I didn't know time could go by so fast with everyone home and not able to go anywhere. But here we are in August already!! We've been keeping ourselves busy with working at home, chores, fixing things, cooking, and playing with the kids. Precisely what you would expect from a San Jose SEO expert in quarantine. We're definitely able to bond and spend more quality time together during this pandemic and we keep finding things to enjoy in the present and not let it cloud the future.
Upgraded business profiles and the Google Guaranteed badge
Let's kick things off this month with an insider tip about upgraded Google My Business profiles, hot off the press! It hasn't been officially announced yet, but we've heard through the grapevine that these leveled-up listings have some pretty nifty features.
Of course, you know Google My Business is the free tool that lets you manage your Google presence, including how customers view your company on Maps and in search results. And now they're toying with the idea of asking businesses to pay in return for extra assurance of trustworthiness in the local pack listing — and we all know how crucial trust is for loyalty. It's decided to offer businesses a Google Guarantee badge that lets clients know that Google backs your listing.
There are even whispers that Google will offer refunds to customers who aren't satisfied with the businesses backed by the Google guarantee badge. If this is the case, it should have a pretty significant impact on conversions and CTR.
The best thing about this potentially lucrative upgrade is the relatively low cost of $50 per month. At the moment, this is just in the testing phase, so we don't know who qualifies as eligible to apply for this service. We'll update you just as soon as we know more!
Black-owned business can now add this special attribute
Staying with the local pack theme: In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Google has added some new indicators, known as attributes. These attributes appear in the search engine panel to let search engine users know whether your business offers relevant services. Companies can add attributes to their profiles to capture the attention of people looking for a specific service or method of communication. For example, you can show that you’re a Black-owned business on Google.
Here are some of the most popular ones we're seeing:
Balck-Owned
Women-Led
Veteran-Led
LGBTQ friendly
Online appointments
Online care
Online estimates
Online classes
We've added the online appointments attribute to almost all of our client's GMB profiles already. Lots of consumers prefer the convenience and reliability of making appointments online, so it's a great, fast way of funneling visitors to your website. If you'd like to add any further attributes, simply log on to GMB, open the location of your choice, choose the 'find attributes' option from the menu and click apply once you've chosen the ones you'd like to use.
If you don't have this app, we highly recommend it
We've been getting pretty excited about the Google My Business app recently, and we think you guys should too. If you don't already have this app on your phone, you should add it. It lets you manage your profile from absolutely anywhere in a convenient and easy to use application on your phone. You can respond to reviews, upload photos, post updates and manage how your business appears on Google Maps. You can find this handy tool in the App Store or on Google Play.
Some features haven't made it to the app yet, such as transferring ownership or taking down your listing. However, it also has some brand new features, like the ability to view your followers. It's a great way to stay organized while on the go.
SEO expert tip for all my San Jose lawyer friends and followers
It's undeniable that 2020 has been fraught with challenges, but If there's one thing that we can all take away from the global pandemic, it's that we don't need to be in the same room to be connected.
Take Zoom, for example - one of our clients in Pennsylvania is offering Zoom mediation for couples who need to work through their dispute resolution with the support of a supportive, experienced mediator (at a safe digital distance!) Perhaps you could offer something similar in San Jose?
And did you know Zoom meetings can be recorded to your computer and then uploaded to YouTube for later viewing and sharing?
So whether it's for coronavirus-related reasons or pure convenience, Facebook video, Zoom, Skype and Teams provide you the opportunity to maintain a strong connection to your audience, no matter what!
Alright, that’s the month in a wrap. Thank you for reading this novel of a post! If you have any questions or need anything at all, please drop me a line.
