Local SEO and Marketing Q&A Session January 28, 2022

02/02/22 • 62 min

Each week, Greg and Ben answer your questions on digital marketing for local businesses ... local search engine optimization (SEO), Google Business Profile, social media, email marketing, websites, online advertising and more.

Updates and Questions

SAB reinstatement address issues should be fixed.
Be aware that the Facebook GMB URL has been taken over by a review company.
Should you ask customers to write a Google review while they are still in the store?
New Bright Local statistics to help get better reviews.
FTC fines a company for deceptive review practices.
Webinar Highlights, what’s coming in 2022.
Are backlinks worth the money?
Do you have any advice for new reinstatement issues from Google support response times?
If there is a technical issue, what more can I do if I’m told there’s no news or ETA from Google support?
How do you handle two businesses in the same physical space on GBP?
Is there any evidence that using Google ads will help improve your organic ranking?
What can I do if I’m appearing in search, but my business is still pending after reinstatement?
Can I show my reviews on my website?
Have there been any problems with posts on GBP?
Is it okay to put different reviews on different pages based on the service page if I have all my reviews available in widgets?
After submitting a reinstatement form for a suspended GBP, receiving a reply from Google and making changes, should I submit a new reinstatement form, or reply to the original response?
What are your thoughts on Local Falcon vs Local Viking?
If I previously used a PO box address for my GBP, should I change it?
Is reporting competitors to Google a good strategy for an agency?
I’ve reported obvious spam links to Google but they haven’t taken them down, is Google being inconsistent?
Any suggestions for reporting lawyers with “free consultation” in the GBP listing?
Does a GBP require the address on the website to match the address on the profile?
Can you create location pages using the category options listed on GBP?
Could you talk about proximity and SAB profiles?

Links

Links mentioned in this session are available on our website at https://localmarketinginstitute.com

Updates and Questions

SAB reinstatement address issues should be fixed.
Be aware that the Facebook GMB URL has been taken over by a review company.
Should you ask customers to write a Google review while they are still in the store?
New Bright Local statistics to help get better reviews.
FTC fines a company for deceptive review practices.
Webinar Highlights, what’s coming in 2022.
Are backlinks worth the money?
Do you have any advice for new reinstatement issues from Google support response times?
If there is a technical issue, what more can I do if I’m told there’s no news or ETA from Google support?
How do you handle two businesses in the same physical space on GBP?
Is there any evidence that using Google ads will help improve your organic ranking?
What can I do if I’m appearing in search, but my business is still pending after reinstatement?
Can I show my reviews on my website?
Have there been any problems with posts on GBP?
Is it okay to put different reviews on different pages based on the service page if I have all my reviews available in widgets?
After submitting a reinstatement form for a suspended GBP, receiving a reply from Google and making changes, should I submit a new reinstatement form, or reply to the original response?
What are your thoughts on Local Falcon vs Local Viking?
If I previously used a PO box address for my GBP, should I change it?
Is reporting competitors to Google a good strategy for an agency?
I’ve reported obvious spam links to Google but they haven’t taken them down, is Google being inconsistent?
Any suggestions for reporting lawyers with “free consultation” in the GBP listing?
Does a GBP require the address on the website to match the address on the profile?
Can you create location pages using the category options listed on GBP?
Could you talk about proximity and SAB profiles?

Links

Links mentioned in this session are available on our website at https://localmarketinginstitute.com

Previous Episode

Local SEO and Marketing Q&A Session January 14, 2022

Updates and Questions

New manager waiting period for GBP.
What are some tips for combating the Google vicinity update?
If suggestion edits are handled by AI, why do they stay under review for days or weeks?
What is the best practice for switching a business from a Google website to your own URL?
My SAB has been verified but my address is not being hidden and I am unable to change it or leave it blank. What should I do?
Are there issues with the proximity update for SAB profiles?
Recently I’ve noticed newly created listings that are verified by pin code are immediately suspended, even though everything is within the guidelines. Is this a bug?
Is there anything you can do if your SAB verified location is near the border and not the center of the service area?
What is the process to quickly rebuild the search authority of a listing that has been marked as a duplicate?
Why would Google mark a listing as a duplicate when it already has been verified from a past duplicate flagging issue?
What are the circumstances that trigger a new 7 day wait and does posting regularly to GBP help much with ranking?
What should I do if a verified address shows red?
For a GBP verified listing with a slightly wrong address, how do I go about changing an error in the Google map before submitting the correct address?
Can you boost your website/GBP ranking by using GBP category keywords in new location pages in cities outside of your GBP listing?
What type of backlinks are producing the best results currently?
For my GBP I am using a PO box address, but I’m not showing up on the map; any advice?
What should you do about a business that has violated Google’s guidelines for the second time?
Any suggestions for niche business categories when it fits under a primary category, but business does not want their profile to come up when people search for the general primary category?
After submitting a reinstatement form for a suspended GBP, receiving a reply from Google and making changes, should I submit a new reinstatement form, or reply to the original response?
Do profile clickthroughs to posts help with ranking?
Any best practices to optimize pay per click campaigns for voice search?
Is reporting competitors to Google a good strategy for an agency?
What should you do if your mailing address doesn’t match the one on your GBP profile?

Links mentioned in this session are available on our website at https://localmarketinginstitute.com

Next Episode

Local SEO and Marketing Q&A Session with Chase Buckner February 25, 2022

Updates and Questions

Follow button and welcome offer has been deprecated.
What are some alternatives to Yext?
Google says my posts and pictures are violating guidelines and automatically rejects them even after I’ve made changes - what can I do?
What type of pictures do you recommend for doctors?
What are the GBP spam instances where it’s too much trouble to pursue and is unlikely to be actioned by Google?
Is it possible to change mobile friendliness or the speed of a GBP listing?
Is there anything on your website schema that would change information on your GBP?
Should I delete old pictures on my GBP after moving locations?
Could you give more details and examples of GBP posts to stand out from the crowd?
What are some other SEO groups you would recommend?
How does Google handle proximity for statewide map packs?
Do press release statements help backlinks?
Does using GBP chats and business messaging help with rankings?
I have a suspended GBP that was never verified - I set up a new one, but the correct one doesn’t show up. What should I do?
How do agencies keep up with Q&As?
I am finding lots of PO box GBP listings - when I go to suggest an edit, what do I pick?
Do pictures in GBP help with ranking in maps?
How problematic is it to rename your law firm in GBP?