Local Marketing Archives | Modern Marketing Partners https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/category/local-marketing/ B2B Digital Marketing Agency Thu, 14 Dec 2023 12:46:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.2 https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/cropped-MMP_Favicon512x512-32x32.png Local Marketing Archives | Modern Marketing Partners https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/category/local-marketing/ 32 32 4 Ways to Boost Your Local SEO https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2020/10/09/4-ways-to-boost-your-local-seo/ https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2020/10/09/4-ways-to-boost-your-local-seo/#respond Fri, 09 Oct 2020 13:11:21 +0000 https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/?p=5789 SEO has changed the game for many companies. Optimizing techniques enable companies to increase the quality and quantity of traffic to their site. When organizations rank higher in search engine results, they have an increased likelihood of being one of the first options consumers see in their search results. SEO enables firms to do this […]

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]]> boost your local seo

SEO has changed the game for many companies. Optimizing techniques enable companies to increase the quality and quantity of traffic to their site. When organizations rank higher in search engine results, they have an increased likelihood of being one of the first options consumers see in their search results.

SEO enables firms to do this without breaking the bank, giving them greater reach and excellent return on investment.

For many businesses, though, the global reach of search engines appears at odds with their own missions. You don’t need people from Alaska landing on your website when you run a store in Florida.

So how do you boost your presence in the area you serve? Or, if you are a company that serves multiple areas, how do you home in on each one?

Here we offer some tips and tricks for improving your local SEO so that you can get the customers near you and be their first choice when they seek products or services nearby.

1. Establish Location Pages

While everything on this list is critical to a great local SEO strategy, the best SEO agency will tell you that this first step is essential for your business. It works particularly well if you serve different areas in a particular region.

Location pages describe the services or products you offer in an area, with information specific to that location. That information can range from store hours and the physical address to testimonials from customers and specific service descriptions.

Content that speaks to your services in the area — such as testimonials and specific service descriptions — demonstrates your authority and quality. In turn, you prove that you have a commitment to serving your local community.

Being ‘local’ garners loyalty from customers who may prefer to shop locally. It lets them feel that they are part of a community and that you will understand their concerns.

Where possible, avoid duplicating content across your different location pages.

2. Create Local Content

While general content will attract a broad audience, casting too wide a net means you might not catch anything at all. Instead, with local SEO, you want to focus on creating high-quality, local content.

Local content means you are likely to attract a local audience, too. Plus, visitors to your website are likely to be strongly interested in your content because it is pertinent to their day-to-day lives.

The content you create can take any form. It could be a series of blogs on a hot local issue. You could create some unique, high-quality resources that could benefit other local businesses. The latter establishes your firm as an authority in the business community and shows that you are more than just a business.

3. Optimize for Google My Business

One of the best ways to enhance your rankings is to have a presence on Google Maps. That way, when people search for “____ near me,” your business pops up in local search results.

To optimize your business, you first need to create a Google My Business Account and upload all the required information, including:

  • Business name
  • Address
  • Opening hours
  • Contact information

You can also use your account to encourage customers to leave reviews and testimonials. The interactions optimize your Google indexing and improve your company’s local reputation.

4. Identify Local Keywords

Keywords are central to any SEO strategy, and that is just as true for local SEO.

Using Google’s Keyword Planner, you can filter searches based on where you are. This research enables you to optimize for local keywords in the content you produce and across your website.

By doing this, your website will rank highly when local residents search relevant and related keywords. It improves your chances of gaining organic traffic.

The Bottom Line

The tips here are a taster of the many tactics you can employ. Offline strategies such as hosting events, networking, and partnerships work, too. You will be well on your way if you follow our great local SEO tricks.

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]]> https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2020/10/09/4-ways-to-boost-your-local-seo/feed/ 0 Social Distancing Quick Fix: Setting Up Google My Business https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2020/04/01/quick-fix-google-my-business/ https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2020/04/01/quick-fix-google-my-business/#respond Wed, 01 Apr 2020 20:48:05 +0000 https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/?p=5661 Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you should be wasting away. Marketing works all the time, and now is the time to double down on your efforts. Over the course of the pandemic, I’m helping you think like a marketer, offering quick fixes you can take to fuel your marketing fire. Today? Just […]

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]]> Just because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you should be wasting away. Marketing works all the time, and now is the time to double down on your efforts. Over the course of the pandemic, I’m helping you think like a marketer, offering quick fixes you can take to fuel your marketing fire. Today? Just one part of setting up Google My Business.

Introduction: Google My Business

Though Google My Business (GMB) had been around for a while, it never seemed to work the way Google (or users) wanted—especially during the days of Google+. In short, there was a lot of confusion over Brand Pages and Local Pages, and even more confusion how these worked with Google+ and YouTube. It was a mess.

After Google closed Google+ (R.I.P.), they pivoted their focus to GMB. Luckily, the end of Google+ gave Google time to focus their efforts to create a much more cohesive Google My Business.

For local businesses, this made building out a profile much less confusing. Since then, Google has been able to add features ranging from GMB-hosted websites to posts to product and service pages, things I’ll be discussing in the coming weeks.

The Basics: What is Google My Business?

Google My Business provides a fast and easy way for businesses, products, brands, artists, and organizations to manage their online presence with Google. With your Google My Business account, you can see and connect with your customers, post updates to your Business Profile, and see how customers are interacting with your business on Google.

Show up on Google Search and Google Maps.

Basically, the purpose of Google My Business is to give you a presence when someone searches for your business (on web), and if someone’s looking to find you on Maps.

Modern Marketing Parthers on Google my Business

Google My Business Google Maps

Additional features include responding to reviews, adding products, services, and posting updates.

Get on the Map: Setting up Google My Business

Okay, so it’s likely that you’ve already done this. That said, maybe you’re just starting out, maybe you’re a B2B company who has never thought much of this (I know of a few). If you haven’t, here’s how to get up and running.

If you want more information on the in-depth process of creating and optimizing a Google My Business Profile, head over to the Local Marketing Institute, look at GMB FAQ, and check out the GMB Marketing Kit.

Ingredient List:

Wow, I feel like one of those annoying recipe writers who has to put out a life story. Here’s the minimum information you want to put on there:

  • Name, Address, Phone
  • Category (for a list of GMB Categories, click here)
  • Website
  • Hours
  • Description
  • Logo

How to Get Started

Getting started is simple.

Step 1: Go to business.google.com, click sign in.

Sign in with Google Account.

Step 2: Search for your business.

Find Your Business on Google my Business

It’s likely that Google has already created your business based on information from other sites. If so, as long as no one has claimed it, claiming is similar to creating.

Step 3: Search for Primary Category

For a list of Google categories, click here. However, it may be easier to simply start typing.

Step 4: Add location (or service area).

You will be asked: “Do you want to add a location customers can visit, like a store or office?”

  • If yes, type in your address.
  • If no, begin to type in areas you serve.

Note: If you serve customers at your location AND serve them at theirs, you have the option to add service areas after adding address.

Step 5: Add Contact Phone and URL.

At this stage, Google will give you the option to say “I don’t have a website” or “create a website based on information provided.”

Add contact Details in Google my Business

Step 6: Click Next, Click Finish, Verify.

At this stage, you need to verify your claim.

Verify Your Claim on Google my Business

You may have the option to verify this by phone (i.e. if this your personal business and your personal phone). Alternatively, if the phone is unreachable, you can always verify by postcard. Just let the individual in charge of the mail know this is coming. Though postcards are going out, this may be slower.

In rare cases, Google may allow email verification, Search Console verification, or video chat—though over the course of doing this a hundred or so times, I’ve never seen it.

Step 7: Complete Your Listing

After choosing your verification method, you will be taken to your dashboard, where Google will show you everything ranging from offers to advice. Look for a section that says “complete your listing.” Most changes will not show up until after the location is verified.

Recommended Information

Specifically, add the following:

  • Hours of Operation
  • Description (up to 750 characters)
  • Logo
  • Short Name
  • Additional Categories
  • Attributes (Veteran-led, Women Led)
Photos and Images

If you want to tell searchers “Look at this photograph,” you’re in luck—you can add the following:

  • Identity photos: Logo, Cover Photos
  • Location Photos: Photos of the interior and exterior of your business.
  • Team Photos: Show off your people.
  • Overview Video: Upload an overview video of your business.
Business-Specific Information

Some businesses are given additional options such as reservations.

Use the Time to Build Your Business: Follow us for More

Stay tuned, because I’m going to follow this up with posts, products, and services. Even during this pandemic, we’re working hard. As one of those businesses more than capable of working from home, we have been putting in a ton of work to ensure our clients not only survive the short downturn, but that they’re primed for growth after this short downturn.

If you’re looking to make the most of the massive bounce that’s going to happen after the Coronavirus dip ends, you’re going to want to know us. Click here for a free website analysis and get to know more about us here.

 

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]]> https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2020/04/01/quick-fix-google-my-business/feed/ 0 Local SEO for Contractors – Part 2 https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2018/09/19/local-seo-for-contractors-part-2/ https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2018/09/19/local-seo-for-contractors-part-2/#respond Wed, 19 Sep 2018 13:56:04 +0000 https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/?p=5253 Now that the construction business is established with Google, it’s important to optimize the website so that you can further improve the likelihood of coming up in local search. What follows are some important tips forlocal SEO that go beyond GMB. Digital Marketing Tips to Improve Local SEO Increase the company’s chances to land on […]

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]]> Now that the construction business is established with Google, it’s important to optimize the website so that you can further improve the likelihood of coming up in local search. What follows are some important tips forlocal SEO that go beyond GMB.

Digital Marketing Tips to Improve Local SEO

Increase the company’s chances to land on the search results page! There are a number of steps that can be taken to achieve this.

NAPs are Important

Be sure to include NAP information (name, address, phone number) and other important details in an easily crawlable HTML text format. Remember that images can’t be crawled, other than the alt text, so don’t include vital NAP information in image format; be sure it’s in text format.

Carefully Place Keywords

Make sure to use local or relevant keywords in the following places:

  • Title tags
  • Meta description
  • H1 tags
  • Body copy
  • Anchor text
  • Bold and italics tags
  • URLs
  • Alt text in images

This improves the keywords’ effectiveness, improving how the page ranks.

Local Mark-Up Code

When users search for local businesses on Google Search or maps, the search results may display the Knowledge Graph card with additional details about your business if it matches the user’s query.

Local Business Schema Markup

Here are the steps to add Local Business (LocalBusiness without a space) Schema to your website (http://schema.org/LocalBusiness):

1) Pick your LocalBusiness sub-type*

2) Gather required details: name, address, etc.

3) Use Local Business Schema Generator

4) Paste code into Google’s Structured Data testing tool to validate

5) Add code to website

*Define your location as a LocalBusiness type, and then use the specific Local Business sub-type if possible. For example, https://schema.org/HomeAndConstructionBusiness.

HomeAndConstructionBusiness – a LocalBusiness that provides services around homes and buildings:

  • Electrician
  • GeneralContractor
  • HVACBusiness
  • HousePainter
  • Locksmith
  • MovingCompany
  • Plumber

Now that you have picked the most relevant LocalBusiness sub-type, it is time to create your structured data. Here is a list of required information you will need:

  • URL
  • Business name
  • Address

Some other items you should consider including (but not required) if applicable is hours, telephone number, department, etc.

Now, visit this handy tool: Local Business Schema Generator. Select your business type/sub-type and enter as much information as possible.

Next, validate the output from the generator above using Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool. Click on the Code Snippet tab, paste your code, and then click Run Test. Review the results to ensure there are no errors before adding to your site. Typically, you will see an error if you are missing a required item.

If the code has 0 errors, it is time to add it to your site! Do you currently have your address in the footer of your website? Because the footer typically appears on every page of your site, this is a great option for adding the code. Depending on your CMS, or internal resources/capabilities, you may need a developer to help you with this step.

Once the code has been added to your site, be sure to run another test with the Structured Data Testing Tool. Instead of pasting the code, run the URL(s) where it appears on your site to make sure there are no issues once implemented. Paste your URL on the Fetch URL tab and click Run Test.

Remember Local Interests

It’s not about what you find interesting, it’s all about what your target – the locals – find compelling. Discover their interests and create content centered around that. If the local community is a major city, they’ll likely be interested in content related to skyscrapers. If it’s somewhere rural, they’d be far less interested. Give the people what they want.

Consider a Case Study

Local happy client? Share the success via case study. Interview the client and provide relevant performance analytics. Put it all together in a visually compelling format. It may also be a good idea to require readers to provide some contact information before they download; this way, you’ve earned a new lead, one that’s familiar with your previous success. You can learn more about creating case studies here.

Give Back to the Community

It can be as small as sharing local news, supporting a local organization, or talking about a local event. Your business can also go one step further by sponsoring or organizing a local event of its own. This will draw attention to the business and get local publications buzzing about the company.

Involve a Special Guest

Guest bloggers can provide some variety to the content page. Find a blogger with a decent following, involved in either your industry or one similar to yours. Request that they create some local content and widely share it. The more on local issues, the better!

GMB and On-Page SEO: The Perfect Combo

Utilizing both Google My Business and the content on your website is ideal for standing out in local search results. Local’s prevalence is increasingly growing, especially with the adoption of hands-free search, where the third most searched topic is local information.Take care of locals, and they’ll be sure to take care of you.

Read Local SEO for Contractors – Part 1 here. Read more about local SEO here.

Also, be sure to read our Construction Marketing Association guest blog, Contractor Website Best Practices.

As a leading construction marketing agency, Modern Marketing Partners can assist with your SEO needs and beyond. Through our tested approach to marketing, we help you connect with customers at every stage in the buying cycle. All this so that you can rest easy and focus on the one thing that matters most—construction.

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]]> https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2018/09/19/local-seo-for-contractors-part-2/feed/ 0 Local SEO for Contractors – Part 1 https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2018/09/17/local-seo-for-contractors-part-1/ https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2018/09/17/local-seo-for-contractors-part-1/#respond Mon, 17 Sep 2018 13:19:44 +0000 https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/?p=5251 As a contractor, it’s important to consider that much of the business received will be local. Accordingly, contractors benefit when their SEO strategy has a local focus. To stand out locally or regionally, it’s important to make sure all information on Google My Business is complete; then make sure to establish a local SEO strategy […]

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]]> As a contractor, it’s important to consider that much of the business received will be local. Accordingly, contractors benefit when their SEO strategy has a local focus. To stand out locally or regionally, it’s important to make sure all information on Google My Business is complete; then make sure to establish a local SEO strategy on the company website and beyond.

Google My Business is Key

Complete the entirety of your Google My Business profile. This allows users to learn as much as possible about the business before even clicking off of Google. It’s important to double-check this information often, because Google will often prompt users to answer questions about the business and allow them to suggest edits. This means that competitors can technically provide incorrect information about the business or a customer can be misinformed. Check the business listing often to make sure none of the information is ever incorrect.

Also, be sure to take advantage of the Business Description portion. It’s a newer feature that gives business owners an opportunity to expand on the brand’s story and to include key information.

Encourage Reviews

Encourage happy customers to review – always in an ethical way. If a project went really well, it may be a good idea to ask for an honest review. This can be done in-person or via email. Reviews can do plenty to help how your business shows up in Google’s results. It also improves the business’s credibility, as previous customers are vetting the business.

Statistics don’t lie. Here’s what the public thinks of reviews:

  • Ask and you shall receive. 68% of customers will leave a review when asked. This just shows how important it is to request a review; plenty of customers don’t remember to do on their own.
  • A whopping 97% read local reviews. All eyes are on this section of your company’s local profile.
  • 85% of users trust a review as much as a personal recommendation. Clearly, users take these reviews very seriously.
  • 49% of users only choose businesses with 4-stars or higher. The best way to counteract a bad review is with good reviews; this is why it’s so important to remind satisfied customers to share their experience.
  • 30% of people judge a business on whether not they respond to reviews, so be sure to respond to all reviews, good and bad.

Get Visual

Google gives business owners the ability to upload company photos and videos. Be sure to take advantage of this. Potential customers can scroll through a gallery of your construction firm’s projects, behind-the-scenes videos, and more.

Include a Service Menu

Make clear what the business does with a Service menu. Businesses can create a list of services and even sort them into categories. If a service name is not self-explanatory, include a short description. If it makes sense to include a price, Google gives you the option to do so.

Be Sure to Take Advantage of Google Posts

Google+ may have fallen flat, but Google Posts is a pretty useful social media-like feature. Posts expire after a period of time (one week max) and they allow the owner to provide the most up-to-date information about the business. Show off the progress of your company’s latest construction project or a completed work. Provide some information, a photo or video, and a call-to-action.

Some good ideas for a post:

  • Feature the newest service or project. If the company is offering a new service, promote it!
  • Amplify company content. If your website has a blog, be sure to share new posts.
  • Spread the news about a promotion. If the business is offering some type of discount, be sure to tell potential customers via Google. Google even provides a specific template just for sales and promotions.
  • Share an upcoming event. Whether it’s in-person or online, this is a great opportunity to promote it. Be sure to provide a link to the registration page!
  • Celebrate the latest holiday – and let prospects know if contact hours will be limited because of them.

Text New Business

Businesses have the ability to give customers the option to text them. Enable this under the “Messaging” card of Google My Business. Because text messaging is easier than other forms of communication and can be done from a mobile device, it’s a great option for customers early in the research process.

SEO Goes Beyond Google

If your Google My Business profile is complete, it’s time to review your website to ensure that other SEO features are optimized for local search. So check out Local SEO for Contractors -Part 2 for more information, and also be sure to read our Construction Marketing Association guest blog, Contractor Website Best Practices.

As a leading construction marketing agency, Modern Marketing Partners can assist with your SEO needs and beyond. Through our tested approach to marketing, we help you connect with customers at every stage in the buying cycle. All this so that you can rest easy and focus on the one thing that matters most—construction.

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]]> https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2018/09/17/local-seo-for-contractors-part-1/feed/ 0 6 Features Every IT Company Needs on Their Website https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2017/08/16/6-features-every-it-company-needs-website/ https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2017/08/16/6-features-every-it-company-needs-website/#respond Wed, 16 Aug 2017 17:53:23 +0000 https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/?p=4873 Your website is one of the most important marketing and business development tools you have. A majority of prospective clients will begin their hunt for IT services with a search engine, with these searches often being local in nature. The primary purpose of your website is two fold: 1) to help prospects find you; and […]

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]]> Your website is one of the most important marketing and business development tools you have. A majority of prospective clients will begin their hunt for IT services with a search engine, with these searches often being local in nature.

The primary purpose of your website is two fold: 1) to help prospects find you; and 2) once they find you, to tell them about what your business does (services).

Whether a small or large IT services provider, there are 6 essential website features that are crucial to generating more leads:

  1. Mobile-Friendly
  2. Easy to Contact
  3. Services
  4. Case Studies/Testimonials/Reviews
  5. Blog
  6. Local SEO

Mobile-Friendly

Potential clients are almost certainly searching for your services on a phone. More often than not, searches with local intent (e.g. local IT support) are performed on a mobile device. This shift in mobile preference makes it even more important to ensure your website is mobile-friendly. If a user visits your website and it isn’t optimized for mobile, it can make it more difficult for them to see and process the information on the site—but more importantly, you immediately come across as unsophisticated.

In early 2015, Google announced that they would be using “mobile-friendliness” as a ranking signal for mobile searches. What does this mean for your IT services company? Beyond the importance of a mobile website for user experience, if you don’t have a mobile or responsive website yet, you may find your rankings dropping in mobile search results. Try out Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to ensure your website is optimized.

Easy to Contact

This may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many websites don’t have contact information easily accessible. Here are some tips to consider:

  • Add a phone number in the header of your website so it appears on every page;
  • Make phone numbers on your website click-to-call links to streamline the process for mobile users;
  • Include a link to a contact page in your primary navigation. Your contact page should include a general inquiry form

If you have the internal resources and the time to manage, consider using a third-party ‘live chat’ platform to connect with website visitors in real-time. In addition to being a great sales tool for prospective clients, it can be a helpful resource for support of current customers.

Service Pages

It is important that prospective clients know what you can do for them. Have a page on your website that lists your top IT services, which can link to individual pages for sub-practice areas or further information. Consider linking to additional resources like specific case studies for that service, or testimonials to aid in the hiring process.

In addition to helping visitors find the information they need; service pages can provide an SEO benefit for your website.

Many visitors who find your website through a search engine will be searching for service + location (ex: desktop support in Chicago, disaster recovery services Chicago). Having individual service pages can help you get found in search engines for some of those long-tail queries. For example:

  • http://www.yourwebsite.com/services/desktop-support/
  • http://www.yourwebsite.com/services/disaster-recovery/

Case Studies/Testimonials/Reviews

Recommendations from third parties are often more trusted than from the source itself. Build trust and credibility by adding client testimonials, awards, and recognitions to your website. You can even embed or link to reviews on third party sites (e.g. Yelp or Google) as an additional source.

Especially in a professional services company like IT services, prospective clients will want to know how you solved a similar problem for another company. Even better, would be to show them how you solved a similar problem for a similar company, meaning in the same industry.

Develop as many case studies as possible that are easy-to-read, detailed with specific project actions, and provide real results or metrics. Consider an outline of 1) problem, 2) solution, and 3) results.

Blog

Having a blog on your website is a great way to position your IT firm as a subject matter expert on IT topics. Beyond credibility, blogging has SEO benefits and helps prospective clients find your website on search engines.

Do you have services pages on your website like we mentioned earlier? Consider adding a feed of blogs relevant to that service on each of those pages to further demonstrate expertise or aid visitors on their quest for information.

Local SEO

As mentioned, many visitors who find your website through a search engine will be searching for service + location (ex: desktop support in Chicago, disaster recovery services Chicago). With Google increasingly favoring local businesses in its search engine results, local SEO is more important than ever.

According to the 2017 Local Search Ranking Factors report from Moz, the #1 ranking factor for local searches is: proximity of address to the point of search.

Here are the top 3 strategies to implement to boost your local search authority:

  • Google My Business – click here for more information
  • Online directories and citations – click here for more information
  • Local Schema Markup – click here for more information

Grow Your IT Company

Having a website is a must, but merely throwing up something will get you nowhere—it needs to be a great website. Ensure that you incorporate the 6 features that every IT services company should have: mobile-friendly, easy to contact, services, case studies/testimonials/reviews, blog, and local SEO.

For more information on growing your IT services company, download our in-depth guide: IT Marketing Best Practices Guide. Also, Modern Marketing Partners has broad experience managing marketing for regional, national and global Information Technology consulting and IT services brands with digital marketing excellence, thought leadership content, lead generation tactics, and more. Contact us today to learn how we can help!

By: Lindsay Brown

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]]> https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2017/08/16/6-features-every-it-company-needs-website/feed/ 0 Google Local Business URLs: Get Customers to Take Action From Search https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2017/08/14/google-local-business-urls-get-customers-to-take-action-from-search/ https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2017/08/14/google-local-business-urls-get-customers-to-take-action-from-search/#respond Mon, 14 Aug 2017 15:58:37 +0000 https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/?p=4870 Google recently released a new feature that will allow searchers to take actions, like making a reservation, right from the search results page or Google Maps. If you you own or work for a website or mobile app which offers restaurant reservations, appointment booking, online ordering, or other similar services which can be directly reserved […]

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]]> Google recently released a new feature that will allow searchers to take actions, like making a reservation, right from the search results page or Google Maps.

If you you own or work for a website or mobile app which offers restaurant reservations, appointment booking, online ordering, or other similar services which can be directly reserved or booked online by end users then you should leverage these actionable links. Here are instructions for implementing:

How to Add Local Business URLS

Your Google My Business listing can include links to specific actions which will appear with your listing within Google Search and maps. You can add your own URLs for the following actions:

  • Placing an order
  • Booking an appointment
  • Reserving a table
  • Searching for items
  • Viewing the menu

If any of the actions listed above are relevant to your business, you can add the URLs to your listing by:

1) Sign in to your Google My Business Account

2) Choose the listing you want to edit

3) Click into the URLs section

Add Appointment URL Google

Depending on your business category, you may see more or less options to add URLs. For example, as you can see in the screenshot above, as a marketing agency we only have the option to add an Appointment URL.

4) Enter your URLs in the appropriate fields (ex: viewing the menu — http://www.yoursite.com/menu/)

5) Click Apply

Why are some links automatically appearing with my listing?

Google noted that some links may appear automatically with your business listings in the Google Search and Google Maps. Links to certain booking and ordering services are updated automatically via third-party providers and there will be no way to add, edit, or remove these links from your listing.

If you want to remove or fix a link in your own listing, you will need to reach out directly to the third-party provider in question. However, there is no guarantee the request will be honored.

Why don’t I have the option to add links?

This is a feature that Google has been rolling out. If you don’t see the option to add URLs yet, fill out this form, which will hopefully expedite the process for your business.

By: Lindsay Brown

The post Google Local Business URLs: Get Customers to Take Action From Search appeared first on Modern Marketing Partners.

]]> https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2017/08/14/google-local-business-urls-get-customers-to-take-action-from-search/feed/ 0 Local Search and Citations and BrightLocal https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2015/06/08/local-search-and-citations-and-brightlocal/ https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/2015/06/08/local-search-and-citations-and-brightlocal/#respond Mon, 08 Jun 2015 19:32:13 +0000 https://www.modernmarketingpartners.com/?p=4278 Getting local search right is a concern and challenge for brands and agencies. Yet it all starts with a perceived dilemma: pay a monthly fee for the rest of your company’s life to allow another entity to manage your listings, in which cancellation results in the death of any listing created using the service, or […]

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]]> Getting local search right is a concern and challenge for brands and agencies. Yet it all starts with a perceived dilemma: pay a monthly fee for the rest of your company’s life to allow another entity to manage your listings, in which cancellation results in the death of any listing created using the service, or manually enter the same data hundreds of times, having to monitor the data, and ensure it’s accurate.

UPDATE (August 2017): In recent years, BrightLocal has made major improvements to their software, and up until recently has not increased prices. This blog has been updated to reflect current prices. For more information on the features, as well as the improvements they’ve made since this blog was released, please head to brightlocal.com/features.

As we work with many multi-location businesses, including franchises, I know that the creation and upkeep of local citations is both insanely challenging or monotonously mind numbing—especially when the client hits 50, 100, or more locations.

That’s why I decided to start looking into local citation service options. Already knowing of Yext, after their bold move to buy both Adweek and Advertising Age covers, I looked for other options that may be more cost-effective or insightful.

So, of course, I clicked on the first comparison of local citation services I saw. The post, informative but potentially biased (written by BrightLocal), shares a very nice comparison of BrightLocal, Yext, UBL, WhiteSpark, and MozLocal.

My Goal? Avoid seeing something like this:

Background

We’ve done a lot of work for clients over the years, developing local presence for new businesses and moderating and managing existing business locations. This means that we have completed and do not need the following:

  • Google+/Google My Business
  • Facebook
  • Bing
  • Yelp
  • Foursquare

This was one of my first concerns with many of these, which pride themselves on a Google+ listing and Facebook listing. Frankly, I wouldn’t be working at an agency if I didn’t know how to use Google or Facebook.

What I really needed is a service that can work with data aggregators (Axciom, InfoUSA, NeustarLocaleze, Factual) to control listings, and give me recommendations as to where I can submit, all while monitoring my current citations.

Essentially, I’ll do the work, the service gives me the insight, and I don’t lose what I already have if I don’t pay. This, and I wanted the service to be cost effective when I do pay.

The Free Trial

As I just started this today, I am in the “free trial—no credit card required” period. Considering this, I signed up for the $34.99 a month service, which allows six scheduled reports and 100 ranking runs.

As this is a test, I decided on the middle-of-the-road offer, the multi-business plan. BrightLocal provides the following three options, as well as a bespoke, white-label offer:

  • Single Business ($29/month): Perfect for independent, local businesses with 1-3 locations
  • Multi-Business ($49/month): Just right for a growing SEO agency with up to 6 clients.
  • SEO Pro ($79/Month): Spot-on for a thriving SEO agency with up to 100 clients.

As this is just a test, I chose the middle option, but would probably need the SEO Pro option if I was to add every client.

Not terrible, but still comes to about $420.00 a year for only six locations, and I’m still not incredibly sure what I’d be paying for, considering the fact that I’d be paying even more ($2-3 per submission) to use their CitationBurst service. That, and I’m still not sold on whether or not I will still own my location if I cancel.

The Platform

After signing up and entering the platform, I was introduced to each item that BrightLocal offers: Rank Checker, SEO Check-Up, CitationTracker, Google+ Local Wizard, CitationBurst, ReviewBiz, and ReviewFlow.

The first tool I used was that of the CitationTracker. It all starts with running a report on your client, which takes about five minutes to create. Once the report is complete, it provides an informative report of the who, what, and where of your business—top 10 and top 50 citations, currently listed citations from across the web, and opportunities for new citations in directories.

As I decided to complete this with our own agency before working on any clients, I ran it for our current business entity. The results were as follows:

  • 51 Active Citations
  • 87 Potential Citations
  • A few incorrect citations (including a business whose YellowPages Account linked to our website)

Not bad, considering that we were not listed on the aggregators, which in turn feed many of the others.

CitationTracker: Top 10 and Top 50

The first portion I hit after generating a report was that of the top 10 and top 50 directories:

  1. Yelp
  2. Yahoo! Local
  3. YellowPages
  4. Facebook
  5. Manta
  6. CitySearch
  7. InfoUSA
  8. Localeze
  9. Acxiom
  10. Factual

BrightLocal provided either the information on the site, or the link to get citation. For instance, if I was to submit to Acxiom, the link out would be https://mybusinesslistingmanager.myacxiom.com/

I mention this one because It’s not easy to find this link in any other form. I’m actually pretty sure that Yext had touted its relationship with all of these and said “We are the only ones who can get in contact with many of the directories.”

So, is it manual? Yes. However, this is good, because I don’t want to hand over all of the control to someone who has my NAP info in a vice grip.

CitationTracker: Active, Pending, and Potential Citations

BrightLocal Citation Tracker

This is where I am starting to like BrightLocal, and am starting to see the value of the monthly fee. In the short five-minute period that it took to compile the information, it was able to find current citations, rank the citations based on value, and allow me the information to manage each (in the case of duplicates).

Further, the ‘Potential Citations’ portion is valuable as it provides information I need to know before submitting: Authority, Value, Free/Paid Listing, and whether it provides map information.

CitationTracker

Citation Burst

For those who just want to get it done. Citation Burst is another paid service that, for $2-3 per submission, will let BrightLocal do the submissions for you. Here’s where I’m starting to love it:

“As 95% of our submissions are direct to site rather than into aggregators, the majority of listings are claimed & ‘owned’ by the customer so data remains intact in future. But for any aggregator listings, after 1 year the feeds from aggregators into 3rd party sites lose their ‘managed’ status.”

So, essentially, I could pay them to submit to the hassle-prone submissions like SuperPages and YellowBook, of which will call you relentlessly for paid services, while still doing the rest of it myself.

Other Services from BrightLocal

A few of the other things that are offered from BrightLocal, Local SEO Check-Up, ReviewBiz, ReviewFlow, and Rank Checker. I look to run those reports and provide a bit of information. From BrightLocal, however, here are the descriptions:

  • Local Search Rank Checker: The quick & easy way to monitor your local search performance. Track your most valuable keywords and locations in Google, Yahoo & Bing. Set-up automated reports to run each week or run them on the spot. Track changes with interactive charts and white-label your reports to share with customers and prospects.
  • Local SEO Check-Up: Get a complete local SEO report in just 15 minutes. This audit tool runs over 300 simultaneous checks and presents these findings in a clear and professional PDF report. Each report covers 6 areas of local SEO including Google+ Local, Local Directory listings, on-site SEO and social media. Add your own branding to these reports and share with customers and prospects.
  • ReviewFlow: ReviewFlow is an online tool which automates the identification & monitoring of online reviews on major review sites & local directory websites. ReviewFlow works by finding your business listing on these sites, extracting the star rating & review content, and presenting this data in 1 clear, visual report.
  • ReviewBiz: Add a ReviewBiz button to your site and make it easy for your customers to review your business. ReviewBiz connects to leading local directories (e.g. Yelp & Superpages) and Google + Local. Having more positive, online reviews will help boost your local ranking and convert more leads to customers. It only takes a few minutes to create your ReviewBiz button and you can now create white-label buttons with your own backlink & anchor text.

Conclusion

In all honesty, from day one of using the software, I’m impressed. It gives me the information I need, shows me how to submit to other sites, and will do so if I want them to do it.

If one thing stands out, I’d have to say the sheer amount of directories searched (1,600+(!)) is what would keep me using this, along with the fact that for $64.99, I can manage up to 100 locations.

As I begin to add clients to these reports, submit them to directories, and continue to develop the local SEO authority of these businesses, I can’t help but be impressed for the price tag and continued control of each location.

If I do stop paying, I look forward to providing a follow-up rant or review of the platform.

If you’re looking for local citation information, I welcome you to check out the following resources I had come across while writing this:

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