategy.
    It’s no secret that SEO is one of the best ways to draw organic attention to your business. And local SEO is enormous for bringing local attention. So, a solid local listing strategy is a surefire way to boost local SEO.
  3. Brand Awareness.
    With an excellent local listing strategy, you can cross-promote your website and social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, etc.

What Does a Good Local Listing Strategy Look Like?

Your local listings strategy should meet a few criteria. First and foremost, it should be accurate. You risk losing credibility with customers if you have inaccurate information in your listing. Your store hours, address, services, and all other information must be correct.

Your local listing should always be up-to-date as well. For example, if you update your menu, be sure to update it on the listing.

Curious about how effective your local listing strategy is? Get a full report on your local listings’ visibility, engagement, and more right here!

And if you need help setting up your local listing or managing a local listings strategy, check out our full list of resources or contact us for a free local listings consultation!

How Do I Get My Business Name On Google Maps?

To bring more local traffic to your business, Google Maps is a powerful tool. Local customers use Google Maps to search for a specific kind of business. For example, a customer might search “coffee shop near me” or “hardware store near me.” So if you can get your business to show up on a local Google Maps search, you will see a lot more in-person traffic.

Now you may wonder, “how do I get my business name on Google Maps?” Let us help you! Here’s a step-by-step guide for getting your business name on Google Maps.

Add Your Business to Google Business Profile Manager

The first step to getting your business name on Google Maps is to make sure you claim your business location on Google Business Profile Manager, formerly Google My Business. If you haven’t already added or claimed your business with Google Business Profile Manager/My Business, you’ll need to do so. Fortunately, it’s a simple process with only a few steps.

Before starting, note that your business may already exist in Google’s business directory – you have to claim it. Locations that are newer or have recently changed locations will have to add their business to the directory manually.

Here are the steps for adding your business to Google Business Profile Manager (formerly Google My Business):

  • First, go to Google Business Profile.
  • Click on “Manage Now” in the top right corner.
  • Search your business name and address in the search box. If your business shows up, click on it. If not, manually add your business name.
  • Next, fill out the necessary business information that Google asks of you.
  • Select a “Category” that describes your business. This part is vital because it’s how Google will categorize your business for customer searches. So choose the category that’s most accurate from Google’s preset categories. (Later on, you’ll be able to add up to five more categories.)
  • Verify your business. Usually, Google will send you a postcard with a verification PIN. Though occasionally, companies have the option to receive a text or automated phone call with a PIN, which is much more convenient, so if you have the chance – do it.

Along with selecting the most relevant category, verifying your business is one of the most critical steps. Verification confirms the authenticity of your business information – making customers twice as likely to trust it.

Optimize Your Listing to Rank Better in Google Map Searches

Once you’ve verified your business, it’s time to start optimizing, which will help your business name show up better on Google Maps. Your business name will appear on Google Maps once you have a profile, but the more you optimize your listing, the more accurate it will be and the more it will show up for customers.

One of the best ways to optimize Google Maps is to add subcategories. Go to your profile and click on the info tab to add subcategories, fill out business hours and add other important information.

For more information on how to set up your Google Business Profile and further optimize it to rank better on Google Maps and Google search, check out this blog post!

And if you need extra help setting up, optimizing, or managing your listing, contact our team at 10|20 Marketing. Our team of digital marketing experts is ready to help your small business level up.

Contact us today for a free consultation.

How to Add or Delete Photos From A Google My Business Listing

Add or Delete Photos From A Google My Business Listing

A Google My Business listing is an excellent way to draw attention from your local area to your business. Setting up a Google My Business listing adds credibility to your business, allows customers to find your business online quickly, and provides a space where customers can learn more about your business.

One of the great features of this listing platform is photos. You can add images to your Google My Business listing to give customers a better sense of your business, what your company sells, and more. Customers can also upload photos they’ve taken while visiting your business.

Knowing how to manage the photos on your listing is essential for maintaining your business’s online credibility. This post will cover how to add or delete photos from a Google My Business listing!

Adding Photos to Your Google My Business Listing

When setting up your Google My Business listing, you’ll want to ensure you’ve added all the necessary business information. Once you’ve done so, you can start adding photos to personalize the listing.

First, it’s important to note that you can add several different types of images to your listing. These include a logo, a cover photo, and business photos. First, we’re going to explain how to upload business photos.

Business photos are any photos uploaded to give more information on your business. Examples of business-specific photos include:

  • Exterior photos
  • Interior photos
  • Product photos
  • Photos at work
  • Food and drink photos
  • Team photos

And any other photos relevant to your specific business.

Once you’ve decided which photos you want to add to your listing, you’ll need to ensure that it follows Google’s content policy and isn’t on their list of prohibited or restricted content. Examples of prohibited content include deceptive content, mature content, dangerous or illegal content, off-topic content, and a few more categories. You can view Google’s complete list of prohibited content here.

Other Google photo eligibility requirements include:

  • Format: JPG or PNG
  • Size: Between 10 KB and 5 MB
  • Minimum resolution: 250 px tall, 250 px wide
  • Good quality with no excessive alterations or heavy filters

Once you’ve established that your content meets Google’s eligibility, you can begin the upload process. Here are the steps on how to add a photo to your Google listing:

  • Go to your Google My Business Profile
  • Select Promote, then photo
  • Select and add your photo

Once uploaded, the photos will appear on your listing immediately.

Deleting a Photo from Your Google Business Listing

If you’ve accidentally uploaded a photo, have an outdated photo on your website, or have an image that no longer accurately depicts your business, you can quickly delete a photo.

Remember that you can only delete photos your business has uploaded. However, since customers can also upload images to the listing, if you find a picture uploaded by a customer that inaccurately represents your business, violates Google policy, or infringes the law, you can flag that photo for removal. To do so, click on the picture, go to the buttons on the top right, and click the flag icon that says, “Report a problem.” Here you’ll be able to request the removal of the photo.

If you want to immediately delete a photo uploaded by your business, follow these steps:

  • Go to your Google My Business Profile
  • Select your photos, then “by owner”
  • Select the photo you want to delete
  • Click the trash icon on the top right and confirm the removal
Want Extra Help with Your Google My Business Listing?

We hope this article helped you understand how to add or delete photos from a Google My Business listing. Our marketing experts at 10|20 Marketing know a thing or two about helping small businesses attract more business through digital techniques. We’re ready to help you bring your digital marketing game to the next level with our Google My Business listing management services. For more information on what we can do for your business, contact us for a free consultation!

What Is A Google My Business Optimization Service?

Are you looking for a Google My Business Optimization Service? Allow us to explain!

Better Optimization = More Business

Why is optimizing your Google Business Profile so important? Because the better you optimize your listing for Google Search and Maps, the more you generate phone calls and traffic to your website and physical location.

But before we discuss your Google Business profile specifically, let’s discuss the dozens of other business directories that directly impact how Google sees your business. 

Each of these other directories plays a significant role in helping Google understand your business – and ultimately trust the information they have in your Google Business Profile.

How so? Because Google crawls the web! And when they find that information, they compare it to the details they have about your location. 

The more consistency they find online about your business – down to the formatting of your address and phone number – the more they will trust your Google Profile. And the more trust you build, the more likely Google will push people to call you, visit your website or deliver foot traffic to your location.

A Google My Business Optimization Service Includes Other Directories For Good Reason

The directories, listings, maps, and social networks we’ll set up for you all work together to give you better SEO – search engine optimization. So it’s essential to make sure your business information is consistent and error-free on these channels!

Directory: A website or printed listing of information that lists businesses within niche-based categories. 

Business listing: An online summary of essential information for your business that is a powerful tool to help customers find you online.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): The process of maximizing the number of visitors to your website by ensuring that the site appears high on the list of results returned by a search engine.

In other words, using a Google Business Profile is not enough – your business needs to be all over the web in as many places as possible. Once that happens, Google will give more love to your business.               

Where A Google My Business Optimization Service Provider Comes In

The problem is that if you are responsible for updating all these directories, it takes approximately 40 hours each time – placing an unreasonable burden on you, especially if you run a small local business. 

That’s where a listings management provider like us comes in. We provide a single-source solution to update all directories at once. So whether you have edits to make or not, our platform ensures that your listings never go stale!

All we need to get you started is your essential business information – name, address, phone number, and business hours. Only the information that people need most to find your business. 

Once onboard, we’ll work with you to improve your profile and guide you through optimizations that will turn your listing into a business-generation machine. 

And the best part? Once we get your program up and running, you don’t need to do a thing. Leave everything to us. We’ll optimize your business profiles online while you keep your business running smoothly – just like you always do!

And the relationships we have with the directory providers, including Google, can help you solve any issues that may arise due to technical error, misinformation, or just plain silliness that you don’t have control over.

Measuring Results of Your Google My Business Optimization Service

How will you know that our service works? Easy! We’ll share reports with you that show your results every quarter. Our clients start seeing results within two to four months – results they couldn’t ever get on their own. We’ve even created a Step-By-Step Guide To Getting Started on Google My Business to help you get started!

So reach out to us now and get your program started right away. We’ll walk you through everything and present you with our different starter packages. We’re sure you’ll find one you’re comfortable with to supercharge your business immediately!

 

Google My Business – make that Google Business Profile Manager – Changes To Know For 2022

It seems like just yesterday that Google Business Profile Manager was called Google My Business. Earlier this fall, this change was made. And many others were made throughout the year to bolster Google’s most important local organic search product. 

Heading into 2022, it’s essential for local business owners to ensure that they know what Google is up to. And as Google Business Profile Manager matures even further, keeping an eye on these new developments can truly be the difference between having success in your neighbourhood or not. Because keeping your profile information up to date based on their latest iterations will make it easier for potential customers to find you.

No need to worry, we’ve put together a list of the main updates for you. And for more detail, go download this guide!

Hours and Service Availability

You may have noticed that Google has added the “Available Online” attribute. This shows customers which businesses offer online appointments or estimates. Presenting your customers with this option is frequently more convenient for them. And more likely to earn you a booking. Adding this attribute is smart, particularly if your potential customer happens to live on the other side of town and you can save them a trip.

Another new update includes the ability to a different set of business hours. For example if you’re open “by appointment only” on Saturdays, letting your customers know is another great way to get in more clients and grow your business!

Reviews Updates

We all know how important social proof is to attaining new clients. Google Business Profile Manager has always been a great way to showcase your positive reviews. Now, they’ve made it even easier for you by making star ratings visible on the search results page.

They’ve also added a ‘NEW’ label next to new reviews, so potential customers can see recent experiences with your business.

Finally, Google has added the option to have a review removed from your profile. While we don’t recommend removing negative reviews, there are cases where you may find yourself needing this option (for example, if you receive a fake review or someone reviews your business by mistake).

Messaging Updates

Log into your desktop or the Google Business Profile Manager mobile app and easily communicate with potential customers. Answer questions quickly and have a real-time conversation with your customers. We see our clients doing this already. It’s a surefire way to build trust and motivate customers to visit your business.

Google My Business Insights

Google Business Profile Manager updated its analytics in January of this year, adding a breakdown of where visitors saw your listing (search or maps), whether on desktop or mobile, and then later in 2021 they added insights into the number of clicks on directions, bookings, and to your website.

At 10|20 Marketing, we take this a step further, plugging directly into the Google API to grab metrics in a more organized way. By pulling metrics monthly, we get precise insights on a business’s performance, understanding view and click counts. We then trend these metrics to see month over month and year over year trending, something Google doesn’t do on their own. 

Updates for the Hospitality Vertical

The hospitality industry has added new attributes as well, including smoke-free options, and kids stay free. Another big update for hotels is free hotel listings. Once in the form of paid ads, booking links share availability and pricing information and are now free for all hotel accounts.

Updates for the Healthcare Vertical

Healthcare organizations can now manage insurance information directly from the platform. Google first added the accepted health insurance attribute in 2020, managed through a third-party provider. This update allows Healthcare Providers to update their Accepted Health Insurance information directly in Google My Business.

Updates for the Food Industry

Restauranteurs, rejoice! You can now update online ordering options for takeout and delivery directly through Google Business Profile Manager. Run out of a certain menu item? No problem – you can quickly remove it through Google Business Profile Manager now.

It’s important to note, not all updates will apply to your business. Many are dependent on the primary category your business falls under. If you’re struggling to keep your Google My Business listing up to date, or you have questions about marketing your local business, book a free consultation call! We’re always happy to help.

Bring in More Business With Local Business Listings

You’ve probably heard a lot about the importance of SEO for your website, how to use social media to grow your audience and the ROI of email marketing. But what about Local Business Listings?

A local business listing displays your business’s information in an online directory – like Google My Business or Yelp. Business information displayed can include your website, phone number, opening hours, location address(es), and more.

Local business listings are essential for helping your potential customers discover you and understand what you offer. The more complete your listing, the more likely those potential customers will come to your shop and buy from you.

Follow these additional tips to leverage local listings and bring in more business:

Start with Google, But Don’t Stop There.

Google is the most-used search engine (with more than 90% of market share), so it makes sense to start by creating your Google My Business listing first. Creating your listing will help you appear in web search results and on Google Maps. In addition, Google Maps is often used on mobile devices by local customers looking for businesses like yours.

But Google isn’t the only directory. So it’s critical to diversify to as many places as possible. (See our series titled Directories To Grow Your Local Business, part 1 and part 2.) Big sites (Google, Yelp, Facebook, Waze) have their listings, while many small directories pull information from these sites to populate their pages. The more places you can be listed, the better. 

Book a free consultation if you find yourself overwhelmed with setting up and managing multiple local business listings. We can help.

Don’t Forget to Verify.

Once you have your listings set up, don’t forget to verify them (i.e., take ownership). To do this, Google will generally require you to receive a postcard to the business location with a code to enter on their platform. Verify your business listing to take control of it so you can:

  • Add more information and complete your profile;
  • Share updates (see the point on content below); 
  • And respond to reviews and questions. 

All of the above get your listing found more easily. And a complete listing helps you share critical business information with your audience.

Take a look at the difference between a fully-optimized listing and an unoptimized one.

Image source: https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2020/11/02/promote-your-business

Create and Share Content

Posting new content like a blog on your website helps improve your organic search results. In addition, content is a meaningful way to give customers value, which builds relationships and trust with your audience (key to sales). But simply creating content and posting it on your website isn’t enough. You need to share it, too!

 Listing directories like Google My Business allow you to share updates, and this is a great space to share and promote your blogs.

Ask For – And Respond To – Customer Reviews

Don’t rely on customers giving you reviews – ask for them! The best time to do this is after you complete the sale or service. If it was an online transaction, send an email within a couple of days of the sale (you can automate this). If you’re operating an in-person local business, ask your customers to leave reviews as you hand them their purchased items.

Of course, good reviews on your listing show potential clients you’re a reliable business. But getting reviews is only half the battle; you have to respond to them as well. 

Responding to good reviews shows Google you’re active, which increases your reach. Of course, responding to bad reviews does this as well, but perhaps more importantly, it also shows searchers that you’re willing to learn from mistakes and fix them. The point is to increase consumer confidence in your business.

For more pointers on how to take advantage of reviews, read the following posts to:

Using local listing is a smart way to attract potential customers and generate traffic to your local business. Follow these tips to get the most out of your listing. If you’re not sure how to get started or if your listings are properly optimized, book a free consultation.