Over the last decade, it’s become increasingly important for local business owners to establish and grow their online presence. This is largely because building brand awareness online can quickly boost sales in the offline world. One of the best ways for a business to get noticed, and to gain an advantage over its competitors, is to rank in the Google Local Pack. What is the Google Local Pack?The Local Pack appears at the top of search engine results pages (SERPs) when a user makes a search query with local intent. It’s sometimes known as the Local 3 Pack, the Google 3 pack, the Google Map Pack, or—and this is my personal favorite—the Snack Pack. The three most relevant results—determined by Google’s search algorithm—are featured in this ‘local SERPs pack’, and are distinctly separate from the remaining organic search results. If you own a brick-and-mortar store, then you’ll want to appear here! These top three results are accompanied by a map that shows exactly where they’re located, as well as the address, opening hours, and average star rating from customer reviews, plus a click-to-call option for mobile users. How does Google identify a local search?The following are different ways for Google to identify that a user is making a search with local intent:
How is the Google Local Pack different from organic SERPs?The algorithm for the Google Local Pack is different from organic SERP listings, so you’ll need to consider Local Pack SEO separately—start by checking out these local SEO tips for better visibility. When it comes to appearance, the main difference is that the Google Local Pack contains clear calls to action, such as to visit the website or to make a phone call. Another important difference is that the Local Pack features concise information about a business that the user will naturally benefit from, such as location and hours of operation. These features make these positions more valuable—both to the searcher and to the top-ranking local businesses. History of the Google Local PackThe Google Local 3 Pack has been a feature in local SERPs since 2015. Before this time, Google displayed seven results in a list without a map. The reduction from seven results to three is great for readability on mobile devices, and the addition of a map helps the user to immediately understand the location of the results. Why should I care?Of the approximately 40,000 Google searches made around the globe every second, data reveals that 46% of these queries have local intent. This equates to a huge number of people seeking information in their local area every single day. The stats also show that at least 93% of Google searches with local intent will include a Local Pack within the results. What’s more, approximately 50% of users making a local search on a phone will visit a nearby business concerning this query within 24 hours. Plus, 78% of these searches will result in an offline sale in the near future. These figures highlight the importance of being visible to consumers who are ready to spend when they make a local search. How do I climb the Google Map Pack rankings?To start climbing the rankings into the Google Map Pack, you will first need to claim your Google My Business (GMB) listing. Once you’ve claimed your GMB listing, you’ll then need to optimize it with the appropriate information. This involves completing all of the relevant sections, as well as including photos of your business. When deciding which Google My Business listings to return for a query, Google primarily considers:
The algorithm will also prioritize listings that are maintained with accurate and up-to-date details, as well as those that contain beneficial information about the business. The majority of consumers won’t check beyond the first page of results, so it’s essential that your business is ranking well for a range of different search terms. Once your listing is claimed and optimized, Local Pack SEO should then be the next step to boosting your online visibility. It’s often the case that small local businesses can gain greater prominence over the big chains in local rankings. This is because when it comes to local SERPs, the Google algorithm favors well-optimized GMB listings over more conventional SEO ranking factors. What about Google Maps?Within the Local Pack Google listings, users can click to see more results, and doing so will take them to Google Local Finder. This is a more comprehensive list of relevant local businesses for the search query. However, it’s important to be aware that the Local Finder is not the same as Google Maps. Click here for more information on the difference between Google Local Finder and Google Maps. Securing Local Search SuccessThe importance of ranking in the Google Map Pack shouldn’t be overlooked as a brick-and-mortar business owner. You may wish to hire an agency to help you, but there are many actions you can take yourself. If you want to start learning more about local SEO, then check out our comprehensive article on local ranking factors. As you push ahead with your local search strategy, it’s important to be aware that Google results will vary when you check your rankings from different locations. Google will always know where you are and will return the results that are most relevant to your current location. Variance in the search results can be a stumbling block to understanding how your business is truly performing locally. You can easily solve this problem by using our free tool to accurately observe your local rankings from any location. With the best knowledge and the right tools, you’ll be well on your way to local search success! via BrightLocal https://ift.tt/3nz2IgN Check out more SEO posts onhttps://seouk41.blogspot.com/
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Hola. Ciao. Bonjour. 你好. Xin chào. Hello. No matter which American state you reside in, you’re likely to hear any one of these greetings as part of the 300+ other languages spoken by US residents. While English is the official language of the United States, its rich diversity means that large portions of the population speak non-English languages. In fact, in the US, 60 million people—almost a quarter of the US population—speak a language other than English. And if they’re speaking it, you can be sure they’re searching with it, too! This makes multilingual audiences a valuable new market for any local business looking to:
Source: Business Insider Multilingual Voice SearchesWhatever your city and business niche, your potential customers are statistically likely to speak a language other than English when searching for products and services close to their location. Google’s multilingual voice search capabilities have echoed this audience need. In 2012, its voice search function supported 42 languages. By 2017, that figure had increased to 119 languages, covering more than a billion people. If your local SEO doesn’t account for multilingual voice searches, you’re missing out on a huge chunk of potential custom. US ExamplesIn every major US city, a large proportion of non-English speakers live, work, and shop. Each person naturally has the same need for products and services in the local area as native English speakers do. Let’s take a look at some real-life examples, or you can use this interactive tool to see a map of languages spoken in the United States for yourself. ChicagoIn Chicago, IL, there are 950,720 people who speak a language other than English. Almost a quarter of the city’s population (23.4%) speak Spanish as a first language. In the same city, there are 93 plumbers listed on Google as serving the Chicago area. Now, imagine if you were one of the only plumbers who optimized your digital storefront to cater for those Spanish speakers. How much of a difference could that make to your business? Los AngelesIn Los Angeles, CA, 42.2% of residents speak English, while 41.7% speak Spanish. There are almost 400 landscaping companies listed in the Google Local Pack for ‘landscaping Los Angeles, CA’, but only 120 appear for the same search in Spanish (jardinero, Los Angeles, CA). There’s much less competition for the Spanish market, despite there being nearly the same volume of Spanish speakers as English speakers! San JoseSan Jose, CA, is home to the largest Vietnamese population in the USA, with an estimated 70,000 speakers. As a local business, you exist to serve the needs of the local people. If you’re one of the city’s nearly 300 hardware stores appearing in Google local search, how much could you benefit from optimizing your digital presence to be visible to Vietnamese speakers? And Many More…This multilingual trend appears across the length and breadth of the USA. For example, in Fox River, AK, 87.3% of the population speak Russian and in Grand Isle, ME, 76.7% of residents speak French at home. What about where I live?To find out the popularity of non-English languages in your state, county (and even township!), you can use this tool to conduct your own local language research. You can then make an informed decision on the potential positive impact of targeting local non-English text and voice searches. How to Optimize for Local Languages1.Conduct Keyword Research in Other LanguagesOne of the trickier aspects of multilingual SEO is keyword research—you can’t always translate directly from English into another language to create your seed keyword list. It’s worth calling on a native speaker to help with this phase of your research. This is because they’ll be better placed to understand what terms speakers are actually using. And while it goes without saying, we’re going to say it… never rely solely on Google Translate! 2.Create Personas for Speakers of Other LanguagesLanguage is very much a reflection of culture and heritage and, just as search habits will differ for speakers of other languages, so too will their likes, dislikes, and expectations. Undertake primary research into your new audience, and create personas that provide you with a deeper understanding of what makes that portion of your demographic tick. 3.Do What You’d Do for a New, English-language AudienceApply the same SEO principles to developing local language content to house your new keywords as you would for any new English-language audience. If you were launching a new product or service, you’d want to know how to appeal to your target audience, so do the same things here. To succeed, you’ll want to:
You don’t need to create a completely multilingual website with every single page translated, but you will need to create content designed to appeal directly to each audience. Summary of Multilingual SEOHere’s what we’ve covered in this article:
Engage with your multilingual audiences and you’ll do a better job of meeting their expectations. This will make them more likely to engage with (and therefore buy from) your business over a competitor’s. via BrightLocal https://ift.tt/3nA1z8L Check out more SEO posts onhttps://seouk41.blogspot.com/ This September, iPhone users around the world were treated to the arrival of iOS 15. This much-anticipated update delivered on a number of promises from Apple, such as:
When it comes to app improvements, Apple Maps users have not been left behind by iOS 15. There are noteworthy developments for local SEOs to be aware of. These improvements to the Maps app have prompted some in the tech industry to declare that Apple could finally be offering a worthy alternative to Google Maps. “Far from the fiasco of a launch it experienced in 2012, Apple Maps has recovered to become a legitimate challenger to Google Maps” – Neuf.tv “Apple Maps hot on the heels of Google Maps with new iOS 15 updates” – T3.com The Google Maps vs Apple Maps battle has been ongoing for many years, with the consensus generally being that Google has remained the champion throughout. However, the Apple Maps revamp through iOS 15 is already proving popular to Apple users. What’s more, it is clearly already enticing some people away from the Google alternative.
What’s new with iOS 15 for Apple Maps?There have been a number of exciting improvements to Apple Maps with this latest upgrade, including:
Better Filtering Options for Local Business SearchesApple Maps users now have access to better filters for local business information, and this update should catch the attention of those responsible for enhancing discovery of a local business. For example, search results for a nearby restaurant can now be filtered according to a number of options. Users can filter by those that are currently open, or by the type of cuisine on offer. These new filter capabilities mean that users can enjoy more relevant results. This will be an important time-saver when making decisions. The filter upgrade makes it even more important that local business information is comprehensively provided and accurately kept up to date. If it’s not, then customers may easily overlook a good match in favor of one that they can clearly see meets their needs. Many aspects of the Apple Maps experience have enjoyed a 3D upgrade, making it easier for users to identify their real-life surroundings. The improved navigation system, which now offers turn-by-turn direction instructions, gives users greater confidence in the route. Enhanced Navigation and Travel ExperiencesThe navigation upgrades have clear benefits for those who are walking, driving, or taking public transport:
Source: Apple Updates to Curated GuidesAlthough Curated Guides is not a new iOS 15 feature, it’s still worth knowing about as a business owner or local marketer, and it has been enhanced with this latest update. Since iOS 14, Apple Maps users have had access to information on great local places to visit. All of the Curated Guides are regularly updated, so users can be sure to discover the latest and most relevant information. The Curated Guides are crafted using the expert opinion of brands such as Time Out and The Washington Post. Users also have the option to create their own Guides to share with friends and family. Being featured in a Guide—whether an expertly-crafted one or one that has been created by individual users—could lead to greater exposure and more customers. What does this mean for local business owners and marketers?As Apple focuses on improving its Maps app—by introducing new features and continuing to enhance existing capabilities—Google Maps users may be increasingly tempted to jump ship. At the end of the day, everyone wants to have the best experience with each of the apps they use. This means brand loyalty may take second place to the desire for a seamless experience. Apple Maps currently boasts up to 100 million users in the US alone, and this number looks set to grow as the improvements keep coming. As more people embrace Apple as their map provider of choice, it will naturally become more important that the businesses you manage are easily discoverable on the app. By paying attention now, you can ensure you are not going to be left behind in the future. How can local businesses enhance their visibility on Apple Maps?The first step to being visible on Apple Maps as a local business is to add or claim your Apple Maps listing. The process of claiming this business listing is incredibly quick, especially in comparison to Google My Business, so there’s no reason to put off getting started with Apple Maps. Once the listing has been claimed, a local business can begin building a strong presence. Providing accurate location information—such as address and opening hours—is essential for a positive user experience and should always be a priority. It’s also important to optimize business listings to make them more discoverable by users seeking a relevant product or service. While considering how to do this, it’s useful to know that Apple Maps still relies on third-party review data, primarily from Yelp, Foursquare, and Tripadvisor. So in order to optimize your listing with positive reviews and photos, it’s important to build a presence on these sites. A Word on Voice SearchSince Siri uses information from Apple Maps for location-based queries, being visible here is important for local businesses. More than 500 million devices around the world have the potential to use Siri to find information, with as many as 62% of iPhone users reporting that they use this voice assistant to get answers while driving. This means that if someone is searching for a local business while at the wheel, those succeeding at Apple Maps are going to be front and center in the results. Ready to take action?Now that you know all about the Apple Maps update, you will want to consider how to use this information to your advantage. By evaluating your existing strategy for Apple Maps, you can determine how you can enhance and optimize your presence. With the long-reigning dominance of Google Maps, you could be forgiven for overlooking the Apple alternative in the past. Getting ahead of the curve now could prove invaluable in the not-too-distant future! via BrightLocal https://ift.tt/3m1MmxN Check out more SEO posts onhttps://seouk41.blogspot.com/ Understanding the competitive landscape is a key part of any marketing activity, and local search is no different. To learn how to beat your local competitors in search, you don’t just need to find out who’s beating you, but crucially why. This is where Local Search Grid‘s competitor tables come in: each one provides you with an overview of how well your local pack rivals are performing in key SEO metrics like citations and reviews. Beyond these objective performance metrics, though, it’s worth keeping a close eye on the Google My Business (GMB) categories your competitors are using. Why? Because the categories you select have the chance to significantly impact the relevance of your business to searches. Did You Know? According to research carried out in 2020, ‘Primary GMB Category’ and ‘Additional GMB Categories’ are considered two of the top five most important ranking factors in local search results… and the former is Number One! Local Search Grid has always done a great job of surfacing GMB categories in reports, but from today you’ll see an update that, for the first time, shows you both Primary and Additional Categories in the Top Ranking Competitors table. Until now, there was no easy way to collect all category data on competitors in one place. You would have to access source code or use a Chrome extension on a laborious page-by-page, profile-by-profile basis. This update brings all these insights together, allowing you to see with ease how these additional categories might be influencing rankings for certain keywords. How does it work?As you can see below, we’ve split out the existing ‘Category’ column in this table to two new ‘Primary Category’ and ‘Additional Categories’ columns. I’ve highlighted ‘Additional Categories’ in the screenshot as that’s where the new data sits. If you’re thinking “that’s not many additional categories,” you’d be right! That’s because we’ve made the full list of Additional Categories for each business available with a quick click of the ‘arrow’ button. This way you don’t have to contend with an incredibly long table until you’re ready to dig into this data. Ready to see Additional Categories in your report? Simply run the report again to see the new data! How can I use this new data?Looking at the example above, we can see that the (amazingly-named) Storm Balgeman Miller Klippel is a law firm not currently ranking in the local area for the search term ‘law firm’. Their Primary Category is ‘Legal Services’, which is particularly suitable if they don’t specialize in a particular area of law. One of the things they might want to look at, based on the findings of this report, is adding additional categories to their Google My Business profile. Where do they get inspiration for these categories? From the competitors in the report, of course! Looking at which additional categories might be helping competitors leap to the top for different keywords allows you to map out the additional categories you should be using. In the above example, the business could consider adding categories like ‘family law attorney’, ‘civil law attorney’ and ‘personal injury attorney’, where relevant, to get some added visibility in SERPs. Let me at those Additional Categories!BrightLocal customer? Just set up a new Local Search Grid report and see this fresh data for yourself! Interested in trying out BrightLocal and Local Search Grid? Start your 14-day free trial here! Knowledge is PowerWith this new information, available on all new Local Search Grid reports, you can see the finer details of your rivals’ GMB profiles, allowing you to understand the playing field better and making strategic decisions about the GMB categories you choose for your own, or your client’s, business. It’s good practice to know who you’re up against in local marketing. With this new feature, we hope you’ll enjoy getting to know them a whole lot better. Find out more about Local Search Grid in our dedicated section of the BrightLocal Help Center. via BrightLocal https://ift.tt/3ChCQMJ Check out more SEO posts onhttps://seouk41.blogspot.com/ Since its launch in 2012, Apple has been striving to position its Maps app as a serious contender to Google Maps. Although Apple hasn’t yet been able to match the number of Google Maps users, its latest iOS 15 update has helped to further level the playing field. With up to 100 million adults in the US relying on Apple Maps to get around, it goes without saying that your business needs to be present. If you’re not currently utilizing the power of Apple Maps to get your business discovered, then don’t delay getting started any longer! Getting noticed on this platform starts with claiming your listing and adding your business. Read on for step-by-step instructions! via BrightLocal https://ift.tt/2Z6yOru Check out more SEO posts onhttps://seouk41.blogspot.com/ Managing a Google My Business (GMB) listing for a company with multiple locations can feel much more complicated than managing single-location listings. Fortunately, Google continues to add features and offer support for enterprise brands and agencies, thereby assisting multi-location companies with GMB listings. One fantastic feature available for agencies working with multi-location businesses is the GMB agency dashboard. This dashboard makes it easy to manage multiple brands and locations with an intuitive interface and bulk features. Another great feature is Google My Business bulk verification. This is an option that chains and franchises can use to get an account whitelisted, meaning that they don’t have to send postcards to verify every new location that they add. Here I’ll explain the steps to doing this, so you can save yourself time and stress! Verifying a Business on GMBIn order to bulk-manage multiple locations in Google My Business, the business listings must first be set up and verified. The listings can either be verified one by one, or bulk verification can be used to make the process much simpler. Before you can get started with verification, you first need to set up your listing. For details, check out this guide to setting up GMB listings. Once the listing has been created, the most common way to verify a location is to receive a postcard at the business address. This usually takes between one week and 12 days for the postcard to arrive, or (in some cases) it’s possible to obtain a verification code via an email or phone call, which will naturally be much faster. Each location you manage will need to go through the same process. Once the verification process is complete, you can begin making edits to the listing. Did You Know? Throughout 2020, Google allowed business owners to verify multiple locations via a video call. The process involved first contacting a GMB representative who would arrange a time to video call the business owner. In theory, this was an excellent way to verify a business by demonstrating to Google that it was legitimate and operating in the specified location. However, in practice, it was not without issues. Many business owners reported that Google would not call at the allocated time, which could have been due to time zone conflicts. There were also reports of Google not verifying the business without reason following a successful video call. Bulk Verification for Multiple LocationsGoogle’s guidelines explain that you can bulk manage 10 or more locations of the same business. In order to do this, you need to become ‘bulk verified’. Being bulk verified means you’ll be able to add new locations and make updates to a listing without having to go through further manual verification procedures. In order to use bulk location management, you’ll need to create a ‘location group’ for your business. From there, you can create and upload a spreadsheet with all of the location information and request bulk verification. What is a ‘location group’ in Google My Business? ‘Location group’ is simply another term for ‘business account’ within GMB. When you have a business account, you can control multiple business locations from one master account. This also makes it easy to share the management of the account with multiple users. When you bulk-verify listings with an individual account, all eligible locations in your account not claimed by someone else will be verified. If you are a location group, when the main owner of the account is verified, all eligible locations in the group are verified as well. This then means that the locations can’t be owned by anyone else. Google My Business Bulk VerificationGoogle’s guidelines on eligibility for bulk verification are straightforward: you have to have 10 or more locations belonging to the same business. Additionally, Google specifies that:
The business information for each individual location should always be accurate and up to date. Also, if the listings all belong to the same brand, then the business name, domain, and GMB categories should all match. What about Service-area businesses?Service-area businesses (SABs) are not eligible for bulk verification. It’s usually the case that a SAB will only have one listing due to only having one physical address. The areas that the business serves can be added as additional information within the same listing. Setting up Bulk Location ManagementAccording to the Google Location Group guidelines, a business qualifies for bulk location management if they have 10 or more locations. They must also meet the Google quality guidelines to be eligible to appear on Maps, Search, and other Google properties. If an account has not been bulk verified, there is a limit to the number of business listings a company can create per Google Account in a given time period. Listing creation thresholds for bulk spreadsheet upload are based on the number of verified listings you already have in your account. These limits exist to help maintain the integrity of listings on Google. According to Google, to manage profiles in bulk you need to: 1. Use an email address with your business domain—an email address not affiliated with a business domain will take longer to verify. 2. Create a business group to manage the locations—business groups allow the GMB manager to safely share management of locations with multiple users.
3. Create a spreadsheet with all of your locations so you can verify all at once. a. Within GMB, near the top right corner, click ‘Add Location’ 4. Upload the spreadsheet to Google. 5. Review and fix any errors before locations are published. 6. Request bulk verification to ensure only the business owner or authorized representative of the business can manage and verify locations. Simply submit a form through GMB with information about you and your business. The form will ask for information about your: a. Business name 7. Double-check all of the information is up to date Setting up GMB Management with Fewer than 10 LocationsIf your business has fewer than 10 locations, then you’ll need to claim, verify, and update each location individually. This is likely the case for the majority of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Verifying each location individually can be challenging when this task is divided between several different team members. Restricting GMB manager access to a small number of people is a good idea and this will help to keep the process organized. An easy way to simplify the process is to use a general company email, or the business owner’s email, to claim GMB listings. This will avoid potential headaches in the future, and ensure that access is never lost due to employee turnover. Creating a spreadsheet is a sensible way to keep track of essential information, such as location data, business details, and any errors. This spreadsheet will serve as a convenient central reference point for businesses with multiple locations. A Note About Account SuspensionsIn recent months, Google has been handing out account-level suspensions to GMB account holders. A suspension will often happen because of an issue with an individual Google account, and not necessarily because of any fault by the business itself. For example, if a business previously worked with an SEO agency, and this agency has later been found to be engaging in bad practices, then this connection between the agency and the business could trigger a suspension. An account suspension may also be triggered if an account holder makes spammy edits to Google Maps. If a user has several edit suggestions denied, then they could be automatically flagged as a spammer. This will cause the account holder to be suspended and any listings they manage could also be suspended. When an account is suspended, the user will lose access to all of the listings within their account. Furthermore, separate users who also manage these affected listings will lose access to the listings, and they’ll be able to see that a suspension has been given. How to Deal with a GMB Listing SuspensionListing suspensions will either be hard or soft, and the severity may vary based on Google’s assessment of the violation (although this has not been confirmed):
It might sometimes be the case that you log in to your GMB account and see that one of your listings has been suspended but that the rest of your listings are active as normal. In this instance, it’s likely that another manager of the affected listing has been suspended. When this happens, you’ll have to attempt to identify the suspended user so that you can remove them from the listing. Due to privacy reasons, Google will not let you know which user has been penalized, so you’ll have to investigate yourself. Once you know who is responsible, you should remove them from the listing and contact GMB support to explain the issue. This is the fastest way to get your listing live again. In order to avoid problems with potentially rogue account managers, it’s a good idea to audit your GMB account semi-regularly to determine if anyone should be removed. Having a listing suspended when you’re not personally at fault could be incredibly frustrating, and detrimental to the reputation of your business. Verified GMB ProfilesIf you want to use a spreadsheet to verify more than 10 listings, a Google team member will review the information, verify the listings, and then you’ll see them in your GMB account. It’s worth being aware that this process could take several weeks. If you’re verifying less than 10 locations, your listings should be verified within two weeks via postcard, phone, or email. Be sure to stay organized, allocate resources, and be patient. Once your listings are verified, your team can begin the process of GMB optimization. Wrapping UpGoogle My Business continues to evolve and this extends to its features for multi-location businesses. Verifying multiple business locations has gotten easier over the years, especially for bulk listings. Whether a business has three locations or several thousand, GMB provides guidelines and tutorials on how to effectively verify these listings. Remember, always follow the guidelines when completing this process to avoid creating a headache for yourself, or risking a suspension on your account. via BrightLocal https://ift.tt/3lTvnNL Check out more SEO posts onhttps://seouk41.blogspot.com/ Since its inception in 2004, Zillow has become one of the best-known names in online Real Estate. In 2020, more than 245 million users visited their website each month—making Zillow an essential website on which real estate businesses should be listed. Below we take you through the steps to get your business and a listing added to Zillow. As always, leave any tips and tricks you may have for others in our comments section. How to Add Your Business to ZillowStep 1. The first step is to go to www.zillow.com and click on the ‘Sign In’ button on the top right: Step 2. Then click on ‘New account’ and fill in your details to register: Step 3. Check the box that says ‘I am a landlord or industry professional’. You’ll now see a dropdown menu with the following options: Select the applicable category and proceed to fill in the rest of the required information. Depending on the profile type you’ selected, you’ll see some or many data fields to complete. We’ll run through an example showing the profile setup for a property manager, as this comes with the option to add listings for rental properties. Select ‘Property Manager’, fill in all of the fields, and then hit ‘Continue’: Step 4. The next page is for completing your profile information: Step 5. Once your profile is completed and saved, you’ll need to verify your email address. Within the ‘Sign-in & Security’ section, click ‘Verify’ (next to your email address) and follow the email verification steps: How to Add a Zillow Property ListingStep 6. Once your account is verified, click ‘Manage Rentals’, and navigate to the ‘Zillow Rental Manager’ section: Step 7. Here you can hit ‘Post your first listing free’ to get started immediately, or save this link to come back to this later: Step 8. Enter the address information for your new property listing: Step 9. Fill in the details with as much information as possible about the property: Step 10. Add a phone number and verify it by following the steps: Step 11. After the phone number is verified, you can hit ‘Publish Listing’: What if I’m not a ‘Property Manager’?For other business categories, Steps 1-4 above will be pretty much the same. To view (and edit) your profile, you can go straight to this page, or click the icon shown on the upper-right side and then click ‘Profile’: Here’s a sample of a Zillow public profile for a Real Estate Agent: Your First Free ListingAll Zillow users are able to post their first listing for free—if you only have one property, you won’t have to pay to list it on Zillow Rental Manager! Please note that:
Want to know more about Zillow pricing and costs? Get more information about Zillow pricing here. via BrightLocal https://ift.tt/3vn9Ct6 Check out more SEO posts onhttps://seouk41.blogspot.com/ Anyone who reads the BrightLocal blog knows that online reviews are vital to the success of a local business. Hopefully you’ve done what we’ve suggested—overcome your fear of asking for reviews, put in place some quick-fire response templates, and kept up-to-date with the latest consumer trends. Having secured some 5-star reviews, it’s now time to show them off where it matters—on your website, right next to your products and services!
Here we’ll go through the steps to embed reviews from the most popular review websites, including available widgets. And don’t forget, our Showcase Reviews tool allows for easy integration of all of the platforms we cover on this page, as well as 80+ more. How to Embed Facebook Reviews on a WebsiteWith an estimated 2.89 billion monthly active users, Facebook reviews and recommendations really have the power to make an impact. 31% of Facebook users say they leave reviews, and 51% are more likely to purchase from a brand they follow, so you’ll definitely want to embed your Facebook reviews for maximum benefit. Happily, embedding Facebook reviews on a website is a fairly straightforward process: Step 1: Log into your Facebook account and click through to your Business Page. Step 2: Locate the ‘Reviews’ tab on the main toolbar: Step 3: A new page showing your Facebook reviews will appear. You’ll see a drop down which offers you the choice between viewing ‘most helpful’ reviews or ‘most recent’ reviews: Step 4: Locate the Facebook review you wish to embed on your website. Click the three dots, then click on ‘Embed’: Step 5: The code needed to embed the individual review will pop up on the next screen, so click ‘Copy Code’: Step 6: Log in to your website’s back-end and paste the code in the HTML where you’d like the Facebook review to appear. Preview to test, then publish when done! Facebook Review WidgetsYou can also use a widget to embed Facebook reviews on to a page.
How to Embed Yelp Reviews on a WebsiteBecause this platform is dedicated to connecting local people with local businesses, it makes sense to embed good Yelp reviews on to your website. In addition to the usual benefits, you’re also making it very easy for potential customers to read about the experiences of consumers in their very own neighborhood. Here’s how to embed Yelp reviews on a website: Step 1: You don’t need to be signed in to Yelp—simply put your business name or location into the search bar: Step 2: The Yelp page for your business will appear. You’ll see a section called ‘Review Highlights’ which will give you an at-a-glance insight into recurring review content: Step 3: Scroll down the page, past the location information, amenities and other info until you hit the reviews section. You’ll see a dropdown menu to set the reviews sort order. If you’re interested in your latest reviews hit ‘newest first’. To see you strongest reviews, select ‘highest rated’: Step 4: When you find a review you want to embed, click on the three dots to trigger a dropdown menu with two options:
Step 5: Click and a pop-up box will appear with the code to copy and preview: Step 6: Go to your website’s back-end and paste the HTML into the page you’d like the Yelp review to appear on. Yelp Review WidgetsIf you don’t want to follow the manual process to embed Yelp reviews on a website, you can use a widget instead:
Embedding Google Reviews with a WidgetAlthough you can view and respond to your reviews within your Google My Business dashboard, Google no longer offers the option to embed individual reviews from your review profile. Instead, you’ll either need to use the Google My Business API or a Google Reviews Widget.
Embedding Tripadvisor Reviews with a WidgetTravel reviews don’t just help you to get more reservations—they’re also a powerful ally when it comes to unlocking extra budget! With half a billion monthly visitors, Tripadvisor is a must-have when showcasing reviews on your own website. Unfortunately, you can’t simply pick an individual review and post it to your website—instead you’ll have to use a widget: Step 1: You’ll first need to determine which set of widgets is available to you, as Tripadvisor has widgets for businesses and widgets for destinations.
To find out which one you’re eligible for, you’ll need to go to https://www.tripadvisor.com/Widgets and enter your business name in the search box: Step 2: Select the desired widget and copy the code which shows up on your screen. Step 3: Paste into your site as HTML where you’d like the reviews to appear. Embedding Booking.com Reviews with a WidgetSimilarly to TripAdvisor, you’ll need to use a widget to embed Booking.com reviews on your website. However Booking.com doesn’t offer it’s own widgets, so you’ll need to use a third-party solution.
The bottom line…While it can be time consuming to select individual reviews or test different widgets, the benefits in terms of increased conversions and higher basket values should outweigh those concerns. If there are other reviews platforms that you’d like to see included in this guide moving forwards, then let us know in the comments section below! via BrightLocal https://ift.tt/3BsrIfk Check out more SEO posts onhttps://seouk41.blogspot.com/ There’s no way to sugarcoat it. Whether you love them or live in fear of them, reviews matter. They’re an important indicator of your overall reputation, have the power to make or break a sale, and directly influence whether someone chooses you or opts for a competitor. Plus they’re a known local SEO ranking factor—whether or not you respond to reviews (in addition to the volume and frequency of new reviews) will influence where you appear in the local pack. So it’s not enough to only have a process for requesting reviews and building a review profile. You also need a documented process in place when it comes to responding to your customer reviews. Why should you respond to customer reviews?Our own Local Consumer Review Survey shows that a quick review response is more crucial than ever:
Because timely review responses are so important, it can be helpful to have a few pre-prepared templates on hand. The following examples will help to ensure that you’re always providing a professional, polished, and appropriate reply—no matter the sentiment of the feedback, or how pressed for time you may be. What type of review response templates do you need?There are many different types of reviewers. They range from people who truly love your business and just want to share their joy, to serial complainers who are just downright unreasonable. So you can realistically expect a range of review styles—covering everything from ‘a star rating with no text’ and ‘short and sweet feedback’, to ‘lengthy storytelling’ and ‘venting complaints’. To address this range, you can either build your own custom templates, or skip straight to some examples and adapt for your business. Either way you’ll need a selection of both positive review response templates and negative review response templates. Constructing Your Own Review Response TemplatesA good review response starts with a few key building blocks:
Customizable Review Response TemplatesThese positive/negative review response templates are ready to be copied, pasted, and edited for use straight away. 1. The ‘unfair’ 1-star reviewDealing with negative reviews can be tricky—especially when the review is erroneous or misrepresented—as you’re naturally starting from a place of irritation. So take a deep breath, open up this first negative review response template, and draft a cool, calm, and collected message. Negative review response template Hello [Reviewer Name], Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us. I’m sorry to hear that your experience hasn’t met your expectations on this occasion. It sounds like [insert reason for the miscommunication]. I’ve shared this with the team so we can make our [insert policy] a little clearer. Please do reach out [insert contact info] if we can assist further. 2. The ‘did not use’ 1-star reviewWhen a potential customer says why they ‘didn’t use you’, there’s an opportunity to reply and reassure other potential customers that you want to address their concerns. Negative review response template Hello [Reviewer Name], I’m sorry to hear about your disappointing experience with us. It’s always our intention to provide great customer service and useful, transparent advice. Please accept our sincerest apologies that we didn’t live up to your expectations on this occasion. I’m thankful that you reached out to share your experience as your valuable feedback helps us to improve our processes and better serve our clients. Please reach out to us at [insert contact info] to discuss how we can make this right. 3. The ‘great but’ review
This review can be super frustrating to read. The reviewer admits that you offered a great experience but they have docked a star anyway because the service or product was great but not exceptional. This kind of review is very useful to have on your profile because it offers several reasons why readers should engage with you. Having a concise and appreciative positive response review template will serve you well here. Positive review response template Hello [Reviewer Name], We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed [insert experience] and look forward to welcoming you again soon! 4. The ‘overall happy’ reviewThis customer offers a four- or five-star review, with an overall positive feel but with one or two little niggles. This is actually a wonderful review to have because it shows that you’re still prepared to fix any minor issues. Positive review response template Hello [Reviewer Name], First of all, thank you so much for sharing your feedback with us—we really value your input and flagging up areas where we can further improve. I’m so happy to hear that [insert staff name] was able to help you [insert outcome] and put things right. It sounds like you [insert end result]. I’m pleased we were able to help! 5. The ‘professional reviewer’ review
This will typically be a balanced review, referencing both pros and cons. Because it comes from an influencer, or from someone whose opinion is valued by peers, it requires a well-crafted, positive response that refers to the specific points raised. Positive review response template Hello [Reviewer Name], It was great to hear that you enjoyed [insert visit/experience detail]. We really appreciate your detailed review and the fact that you [insert a plus from review]. Thank you also for your feedback highlighting where we can do better. We appreciate hearing about your experience and your thoughts about [insert reference]. Your comments are really helpful in highlighting opportunities to improve our service even further and your recommendations are being addressed internally. We hope to welcome you back again soon! 6. The ‘short and sweet five-star’ review
This is the kind of review that we all dream of… one that’s nice and easy to respond to! Positive review response template Hello [Reviewer Name], Many thanks for taking the time to share your feedback with us. We’re very happy to hear that we met your expectations and were able to [insert detail] quickly! 7. The ‘brand evangelist’ reviewYour brand evangelists love all of their interactions with your business, and they’re happy to share their enthusiasm with the world. These are the kind of reviews that put a smile on your face… so take the time to be nice back! Positive review response template Hello [Reviewer Name], We’re delighted to hear about your recent experience with us and we’re so pleased that you recommend our [insert product/service]. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and we look forward to welcoming you back soon! In ConclusionHaving a predefined library of positive and negative review response templates can be an incredibly helpful asset. It speeds up your ability to craft personalized, professional responses that emphasize your gratitude for the feedback—whatever it might be. Got any other tips for responding to customer reviews? Let us know in the comments! via BrightLocal https://ift.tt/3iEOvND Check out more SEO posts onhttps://seouk41.blogspot.com/ Despite business listings (also known as citations) decreasing in their ranking importance, reaching customers in the right places—and ensuring that they’re presented with accurate information—is still essential for any local business. Correct and consistent listings offers you more visibility online and improves local rankings—meaning more traffic and sales. For example, if you’re running a B&B in Upstate New York, you’d obviously want to be listed on the big key directory sites like TripAdvisor. But to reach as many people as possible, you’d also want to appear on any niche B&B directories that you might not have heard of, but your customers have. So the big question is…how do you find out about those niche listings directories? This is where our Citation Tracker tool comes in. Not only does it make light work of trawling the web to find all existing citations (and check for inconsistencies!), but it also shows you the citations you don’t have—meaning new opportunities! In this post, I’ll go through two ways of using Citation Tracker to find new business listings in order to improve your business’s online visibility and rankings. 1. Key CitationsOnce you’ve run your Citation Tracker report, you’ll see a tab called Key Citations. This is where you’ll see the most valuable and important citation sites found in your country, based on your location and business type: Beneath the charts at the top, you’ll see the ‘Key Citations’ table, which shows you the NAP data (if any) found for each citation site. Any key citation site that your business isn’t currently listed on will have a ‘Get Citation’ button (the ‘+’ icon) next to it: This links directly to the directory/site in question, so you can immediately go and create a new listing. 2. Competitor CitationsCitation Tracker also shows you the citations that your competitors have but you don’t, and highlights any gaps that need filling. In your Citation Tracker report, you’ll see a tab called ‘Competitor Citations’. Here you’ll be able to see the list of citations and business mentions for your top five competitors, excluding any citations you’ve already claimed: To discover who your competitors are, simply click on the red pins: For a better understanding of the citations that are worth you registering for, take a look at the Citation Authority and Citation Value columns: Citation Authority is based on Domain Authority, a metric calculated by Moz. It’s a prediction of its ability to rank well in search engines, calculated out of 100. The higher the number, the more influence that site may have. Citation Value is unique to BrightLocal. It’s determined using the frequency with which a website appears in citation records. The more a website is used as a citation source, the higher its value. These values are calculated from unique research conducted by BrightLocal, and you should go after any showing high Citation Value scores first. In the column called ‘Actions’, click the ‘+’ icon and you’ll be taken straight to the citation site. Once there, you should be able to fill in your business details to register a citation request. Keep in mind that your citation may not be added to a directory immediately. And that’s it—two easy ways to get new business listings with Citation Tracker! If you’d like to share your own tips and secrets about Citation Tracker (or any of the other BrightLocal tools), head to the comments and tell us, or email us at [email protected] if you’ve got a particularly compelling story to share. Want to give Citation Tracker a try? Grab a 14-day free trial and see what’s possible. via BrightLocal https://ift.tt/3io8eRG Check out more SEO posts onhttps://seouk41.blogspot.com/ |
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April 2023
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