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The Google My Business Updates You Didn't Hear About

Last Updated: May 26, 2017

If you follow our blog at all, then you know at least a little bit about the ever-changing nature of Google. The search giant is constantly updating its algorithm and the way it presents information to users. For major updates, Google typically makes a public announcement. However, for smaller changes, there’s often no warning. Webmasters and marketers are left to detect and analyze updates on their own. This is where Internet marketing specialists really earn their stripes.
It should come as no surprise, then, that there’s been more than one Google My Business update this year that flew under the radar. In fact, according to a recent article by Joy Hawkins on Search Engine Land, there have been at least seven. Hawkins’s article, “7 Unannounced Updates to Google My Business We’ve Seen in 2017,” illuminates them and offers helpful, actionable advice on how to deal with them. We highly recommend reading the full article!
In this blog post, we wanted to highlight a few of these Google My Business updates. The updates we chose particularly relate to our clients, who tend to be local business owners and service providers. Let’s get started!

“Permanently Closed” Listings No Longer Appear in Local Results

First, Google has stopped listing businesses labeled “permanently closed” in its local finder. This is good for users, as they won’t have to bother with closed locations in their search results. However, it could prove to be a potent weapon for dishonest business owners who mark their competitors as “permanently closed.” Since Google doesn’t notify you when your business is labeled as such, you won’t have any way of knowing about this label unless you check your Google My Business dashboard.

You Actually Can Review Edits to Google Business Listings

Another discreet Google My Business update is the new capability of reviewing edits to your business listing. Ever since Google got rid of MapMaker, countless business owners—and even SEO practitioners—have mistakenly believed there was no way to see edits made to their listings. However, as it turns out, you can review any edits made to your listing from the Google Maps app on your smartphone. (Hawkins points out that practitioners never noticed this feature because they’re typically working on desktops, not mobile devices.) Unfortunately, the only other way to review edits is to be an official Local Guide, which is essentially an elite Google Maps user. This capability for all Local Guides is the actual update; unfortunately, it doesn’t help too many small business owners. Still, most people were not aware they could use the Google Maps app for this purpose, so this is good news to many of us.

Google Is Removing Website Links From Certain Local Search Packs

A third Google My Business update that’s slowly affecting more industries has to do with what Hawkins refers to as the local “Snack Pack.” The Snack Pack is a specific layout for local search results that, for some reason, does not include links to businesses’ websites. Instead, each item in the results gives only the business name, address, phone number, and rating, plus a photo.
This tells us two things: 1.) Google wants to keep users on Google sites and not encourage them to visit other pages; 2.) It’s incredibly important to have your Google My Business profile completely filled out, in detail. This way, users can get as much information as possible from your listing since they’ll be less likely to navigate to your website. So far, according to Hawkins’s article, the industries affected are pest control companies, jewelry shops, and sporting goods stores. Knowing Google, more industries will join this group soon, so be on the lookout!

Find Out About the Other Google My Business Updates

Want to discover the other four Google My Business updates from Hawkins’s article? Check it out over on Search Engine Land!

Want to Dominate Local Search Results? Here's One Thing You Need

Last Updated: March 14, 2017

You want to be one of the first local businesses people see when they search for products or services you offer. Obviously, you know that to be prominent and visible in local search results, you need placement on Google Maps. So, it makes sense that you would start your online marketing efforts with a Google Maps listing for your business.
There are a lot of reasons to believe Google Maps and a handful of other sites (namely Yelp and Facebook) are all you need to be visible on a local level. After all, those are the platforms that show up most often in local search results, and they’re the platforms many people turn to when looking for info on local businesses. However, don’t be fooled into thinking you can skate by with just a few online listings and nothing else. In reality, your local visibility largely depends on having a website.
In today’s post, we’ll look at how so many local business owners mistakenly believe they don’t need a website. Then, we’ll explain why websites remain vital to your presence in local search results.

Google Intensifies Focus on Local Search Results

First, let’s get some background on the importance of local search. In the last year or two, Google has been making significant user experience advancements to make on-the-go searching easier. As you may have heard, Google has been tailoring its search algorithm to cater to the rapid increase in smartphone usage.
This push to deliver a better search experience for mobile users is also what’s causing Google to prioritize local businesses. The logic: Most people search for local businesses on their smartphones because a) they’re on the go and want to find the nearest place quickly; or b) they want to call a business as soon as they find one that meets their needs.
As Google wants to make finding local businesses easier, it’s developing Google My Business pages that can act as fully functional landing pages. They contain photos, contact information, customer reviews, and even company status updates. Google even goes as far as directly asking users to submit photos and confirm addresses of businesses they’ve visited in order to flesh out these listings. In short, Google wants users to get all the info they need about a business as soon as they find it in search results, effectively eliminating the need for users to stray from Google’s search results page.

Social Media Joins the Local Search Party

Seeking to cater to their users’ smartphone habits, many social media channels, namely Facebook and Instagram, also have dedicated pages for local businesses. They function similarly to Google My Business pages in that they are essentially landing pages. They contain the business’s contact info, reviews, photos, and status updates. The end result is similar to Google’s: Users can find nearby businesses relevant to their interests without having to open a different app.

But You Can’t Rank in Local Search Results Without a Website

All of this emphasis on mobile and local search demonstrates why having a location-targeted web presence is more important than ever. However, many business owners misinterpret this trend and incorrectly believe all they need is a few listings and/or profiles on a handful of platforms. Unfortunately, that’s not how local search works.
If you want your business’s Google listing to appear in local searches, then you need to have a website. And not just any website, but a well optimized one at that.
Why? Because, as Marcus Miller of Search Engine Land reports, on-page SEO is still the number-one ranking factor in local searches. What do we mean by “on-page SEO”? It’s just a technical term for all of the content optimization on your website. You know, things like relevant keywords and images, well written content, appropriate headers and page titles, and so on. Your business needs a website with all of these elements in order to develop the kind of authority that will make Google want to feature it in search results. 

Your Website Boosts Your Local Search Presence

The fact that SEO is the number-one factor in local ranking doesn’t mean your social media pages and Google My Business listings aren’t important. Customer reviews, social buzz, and matching business information (like service categories and contact details) all contribute to your local rankings, too. Plus, those pages and listings serve an important function by providing users with easy-to-access info about your business.
In fact, it’s not uncommon for users to see a local Google listing in the search results, get all the info they need from that listing, and call or visit that business without ever clicking on the business’s website.
Ideally, your goal is to dominate local search so this exact scenario plays out and generates lots of business for you. However, in order for that to happen, you need the potent SEO juice that only a website can provide. It may sound counterintuitive (“Really? I need a website just to power my Google listing?”), but if you’re serious about wanting local visibility online, a website is not optional.

How Local Search Empowers Small Businesses to Compete

Last Updated: February 9, 2017

How can a small business like yours compete with big brands? Four words: Focus on local search.
The fact that you operate on a local level can be your biggest strength in the battle against large corporations. Many big names rank nationally in organic search results; however, they don’t necessarily have the upper hand when it comes to local search. So if you leverage local search the right way, you can stay competitive with larger brands and come out on top. Here’s what you need to know.

Local Search May Be Replacing Organic

First of all, what do we mean by “organic search” and “local search”? Maybe you’ve seen these terms tossed around but you aren’t quite clear on what they mean. Here’s the gist, without putting you to sleep:

Organic search gives you results based solely on their relevance to your search terms. The opposite of organic search is paid search, which promotes paid advertisements that match your search terms. Learn more about organic vs. paid search here.

Local search, on the other hand, is a search that targets places in a specific location. On Google, you’ll see local results on the first search results page in what’s called a “local pack,” which shows a nearby map and several local businesses. Local searches can also be done on Google Maps itself.

Historically, organic search has been the cornerstone of search engine optimization (SEO). However, organic search rankings are now slipping in value. In 2016, the top two organic search results received, on average, only 25% of the clicks on search results pages, as compared to more than 50% in 2006.
This trend is significant, and it makes sense. Typically, when people are on the hunt for a nearby store, restaurant, or service provider, they’re not looking at organic results. Instead, they’re perusing local Google listings to see which businesses fit their needs, have good reviews from past customers, and are closer in proximity. The days of people walking down the street and exploring their neighborhoods for good businesses are, by and large, over. Now, people do a quick search before they leave home so they know exactly where to go.

Mobile Devices Are a Strong Force in Local Search

The uptick in local searches applies to people who are looking for local businesses on the go, as well. Instead of wasting time driving around aimlessly when looking for the closest gas station or coffee shop, they search their phones to find the nearest one.
As Jayson DeMers writes for Forbes,

In general, I suspect local search will rise in importance, and more local businesses will step up to take advantage of this. Mobile technology will become even more mobile with wearable devices and similar technologies, and cumulatively, user preference toward local results will grow. As most “local” businesses are small- to mid-sized businesses, these trends will work in their favor.

Here, DeMers draws a clear parallel between local and mobile. And it’s supported by Google’s own data, which shows that an entire one-third of all mobile searches are for local places. With more people using their mobile devices for local searches on the go, your small business’s Google Maps listing is increasingly likely to become visible.

Optimize Your Local Search Listings

Here’s the main takeaway for you: Corporations don’t have the monopoly on proximity anymore. Local search is a more democratic platform than organic search, giving small businesses a fair shot at appearing in local results—so long as your local listings are optimized.
Here are some ideas for making your Google listing as strong as possible:

And if you need any guidance on local search strategies, please don’t hesitate to reach out! Prospect Genius is always happy to help. Good luck!

Enrich Your Local Business's Google Profile by Adding Images

Last Updated: September 22, 2016

We’re always harping on business owners to up their photo game. Websites with photos simply perform much better than those without. Plain and simple.
But did you know it’s just as important to have photos on your business’s Google profile, too?
This hasn’t always been the case. In fact, it’s only been in the last year or so that Google and Bing have been displaying images and logos in their local search results. They made this move as users increasingly want to see photos of whatever they’re searching for.
As of right now, images aren’t automatically displaying in search results for every business—only for businesses in certain categories. However, as images in search results are bound to become an expectation rather than a bonus, it’s likely they’ll be automatically generated for all categories before long.

Add Images to Your Google Profile

That’s why, regardless of your industry, your best bet is to set up your Google profile with high-quality images sooner than later. In his latest article on Search Engine Land, Wesley Young gives some great advice for optimizing Google profile images. Check out some of his suggestions:

  • Take control of which images appear on your listing. Don’t let Google set a default profile photo by selecting one of your images at random. Go to Google My Business yourself and select your own profile photo.
  • Make sure the image is cropped and sized to fit perfectly.
  • Make sure your profile photo is a high-definition image: no graininess, no visibility issues.
  • Don’t use blatant stock photos because they’re usually pretty easy to detect.

Want more? For Young’s full list of suggestions, head over to his article on Search Engine Land: “8 Tips to Make Sure Your Google Profile Images Boost Your Local Search Results.”

One Easy Way to Boost Your Google Maps Listing in Local Searches

Last Updated: February 15, 2024

Feeling a bit wary about allowing us to manage your Google Maps listing? We understand the hesitation. In this industry, it’s hard to know who you can trust.
But what if we told you that your Google Maps listing is heavily affected by your website ranking? While there are certainly other factors at play, having your website and Google Maps listing work together is an essential part of getting your business to the top of local search results. So if we’re handling one, we should also be handling the other.
What does this mean for you? It means that if you’re paying us to advertise your business, withholding this key component—your Google Maps listing—is going to get you less value for your dollar.
When you allow us to optimize your website and Google Maps listing simultaneously, it’s a win-win. Here’s why.

How Your Website Impacts Your Local Maps Listing

A few months ago, Google came right out and announced a handful of factors that influence a local business’s ranking on Maps. Here’s a quote straight from Google’s help page:

Your position in web results is also a factor, so SEO best practices also apply to local search optimization.

You’ve probably heard the term synergy before. It refers to when two or more elements interact and produce a total effect greater than the sum of their separate effects. It’s when 2+2=5.
In the case of local online advertising, the synergy of traditional SEO and local Maps optimization is what makes your business visible in Maps results. Ranking in Google Maps is not as simple as having a Google Maps listing. Without a website, and without SEO for said website, your local presence wilts away. When you’re found at the top of local Maps results, it’s because of this synergy.
That’s why Prospect Genius is always stressing the importance of letting us manage your Google listing. It’s not because we’re control freaks—it’s because we want to align your listing with our ongoing SEO work and provide you with the best results possible.
However, we understand you have concerns about relinquishing control of your listing and/or website. Those concerns are well founded. Below, we take a look at common concerns and explain the safeguards we put in place to minimize your risks.

“If I let you manage my Google Maps listing, I won’t be able to get it back.”

This may be true with other online advertising companies, but not with Prospect Genius.
First of all, it says right in our terms of service (item 14) that if we end our working relationship, we must return control of any listing you turned over to us initially. This makes it as easy as possible for you to transition away from us.
There’s also the fact that it’s not super difficult to reclaim your listing from Google after we give it up. Sure, you’ll have to go through a few steps to do so, but it’s a straightforward and well documented process that you can definitely handle.

“You guys will just take credit for all the calls I would’ve gotten from my Maps listing, anyway.”

This understandable perspective is probably the most common misconception out there. As we explained above—and as Google itself stated—your listing’s performance is directly impacted by the SEO of the website tied to any given listing. 
So, while it might feel counter-intuitive, if you let us work on your local SEO and you start getting lots of calls from your Maps listing, it’s because of our behind-the-scenes work. It’s not because you simply had a Maps listing already.
So, since you’re paying us to improve your SEO, it would be illogical to sabotage the effectiveness of your own campaign by withholding your Google Maps listing. It would also be illogical to tie your listing to a less optimized site.

“I already have my own custom URL and website that I like. I don’t want to give it up.”

We sometimes hear this when we’re trying to connect a client’s LeadTrax site to their Google Maps listing. You may be resistant to letting us do this because you want your listing to showcase your own custom URL and spiffy website design. You want your own website to be what people see when they come across your listing.
The problem here is that people are unlikely to come across your listing if it isn’t ranking. And it’s unlikely to rank if we don’t tie your Google Maps listing to your LeadTrax site (which we’re optimizing and promoting).
If you signed up for our Core package, which includes a LeadTrax site, and you’d rather promote your own website instead, then we recommend switching to our BYOS (Bring Your Own Site) package. In order for our work to succeed, we need to be promoting one website across the board. We can’t do SEO for your LeadTrax site and leave a different website on your Google listing, because that Google listing simply isn’t going to rank. The bottom line is that our SEO work needs to focus on whichever website is in your Google Maps listing if you want to be visible in local searches. So if you want that website to be your own existing website, then we’ll need to plan our SEO strategy around it.

Sync Up Your Website & Google Maps Listing Today!

Your main takeaway should be this: Connecting your SEO and your Google Maps listing is a simple, super-effective way to boost your visibility in local searches. Why wait? Whether you just need to make us the manager of your listing or you want to switch over to BYOS, act now!
As always, call or e-mail us with any questions.

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