Is it just me, or does it seem time flies faster in the local search industry? Another year has gone by, with many changes and developments to boot. Here’s a list of my top 10 insights from 2017: 1. Customer data is the new competitive edge SMBs often feel at a competitive disadvantage compared to […]
Top 10 local search insights of 2017 Read More »
Google shared that the local Question & Answer feature that rolled out back in August is now available on desktop search. Google said they are “expanding Questions & Answers on Google My Business.” This enables both searchers and business owners to ask and answer questions from their desktop, on mobile search or on Android Google
Google Local Questions & Answers now rolling out to desktop search Read More »
Google is bringing new forms of local search to the Google Assistant and Google Home. The company announced it’s working with local home service providers “like HomeAdvisor and Porch.” On any platform where Google Assistant is available, users will be able to ask for contractors (e.g., “Ok Google find me a plumber”). That initiates a structured interaction which
Google brings local lead generation to Google Assistant and Google Home Read More »
Last year, I wrote a piece addressed to SEO companies showing how much they were spamming Google Maps and giving the industry a bad reputation. If I worked at Google, this type of stuff would make me hate SEO companies and have no desire to help them. Lately, I’ve been seeing this same level of spam
Law firms spamming Google My Business: Don’t trust them! Read More »
Google has started showing more information about local businesses in some local knowledge panel results. It is implementing this by showing additional tabs of information above the local panel for (a) locations (b) about, and sometimes (c) Google Posts. Here is a screen shot showing a search for [kfc] which brings up locations for nearby
Google showing knowledge graph data in local panels Read More »
In a move to help SMBs — as well as drive up its verified business listings — Google has launched #SmallThanks Hub, an online resource that creates customized digital marketing content and printed materials based on Google reviews. “Simply search for your business name on the site, and we’ll automatically create posters, social media posts,
When it comes to digital marketing and search engine optimization, the devil is truly in the details. Seemingly trivial choices can have a dramatic effect on your web presence and search visibility, and nowhere is that more evident than in Google My Business (GMB). GMB optimization has quickly become something of a cottage industry within
Where to go next with your Google My Business listing Read More »
Is your online reputation fully optimized? Online reviews are a fundamental part of local search. That’s because 97 percent of consumers read online reviews for businesses, and 85 percent report that they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, BrightLocal’s 2017 Local Consumer Review Survey found. It’s not a matter of if your business will
Understanding the interplay of SEO and a 5-star reputation Read More »
Google is updating its Maps look and feel. The company has changed colors and added icons to correspond to places and business categories. The palette is also brighter. Food and drink is orange or gold, shopping is royal blue, services are lavender, entertainment is turquoise, outdoor activities and places are green and so on. Google says
Google Maps gets brighter UI, new category icons and more color-coding Read More »
Facebook’s year-old Events app hasn’t turned into the Google Calendar competitor it was primed to become. So the social network is relaunching it and redirecting its aim at local search platforms like Yelp and Foursquare. On Friday, Facebook debuted Facebook Local, a refurbished version of its Events app that aims to help people find nearby
Facebook Local is the social network’s stab at Yelp, Foursquare Read More »
