Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Don't You Know I'm Loco?
Straightening out the Google+ Local insanity.
Gyi Tsakalakis [email protected] @gyitsakalakis
Gyi Tsakalakis – AttorneySync
2835 North Sheffield
Chicago, IL 60657
AttorneySync.com
Don't You Know I'm Loco? With a lot of help from…
Not CYPRESS HILL
Smart local search experts
Mike Blumenthal
David Mihm Mike Ramsey
More Helpful folks: http://localu.org/about/faculty/
Why We Are Here
Understand how people use Google to find local businesses, like law firms. Learn about recent changes to Google’s Local platform.
Learn about how to find local business citations to improve your firm’s visibility in Google local search results.
97% of consumers search for local businesses online. - Google
http://www.google.com/intl/en/+/business/
How Big is Local Search?
How Big is Local Search?
“1 in 3 Searches at Google are Local” - Ed Parsons Geospatial Technologist at Google
http://blumenthals.com/blog/2012/11/13/ed-parsons-1-in-3-searches-at-google-are-local/
Does Location Matter to Clients?
http://www.google.com/insights/consumersurveys/view?survey=ta62sqc3ujmfw&question=2&filter&rw=1
Localized SERPs
http://moz.com/webinars/be-where-local-is-going
Mike Ramsey, President
@NiftyMarketing
http://moz.com/blog/understand-and-rock-the-google-venice-update
More Local Lawyer Search Engine Results
What’s happening to Google Places for Business?
We’ve recently upgraded the Google Places for Business dashboard, giving business owners an updated interface, more ease in updating their business information, and updates on the status of their edits. - Google
https://support.google.com/business/answer/3038166?hl=en&ref_topic=3450784
“Google is in the midst of a massive migration of claimed business listings from the old Places Dashboard to the new Places for Business Dashboard. Simultaneously, they are apparently also in the midst of merging the new Places for Business Dashboard interface and functionality with the Google+ Page management interface … confusing on both a branding and functional level.” - Mike Blumenthal @ Local University (10/22/13)
http://localu.org/blog/google-approved-guide-local-listing-page-identification/
How to Navigate Google Plus Local’s Platform
What kind of Google Local Page is it?
New Google Places Dashboard?
Upgraded to social using Google+ widget?
Not upgraded to social using Google+ widget?
Old Google Places Dashboard (verified, no Google+ page)?
Google Business listing? Google+ (local business/place category)?
Local Google+ page?
Google Places?
A Guide to Google Local Listing Page Identification (via Local U)
What kind of Google Local Page is it?
WARNING: DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!
Required Google Local Reading
• Google Places for Business Help • Google Places for Business quality guidelines
Google & Your Business: law firm
https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!searchin/business/law$20firm
Click the link below to review Google and Your Business forum results for “law firm.”
Additional Recommended Google Local Reading
• Local Search Forum (Catalyst eMarketing)
• Blumenthal’s Google+ Local Category Posts at Understanding Google Places Local Search
• Local Search Archives at Local University
http://www.google.com/+/business/
Step 1: Google+ Business
Step 2: Pick Google Local Business Category
This one.
Step 3: See if Business Already Exists
Oh, hey!
No, This is Not My Business
Follow Google Places quality guidelines:
https://support.google.com/places/answer/107528
• Do not include marketing taglines in your business name.
• Do not include phone numbers or
URLs in the business name field, unless they are part of your business name.
• Do not attempt to manipulate search
results by adding extraneous keywords or a description of your business in the business name field.
Request admin rights?
If You’re Already Using Google+
Link your Google+ page and your website
https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/1708844
rel=“publisher”
rel=“publisher” vs rel=author
What’s the difference between rel=author vs rel=publisher?
rel=publisher helps a business create a shared identity by linking
the business’ website (often from the homepage) to the business’
Google+ Page.
rel=author helps individuals (authors!) associate their individual
articles from a URL or website to their Google+ profile. While
rel=author and rel=publisher are both link relationships, they’re
actually completely independent of one another.
Maile Ohye, Developer Programs Tech Lead at Google
http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2013/08/relauthor-frequently-asked-advanced.html
Google Places for Business Support
http://blumenthals.com/blog/2013/01/08/google-local-now-providing-phone-support-for-verification-issues/
Engage With Your Audience
• Respond to client reviews. • Share photos, videos, and other updates with your audience. • Customize your cover photo. • See local insights for your Google+ page, including analytics
displaying how many people saw your posts, shares, and business information on Google.
https://support.google.com/business/answer/3038169
Google Plus Local Guide
Formatting tips - When crafting the social post, surrounding a word or phrase in “*” will create a bold feature, surrounding a word or phrase in “_” will create an italicized feature, and surrounding a word or phrase in “–“ will create a strikethrough feature. Once posted:
*Words* will appear as Words _Phrases_ will appear as Phrases -Sentences- will appear as Sentences
Microblogging is an option - While character limits constrain content length can on other networks, Google+ doesn’t prevent you from turning your posts into microblogs. Sometimes the best engagement and sharing on Google+ comes out of a post that, instead of just linking to a webpage, includes a large chunk of that pages’ content within the post itself, and then guides the reader to read the rest of the story by sharing the link. If you’re really feeling ambitious, posting the entire piece of content as a social share alone – with no link – has also been done and can lead to greater engagement from followers. Don’t be afraid to test these strategies to see which work best for brand’s followers.
Brady Callahan (UpTik Media, LLC) Using Google Plus: A Guide for Local Businesses
Google Maps Business Photos
https://www.google.com/intl/en/help/maps/businessphotos/
Google Maps Business Photos
How Google Generates Business Listings
http://moz.com/blog/how-business-listings-made-whiteboard-friday
• Infogroup, Neustar and Axiom
• Yelp, Yellowpages.com, Avvo
• Government Information.
• Google Street View.
• Human reviewers.
• Google Map Maker.
Local Search Ecosystem
Citations
“Citations are defined as "mentions" of your business name and address on other webpages, even if there is no link to your website. An example of a citation might be an online yellow pages directory where your business is listed, but not linked to. It can also be a local chamber of commerce, or a local business association where your business information can be found, even if they are not linking at all to your website.” - GetListed.org
https://getlisted.org/static/resources/why-citations-are-important.html
Where to Get Citations
Local News Sites
Local Business Directories Local Competitor Analysis
Local Blogs
Local Schools
Local Community Organizations
Local Professional Organizations
Local Government Sites
Local Business Citation Tools
https://getlisted.org/static/resources/local-citations-by-category.html#Attorneys
https://getlisted.org/static/resources/local-citations-by-city.html https://www.whitespark.ca/local-citation-finder
https://getlisted.org
http://www.yext.com/
Local Search Beyond Google Plus
http://moz.com/local-search-ranking-factors
By and large, the primary factors seem to have stayed largely the same for the past couple of years: • Proper category associations • A physical address in the city being
searched Consistent, high-quality citations from sources that are:
Authoritative Trustworthy Industry-relevant
• Your NAP information featured clearly on your website
• Your location as a keyword in title tags and headlines
• A smattering of reviews on both Google and third-party sites
• A handful of high-quality inbound links
David Mihm Director of Local Search Strategy at Moz
Local Search Factors Illustrated
http://moz.com/blog/top-20-local-search-ranking-factors-an-illustrated-guide
Web Equity
http://blumenthals.com/index.php?web-equity-infographic
“The many elements of an online presence can build on each and work together for a business. The process is best done in an environment with more control rather than less. Because of the changing nature of the Internet, a SMBs marketing investment should always reinforce and strengthen the elements over which they have the most ownership.” - Mike Blumenthal
Gyi Tsakalakis [email protected] @gyitsakalakis
Gyi Tsakalakis – AttorneySync
2835 North Sheffield
Chicago, IL 60657
AttorneySync.com
Questions?
Thanks. Feel free to email me with questions or to request slides.
