Trying to figure out why you don't rank well in the local pack on Google? Here are my tips on how to diagnose your ranking issues and get the most from Google My Business (GMB).

1. 16 Ways to be Successful with Google My
Business (GMB)
Joy Hawkins Google My Business Top Contributor

2. 1. Start with a Competitor Analysis
• You need to know what you’re up against
• You need to know which categories to use (super
important)
• Note: Categories are not always public – check
MapMaker
Tool to Use: http://www.brightlocal.com/google-plus-local-wizard/

3. Why Use MapMaker? http://imprezziomarketing.com/seo-blog/google-places/best-ways-to-find-duplicate-google-placesplus-listings-post-pigeon/
• And always use MapMaker
2. Always Check for Dupes

4. 3. Use “Select a Place” on MapMaker
• See what other businesses
are using the same address
as you

5. Oh, that’s why…

6. 4. Visit the GMBL Dashboard

7. Ah…Google is changing my Primary Category:

8. 5. Always Check the Live Listing
• You’d think what’s listed in your dashboard is
what shows up on Google...Wrong!

9. Get URLs to the different views in the Edit screen of the Dashboard:

10. 6. Check the Owner Accounts for Alerts
• Google is now emailing out review alerts
• Only goes to page owner, not managers
• If a page gets suspended the owner account
would see the message, the manager would not
More Reading: http://www.joyannehawkins.com/2-things-wont-see-google-plus-local-page-manager/

11. 7. Embed Reviews on your Website
Instructions: http://imprezziomarketing.com/seo-blog/reviews/make-the-most-out-of-your-facebook-google-plus-reviews/
• If you are going to duplicate
make sure you link back to
G+ to avoid getting filtered.

12. 8. Check Your # of Calls under Insights
Instructions: http://localu.org/blog/export-data-google-business-dashboard-insights-report/
• If there is no data for 4
weeks, check 12 weeks
• Copy and paste the data into
Excel to see a better
overview (per link below)

13. • No one does this!
• Great visibility, leads to more exposure
• Google loves G+
9. Write B2B Reviews
Instructions: http://imprezziomarketing.com/seo-blog/reviews/how-to-leave-b2b-reviews-on-google-plus/

14. 10. Take Screenshots
What on earth is
happening here?

15. Regular Results Including Filtered Results (add &filter=0 to the URL)

16. 11. Make the Google World a Less Spammy Place
Instructions: http://www.localsearchforum.com/google-map-maker/26870-tips-reporting-spam-mapmaker.html
• What real law firm would call
themselves “Minneapolis
Personal Injury and Accident
Lawyer”?

17. Instructions: http://www.localsearchforum.com/google-map-maker/26870-tips-reporting-spam-mapmaker.html
• Everywhere else lists them as “Carlson
Meyers”
• They have 3 listings on MapMaker –
with different addresses
• 3 Sparrow Lane is a house!

18. The Truth
• Use MM (or Maps) to report
spam
• Use the GMB Dashboard for
your own listing
• Remember their rules are
different!
• Be nice & polite to the MM
RERs and TCs, even if you
disagree with them
Instructions: http://www.localsearchforum.com/google-map-maker/26870-tips-reporting-spam-mapmaker.html

19. • MapMaker has been closed for
edits now for about a week
due to massive spamming
• You can Report a Problem
(RAP) for businesses in Google
Maps
• Responses might be slower
than usual (2 weeks)
• If longer than 2 weeks – post in
GMB forum
12. Use RAP while MapMaker is
Closed for Edits

21. 13. Use YellowBot for NAP Diagnosis
• Search business phone #
+ city
• Open each listing that
comes up
• Note: Only works in USA

24. 14. Use Factual for NAP Diagnosis
• Works Globally

27. 15. Keep Updated with Guideline Changes
“If a practitioner is the sole public-facing one at this location and represents a branded
organization, the practitioner page should not be separate from the organization’s page.
Instead, create a single page, titled using the following format: [brand/company]:
[practitioner name].”
Guidelines: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3038177?hl=en

28. “Adding unnecessary information to your name (e.g. "Google Inc. - Mountain View
Corporate Headquarters" instead of "Google") by including marketing taglines, store codes,
special characters, hours or closed/open status, phone numbers, website URLs,
service/product information, location/address or directions, or containment information
(e.g. "Chase ATM in Duane Reade") is not permitted.”
Not Allowed
Guidelines: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3038177?hl=en

29. 16. Use Pure Local Searches for Diagnosing
• See how close you are to ranking on the
first page
• Figure out if it’s a local issue or organic
issue
• Ex: a business that is not in the 7-pack ranks
5th organically but 30th locally – their issue is
local (NAP, Duplicates, etc.)
• Make sure your business actually shows
up in this list
• Look for closed listings that rank
URL: https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&tbm=lcl&gl=us

30. Connect with Me
twitter.com/JoyanneHawkins
plus.google.com/+JoyHawkins
joy@imprezziomarketing.com
1-866-430-0457 x 301