Rolling Orangutan
Last Updated: May 28, 2024
What To Do When Your Google Business Profile Appeal Has Not Been Approved
Last Updated: April 18, 2024
If you have received a notification from Google stating that your first appeal for a restricted listing has been denied, it’s crucial to understand the implications: you are now at a decisive moment. Your Google Business Profile, vital for attracting local traffic and inquiries, is at risk. You are afforded only one more chance to appeal this decision. Recognizing the critical nature of this final opportunity is essential for taking informed and effective steps to potentially salvage your business’s online presence.
First, it’s crucial to recognize why Google Business Profiles are invaluable. These profiles enhance your visibility on the most widely used search engine in the U.S., connecting your business with a vast audience seeking your services. Losing your profile not only diminishes your online presence but also impacts your ability to attract new customers.
When Google denies an appeal, it often stems from issues like non-compliance with their guidelines or insufficient evidence to counter the reasons for suspension. It’s here that precision and expertise become your allies. Before you rush into a second appeal, take a moment to assess and strategize.
Consult the Experts
Given the stakes, consulting with professionals who specialize in online reputation and Google’s protocols can make a significant difference. At Prospect Genius, we have a track record of successfully navigating these waters. Our team can help you understand the intricacies of Google’s guidelines and craft an appeal that addresses the specific reasons for your suspension.
Gather and Refine Your Documentation
Evidence is your most powerful tool in the appeal process. Collect all relevant documentation that supports your case. This might include licenses, proof of business address, or evidence of business operations. An expert can help you identify the most persuasive evidence and present it effectively.
Understand and Align with Google’s Policies
Review Google’s Business Profile guidelines meticulously. Ensure that your business adheres to every point, and be prepared to demonstrate this compliance in your appeal. Sometimes, a minor oversight can be the sole barrier to reinstatement.
Prepare Your Final Appeal
With professional guidance, prepare a concise yet comprehensive appeal. Clearly state your case, present your evidence logically, and ensure that your submission is flawless. Avoid common pitfalls such as emotional pleas; stick to facts and policies.
Moving Forward
Regardless of the outcome, it’s important to plan for all contingencies. Continue to enhance your online presence through other channels such as social media, your business website, and alternative local directories. Diversifying your online footprint can mitigate the impact of losing your Google Business Profile.
Facing the possibility of a permanent suspension is undoubtedly stressful, but with the right approach, you can maximize your chances of a successful appeal. Remember, this is your final opportunity to correct the situation—make it count.
Google’s Popular Local Justifications Can Be Influenced!
Last Updated: May 6, 2024
Have you seen Google’s “Local Justifications” that they include in many of their local search results? These justifications are a powerful way to make your business stand out in crowded search results, and users find them incredibly helpful. Importantly, you can influence these justifications to your advantage!
TLDR: By guiding your customers to include certain key words in their reviews, you can influence what shows up in these justifications.
When you ask your customers for reviews, simply mention that it really helps if they would mention ______ in it. For example, if a number of your reviews mention “quick turnaround” then you’ll likely start to see that in the Justifications section.
What are Local Justifications?
Local justifications are additional snippets of text that Google may display on business listings in the local packs, local finders, and Google Maps. These snippets are designed to highlight how a feature of your business matches the search intent of a potential customer. For example, if someone searches for “accent chairs in Corte Madera,” they might see a justification stating that these are available at your store, which immediately informs them that your business meets their needs.
Why They Matter
The presence of justifications in Google’s local search results is significant, with research showing that over half of the local SERPs now include them, enhancing visibility and potentially boosting click-through rates. This visibility plays a crucial role because even when a business has good local rankings, it’s the unique elements like justifications that can make it the top choice for searchers.
How to Influence Local Justifications
Influencing what shows up in these justifications can be done through various types of content you manage:
- Reviews: Guide your customers to include specific keywords in their Google My Business reviews. Just as YouTubers encourage viewers to “smash that like button,” prompting customers to mention certain aspects of your service or product can lead to those phrases being highlighted in your local justifications.
- Website Content: The content on your website, especially the page linked from your Google My Business listing, should be optimized for the keywords you want to be justified. Even if the specific service isn’t mentioned prominently on the landing page, subtle mentions or listings in a dropdown menu can be picked up by Google.
- Posts and Services: Regular updates through Google Posts and a detailed listing of services can also trigger justifications. These could range from special offerings like “custom-created engagement rings” to more standard services, which then get highlighted directly in the search results.
- In Stock and Menu Options: For businesses that sell products, ensuring that your inventory is listed through Google’s “See What’s In Store” program and that your menus are updated both on your website and Google My Business can result in “in stock” or “menu” justifications, which inform customers about the availability of certain items directly through search results.
Google has started testing a new design and feature for its local justifications section, adding a “people like” section that highlights popular preferences and is shaded in blue, making it stand out even more under local pack snippet results. This indicates that Google continues to evolve how justifications are displayed, making them even more prominent and influential.
By understanding and influencing the types of local justifications that appear with your business listings, you can significantly enhance how your business is perceived online. It’s about making sure your business is the one that stands out in a dense field of options, precisely matching the intent of the searchers and drawing them in.
Ensuring Your Website Meets ADA Compliance: A Must for Every Business
Last Updated: April 18, 2024
Introduction to ADA Compliance
One aspect many business owners overlook is the necessity for their website to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Not only is this a legal requirement, but it can also influence your website’s search rankings. Many elements that enhance a site’s accessibility for people with disabilities also make it more crawler-friendly for search engines.
Why ADA Compliance Matters
The ADA is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities. Originally focused on physical accessibility, its scope has broadened to include digital spaces, thus applying to websites as well. Non-compliance risks legal action, misses out on accommodating a significant audience segment, and can also affect your search rankings on Google and others.
Legal Implications
With cases like Robles v. Domino’s Pizza setting precedents, the legal landscape has evolved to affirm that websites of public accommodations must be accessible, encompassing features compatible with screen readers and other assistive technologies. Failure to comply can lead to lawsuits with settlements ranging typically from $5,000 to $20,000, excluding legal fees.
Common Areas Where Websites Fail
Shockingly, over 90% of sites fail ADA compliance tests, with major players like Amazon scoring poorly. Common pitfalls include:
- Image ALT tags: Essential for screen reader users to understand image content.
- Color contrast and font size: Improves readability for those with visual impairments.
- Navigational link placement and menu structure: Ensures that all users can navigate your site effectively.
- Video and multimedia: Lack of captions, audio descriptions, or accessible media players.
- Form accessibility: Forms lacking proper labels, clear instructions, or error messages that are not screen reader friendly.
- Keyboard accessibility: Inability to use all site features through a keyboard alone, which is crucial for people who cannot use a mouse.
- Time-based media: Failure to provide alternatives for time-based media like GIFs or videos that start automatically.
- Dynamic content updates: Insufficient notification of dynamic content changes, disorienting users who rely on screen readers.
- Consistency in appearance and function: Inconsistent design can confuse users, particularly those with cognitive disabilities.
How to Improve Your Website’s ADA Compliance
Step-by-Step Guide
- Assess Your Current Website: Use tools like AccessiblilityChecker.org to understand where your site stands in terms of compliance.
- Implement an Accessibility Interface: This interface should allow users to adjust visual and navigational elements to suit their needs, such as text size and color contrast.
- Add Text Alternatives: All non-text content on your site should have text alternatives to be accessible by screen readers.
- Ensure Navigational Ease: Your site should be navigable through keyboard-only operations, beneficial for users with motor disabilities.
- Provide Accessible Forms and Controls: Ensure that all form elements are labeled appropriately, and that form validation and error handling are accessible.
- Optimize for Screen Readers: Use proper HTML semantics and ensure dynamic content changes are announced by screen readers.
- Enable Customizable Time Limits: For sites that require timed interactions, allow users to adjust or remove time limits.
- Test with Real Users: Include people with disabilities in your testing process to get genuine feedback on the accessibility of your site.
Advanced Tips and Insights
From extensive analysis of 10,000,000 web pages, Accessibe determined common compliance issues include inadequate ALT tags for images, improper menu accessibility, and non-compliant pop-ups. Rectifying these can drastically improve the accessibility of your site.
Conclusion: The Importance of Being Proactive
Becoming ADA compliant not only mitigates the risk of legal complications but also opens your business to a wider audience. By adopting ADA compliance measures, you not only adhere to the law but also enhance user experience, potentially boosting site traffic and customer satisfaction.
For a deeper dive into ADA compliance specifics and to get started with your compliance journey, check out detailed guides at AccessibilityChecker.org and Accessibe.
Tips For Maximizing Visibility On Google With 24 Hour Listings
Last Updated: April 18, 2024
In the digital age, where the internet is the first stop for most consumers looking for products and services, ensuring your business ranks high on Google’s search results is paramount. Recent developments have shown that Google is now factoring a business’s operating hours into its ranking algorithm. This means that if your business isn’t open at the time a potential customer conducts a search, it’s less likely to appear in the search results. This shift has led some businesses to adopt a 24/7 operating hours strategy online, aiming to achieve peak visibility. But what does this mean for small businesses, and how should they navigate this new landscape?
The Appeal of 24/7 Listings
At first glance, the strategy of listing your business as open 24/7 online is an attractive one. By ensuring that your Google Business Profile suggests you are always open, you theoretically maximize your visibility regardless of when someone is searching. This approach can lead to significant increases in customer engagement. For example, one of our clients has observed a 235% increase in calls after adjusting their listed hours to reflect non-stop operation.
Small businesses, in particular, can find the 24/7 listing strategy appealing for several reasons. Firstly, it’s a straightforward way to boost their search result rankings, and in our experience, it produces results quickly. Secondly, it promises more customer inquiries, which can be crucial for growth, especially for those still establishing their market presence.
Beware The Risks of Overpromising
However, this seemingly simple strategy is not without its pitfalls. The most significant risk comes from the potential mismatch between listed hours and actual availability. If customers are led to believe you’re open 24/7 and reach out during off-hours only to find no one available, it can lead to frustration and damage your business’s reputation. This jilted customer could leave you a bad review, or they may even report your Google Business Profile and get it suspended! Trust is a crucial currency in the online world, and it’s difficult to regain your customers’ trust once you’ve lost it.
If you’re thinking of editing your small business’s online listings to show 24 hour operations, it’s important to weigh the exciting immediate benefits against the potential long-term consequences. If you choose to list your business as operating 24/7, but are not actually able to provide 24/7 customer service, we urge you to implement measures to manage your customers’ expectations. This could include clear communication on your website about response times or using automated systems to handle inquiries during off-hours.
Ultimately, the decision to list your business with 24/7 hours should be made with a clear strategy for maintaining customer trust and satisfaction. It’s also wise to stay informed about changes in Google’s policies and adjust your practices accordingly. In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing, staying ahead of the curve is essential for business growth. Listing your business as open 24/7 on Google emerges as a forward-thinking strategy to significantly boost your visibility and enhance customer engagement. The potential for increased calls and interactions is substantial, with businesses experiencing remarkable growth in customer inquiries following the switch to round-the-clock operations. With the right approach, the shift to 24/7 operations can open the door to unparalleled visibility, increased calls, and a deeper connection with your customers.
