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How to Approach Google My Business (GMB) in 2016
The document provides tips for optimizing business listings on Google My Business (GMB). It discusses finding all GMB listings for a business, common rules that cause listings to get suspended, investigating fake listings, reporting spam listings, handling hijacked listings, strategies for practitioner listings, and resolving issues like incorrect hours or locations. The goal is to have accurate, optimized GMB listings to help businesses show up in local search results.
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How to Approach Google My Business (GMB) in 2016
- 1. Joy Hawkins Imprezzio Marketing @JoyanneHawkins Howto Approach Google My Business (GMB) in 2016
- 2. Where to Start? PresenterName : Company Name : Twitter Handle @JoyanneHawkins Find all Your GMB Listings!
- 3. How Does aListing End up on Google? @JoyanneHawkins ● Google creates listings based on data providers (Ex: ExpressUpdate, Acxiom) ● Google users through Google Maps or MapMaker ● Business owners/marketing companies via Google My Business
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- 6. Method 1: MapMakerSearch @JoyanneHawkins ● Google.com/MapMaker ● Search for the city the business is in. ● Search Variations of business name, phone #, website.
- 7. Method 2: MapMakerSelect a Place @JoyanneHawkins ● Google.com/MapMaker ● Edit > Select a Place ● Click around the marker where the business in ● Right click the business name > Open link in new tab
- 8. Method 3: MapsSearch @JoyanneHawkins ● Maps.Google.com ● Search for the city the business is in. ● Start typing business name
- 9. Method 4: GoogleSearch @JoyanneHawkins ● Google.com ● Search for site:plus.google.com + phone # + inurl:about + “review” ● Open each URL in new tab
- 10. Method 4: (BrandNew Addition) @JoyanneHawkins ● Google.com ● Search for inurl:google.com/maps + phone # ● Open each URL in new tab
- 11. Why Both? @JoyanneHawkins ● Unverifiedlistings don’t have Plus.Google.com URLs ● I have only seen Google start indexing google.com/maps URLs in the last month Non-Verified Listings Verified Listings
- 12. Compile Your List... @JoyanneHawkins ●If you’re on the plus page, click the map to get to Google Maps. CLICK
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- 14. Finding CID # @JoyanneHawkins •Right click > View Page Source • CTRL + F > “cid”: • Long string of numbers after “cid”: • "cid":"17974029029 8085994","infoWind ow": • Right click > View Page Source • CTRL + F > ludocid • The CID will be the string of numbers after “ludocidu003d and before #lrd • +80026u0026ludoc idu003d376285149 384878007#lrdu00 From MapMaker From Maps
- 15. CID URLs @JoyanneHawkins ● http://maps.google.com/maps?cid=5 264542582139250082 ●http://www.google.com/mapmaker? gw=90&cid=5264542582139250082 Remember: If it’s an SAB listing, there won’t be a MapMaker record so the MapMaker URL will bring up a blank screen.
- 16. @JoyanneHawkins • See allthe categories • Check formatting of address • See additional business names • See reviews • See photos MapMaker Maps
- 17. GMB Rules Presenter Name: Company Name : Twitter Handle @JoyanneHawkins
- 18. ● Multiple listingsfor the same business. (unless you have multiple actual storefronts that customers visit) ● Keyword stuffing in the business name. @JoyanneHawkins Common Rules People Break
- 19. • URL isa redirect • Business name contains keyword stuffing • Multiple listings for the same business Common Reasons why Listings get Suspended Soft Suspension = Listing Becomes Unverified Create new Google account, re-verify the listing, stop breaking the rules @JoyanneHawkins
- 20. • Address isvirtual • Business doesn’t exist (pure spam/lead generating company) Common Reasons why Listings get Suspended Hard Suspension = Listing No Longer Exists in Maps/Mapmaker Further Reading: @JoyanneHawkins http://searchengineland.com/top-9-reasons- google-suspends-local-listings-247394
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- 22. Presenter Name :Company Name : Twitter Handle @JoyanneHawkins
- 23. 11don’t exist (7removed as spam + 4 pending removals) 2edited to remove keyword stuffing 3actual legit company listings @JoyanneHawkins
- 24. • A listingfor an “SEO company” that was acquired by a larger marketing company over a year ago • A listing for a marketing company that tried to create a new name for just their SEO product (they had 2 listings at their actual office) • An SEO company that has all their employees work remotely and was using each of their home addresses to create multiple listings • An SEO company who apparently exists in Square One (a popular shopping mall) • An SEO company that is at the same address as the Fairmont Royal York Hotel The Fake Crap @JoyanneHawkins
- 25. Address ● Does what’slisted match the website? ● Check Street View. Does it show a UPS store or a residential address? Is there any signage for the business? ● Search the address on Google to see who else is using it Phone ● Call the phone number, see how they answer the phone. Say you’re calling to get directions. • Call from Gmail so they can’t call back Investigating @JoyanneHawkins
- 26. Investigating Business Name ● Checkwhat’s on signage (street view, drive there take pics) ● How do they answer the phone? ● Check the Secretary of State Website to see what their business license says ○ NPPES is great for medical industry @JoyanneHawkins
- 27. Where to Report? ✓Make Edits in Google Maps (email confirmation) ✓ MapMaker Forum (after 7 days). Better for unverified listings ✓ Google My Business Forum Better for verified listings @JoyanneHawkins
- 28. How to Edit ●If listing is fake (address doesn’t exist) or a verified duplicate > Places is Closed > Spam ● Unverified duplicate > Place is Closed > Duplicate ● Keyword Stuffing > submit edit to correct business name @JoyanneHawkins Further Reading: http://www.joyannehawkins.com/ultimate- guide-fighting-spam-google-maps/
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- 30. Additional Name Spam @JoyanneHawkins Source:http://www.localsearchforum.com/google-local- hall-shame/37837-how-score-google-maps-one-box- cheat.html ● These only show up in MapMaker.
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- 32. It Never Ends... @JoyanneHawkins ●Prepare for the listing to be reinstated after it’s been removed. ● GMB Forum > best place to report this. More Reading: http://searchengineland.com/g ot-spam-google-my-business- doesnt-care-249072
- 33. Contacting GMB Presenter Name: Company Name : Twitter Handle @JoyanneHawkins
- 34. “Google My Businessphone support is telling me my ranking is dropping because I’m not posting on Google Plus” @JoyanneHawkins
- 35. 1. Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoogleMyBiz 2.Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/googlemybusiness 3. Forum: https://www.en.advertisercommunity.com/t5/Google-My-Business/ct-p/GMB# 4. Phone Support: https://support.google.com/business/contact/business_c2c_l?hl=en&rd=2#cft=5 @JoyanneHawkins New! Keep in mind you will only hear from them during business hours (PST) ✓ Faster (no repeating yourself, spelling out words on the phone…etc) ✓ You get someone in the USA, not India ✓ Better & more accurate advice
- 36. Practitioner Listings Presenter Name: Company Name : Twitter Handle @JoyanneHawkins
- 37. Presenter Name :Company Name : Twitter Handle @JoyanneHawkins
- 38. Presenter Name :Company Name : Twitter Handle What Listings are Allowed? • Solo-practitioners are only allowed one listing total • Allstate: Bob Smith • ABC Dental: Dr Bob Smith • Public-facing professionals are allowed their own listing (ex: lawyers, doctors, realtors) • Support staff should not have listings • If a professional works out of more than 1 office, they can have 1 listing per location Best Scenario @JoyanneHawkins
- 39. Presenter Name :Company Name : Twitter Handle Strategies to Use • Find out which listing is currently ranking highest and make it the primary listing you try to get reviews on. • Try to keep categories from overlapping as much as possible • When categories do overlap (ex: 2 dentists), minimize the profile that ranks lowest. • Removing the website is a great way to minimize @JoyanneHawkins
- 40. Example: Listing Category WebsiteField Law Firm Law Firm, Lawyer Domain.com (homepage) Lawyer A Personal Injury Lawyer Domain.com/personal-injury-page Lawyer B Criminal Justice Attorney Domain.com/criminal-law-page Lawyer C Divorce Lawyer Domain.com/divorce-lawyer-page *Check which page Google currently ranks highest organically for that term @JoyanneHawkins
- 41. What About Ex-Employees? Tofix it, contact Google My Business via Twitter Support or Facebook Support and asked them to mark the practitioner listing as moved to the practice listing. @JoyanneHawkins
- 42. The “Moved” Feature @JoyanneHawkins •Only GMB can do this. • It takes the “old” address on Maps and 302’s it to the new location • The “old” listing will completely vanish from Google Search and Google Maps, making it impossible for customers to accidentally see. • Since the listing doesn’t show up anywhere, the “Permanently closed” message won’t show up anywhere, either. • Reviews from the closed listing will transfer to the new listing (double-check to make sure that happens).
- 43. Knowledge Graph Issues PresenterName : Company Name : Twitter Handle @JoyanneHawkins
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- 46. Why does Googlekeep auto-updating my hours? @JoyanneHawkins
- 47. The Tuesday’s confusedGoogle
- 48. Presenter Name :Company Name : Twitter Handle Your Website is the Most Authoritative Citation! http://imprezziomarketing.com/seo- blog/seo/why-the-does-google-keep-updating- my-business-hours-a-case-study/ Further Reading: @JoyanneHawkins
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- 50. @JoyanneHawkins Located In Feature •Only GMB can do this • It’s possible you might be able to remove it from a Google Maps edit (I have not tested)
- 51. @JoyanneHawkins Menu Links • Checkto see if the info on the menu link is accurate • Update the menu link source
- 52. @JoyanneHawkins Menu Links They area dermatologist not a hair salon
- 53. @JoyanneHawkins Menu Links • Ifyou cannot get the listing updated, remove it from the GMB listing • In edit mode in GMB: click “Report problems…” Or go here: https://support.google.com/business/contact/local_pages_editing_help • Check the “menu URL” box
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