Tag: #SerchEngineOptimization

Google Business Profile: Kissing Chat and Call History Goodbye (and the Potential Issues)

Google Business Profile: Kissing Chat and Call History Goodbye (and the Potential Issues)

As of July 31, 2024, Google is shutting down the chat and call history features within Google Business Profile. This means you’ll lose a direct communication channel with potential and existing customers, and some valuable analytical insights. Let’s delve deeper into the changes and explore the potential issues:

What’s Going Away?

  • Chat Functionality: On July 15th, the ability for customers to initiate new chat conversations vanished. Existing chats were phased out by July 31st.
  • Call History Reports: You can no longer access past call data through Google Business Profile. This data included the number, date, and time of calls.

Potential Issues:

  • Reduced Customer Interaction: Losing the chat feature eliminates a convenient way for customers to connect with you for quick inquiries or appointment bookings. This might lead to missed leads and decreased customer engagement.
  • Limited Communication Channels: Businesses now rely on phone calls, emails listed on the profile, or manually setting up messaging apps to communicate with customers. This can be cumbersome and less convenient for both customer and business.
  • Loss of Call Insights: Call history reports provided valuable data on call volume and trends. You might miss out on identifying peak calling times or optimizing marketing strategies based on call demographics.

The Bottom Line:

The removal of chat and call history functions might force businesses to adapt their communication strategies. Consider these alternatives:

  • Clearly display contact information: Ensure your phone number, email, and website with a contact form are prominently displayed on your Business Profile.
  • Explore third-party messaging apps: Utilize platforms like WhatsApp Business or Facebook Messenger to connect with customers.
  • Invest in a CRM system: A Customer Relationship Management system can manage customer interactions across various channels and provide valuable insights.

By implementing these alternatives, businesses can minimize the impact of these changes and maintain strong communication channels with their customers.

Beware of the Google Maps Pin Scam!

Beware of the Google Maps Pin Scam!

There’s a sneaky scam targeting businesses on Google Maps and Google Business Profile (GBP). Here’s how it works and how to protect yourself:

The Scam:

  • Competitors can move your business pin on Google Maps to a wrong location. They do this through the “Suggest an edit” feature on your GBP listing.
  • This hurts your ranking. Since Google thinks your business isn’t where it claims to be, your search ranking drops, making it harder for customers to find you.

Why it’s tricky:

  • Google doesn’t tell you when your pin is moved. You might not even know there’s a problem until you see fewer customers or a drop in ranking.

Don’t fix it yourself (yet):

  • Trying to fix the pin location directly through your GBP account can get your profile suspended.

How to fix it safely:

  1. Log in to Google with a different email address (not the one linked to your GBP).
  2. Search for your business on Google Maps.
  3. Click “Suggest an edit” on your business listing.
  4. Choose “Change Name or other details” then “Edit map location.”
  5. Drag the pin to the correct location and click “Save.”

Stay vigilant:

By following these steps, you can protect your business listing from this scam and maintain your search ranking.

What is Google SERP Query Matching? (How does it work?)

Google’s SERP query matching process – when deciding which websites best match each user query, is complicated.  For each Search Engine Result Page (#SERP), Google assesses hundreds of factors in order to determine the most likely match and best answer. Two of the strongest and controllable signals are backlinks and page content.

How to Get On Top of the Google SERP

SERPs look different for each query, sometimes by change in order of words, but they are all made up of the same three components:

  • Paid ads
  • Organic results
  • SERP features
  1. Create Your Own Internal Backlinks
  2. Optimize Everything for the Right Keywords
  3. Optimize and Tweak Your Website

Why Style Matters in SEO?

A #style that is chrisp, cogent and consistet appreciates the reader’s intelligence by showing that you respect and want to earn trust of the visitor to the website.  Trust is vital in search engine result pages (SERP) for all your local seo results.

Google’s algorithms have become sophisticated enough that the quality of content has more importance than use of any particular keyword or phrase or string. Thus, the first SERP might not contain an exact match keyword anywhere in the body of the page.

When it comes to marketing your business / website, your writing style matters a lot. Sadly, it gets ignored enough time.

What is important is that your writing be clear, concise and consistent.

What are the SEO challenges for a Multi-location business?

#Multi-location businesses commonly have these challenges when it comes to meeting consumer needs:

  • How can they quickly and easily give directions to consumers?
  • How can each location’s landing page be optimized for local search?
  • How can the ever-increasing mobile shopper surge be leveraged?

Issues Facing Multi-Location Businesses

  • Make sure each store location should have its own unique, well-optimized page. 
  • Make sure your page is indexed and discoverable via internal links.
  • Add opening hours and parking hits.
  • Clearly identified NAP (name, address, phone) information.
  • Local news / identity

What is SEO?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the the affirmative Internet interactions that affects the placement and visibility of a website or a web page in a Internet browser based search engine’s result pages (SERP)— often referred to as “natural”, “organic”, or “earned” results.

What are the Major Components of SEO?

  • Keywords define the content of the page
  • Meta tags play a vital role in SEO positioning
  • Content is king
  • Social media plays a role in targeting audience
  • Quality images make visual appeal.

Inhouse SEO Expert or Outside Agency?

Are you Debating between Outside Agency or In-house Expert for Search Engine Optimization?

  • It depends on your size, the scope of work or the industry.
  • The level of specialization needed.
  • Location of your business and ready availability of expert in your area.

 

SEO or Search Engine Optimization is effective when pursued on planned and purposeful basis.  That there are definitive goals, measurement of objectives and path to achieving the goals.

Call Us Today to discuss your options!

Top 7 Most Popular Social Networking Sites | March 2014

Top 7 Most Popular Social Networking Sites | March 2014

Here are the 7 Most Popular Social Networking Sites as derived from eBizMBA Rank

facebook1 | Facebook
3 – eBizMBA Rank | 900,000,000 – Estimated Unique Monthly Visitors | 3 – Compete Rank | 3 – Quantcast Rank | 2 – Alexa Rank | Updated: March 1, 2014.
The Most Popular Social Networking Sites | eBizMBA

twitter2 | Twitter
14 – eBizMBA Rank | 310,000,000 – Estimated Unique Monthly Visitors | 25 – Compete Rank | 5 – Quantcast Rank | 11 – Alexa Rank | Updated: March 1, 2014.
The Most Popular Social Networking Sites | eBizMBA

linkedin3 | LinkedIn
23 – eBizMBA Rank | 250,000,000 – Estimated Unique Monthly Visitors | 38 – Compete Rank | 19– Quantcast Rank | 13 – Alexa Rank | Updated: March 1, 2014.
The Most Popular Social Networking Sites | eBizMBA

pinterest4 | Pinterest
25 – eBizMBA Rank | 150,000,000 – Estimated Unique Monthly Visitors | 32 – Compete Rank | 14– Quantcast Rank | 29 – Alexa Rank | Updated: March 1, 2014.
The Most Popular Social Networking Sites | eBizMBA

googleplus5 | Google Plus+
30 – eBizMBA Rank | 120,000,000 – Estimated Unique Monthly Visitors | *32* – Compete Rank |*28* – Quantcast Rank | NA – Alexa Rank | Updated: March 1, 2014.
The Most Popular Social Networking Sites | eBizMBA

tumblr6 | Tumblr
35 – eBizMBA Rank | 110,000,000 – Estimated Unique Monthly Visitors | 58 – Compete Rank | 13– Quantcast Rank | 35 – Alexa Rank | Updated: March 1, 2014.
The Most Popular Social Networking Sites | eBizMBA

instagram7 | Instagram
72 – eBizMBA Rank | 85,000,000 – Estimated Unique Monthly Visitors | 51 – Compete Rank | 126 – Quantcast Rank | 38 – Alexa Rank | Updated: March 1, 2014.
The Most Popular Social Networking Sites | eBizMBA

 

Source: https://www.ebizmba.com/articles/social-networking-websites

Local Search Engine Marketing is King

Local Search Engine Marketing is King.

  • 59 per cent of Internet users submit a query in search engines at least once per day.
  • 76 per cent of users use search engines to find local business information.
  • In 2011 Google disclosed that 40% of mobile search traffic is with local intent.
  • In 2012 Google disclosed that 50% of mobile search traffic is with local intent.
  • In 2012, according to one estimate, 43% of search results on Google carries local search intent.  25% with Bing / Yahoo has local Intent.