The Magic Trio: Google Maps Ranking Facts

When it comes to in-store and service area businesses, appearing on Google is vital. When was the last time you visited a store that wasn’t on Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business)? Chances are, if a location doesn’t appear on Google Maps, then it may as well not exist in the eyes of the majority of searchers. Know Your Google Maps Ranking Facts Not only does a business need […Read More]

Why Voice Search Analytics Is Gold in the Hands of Businesses

I’m back again with more information about voice search! Surprised? Maybe not, since I’ve been touting the importance of voice search all year. Let me hop back up on my soapbox once again to talk about something slightly different: the specific importance of digging into Google Analytics and Google Search Console to help local businesses place in voice search results. In order to do everything from rank with Google to […Read More]

The Guide to Getting Found for Service Area Businesses

Today, more and more companies are operating without a firm business location. Whether a business functions via an online website or from somebody’s house, it still needs to draw in customers just like any other company with a storefront does! I’ve talked quite a bit about service area businesses (SABs) before, but since at Advice Local we’re all about getting local businesses found online – service area businesses included! – I […Read More]

Analyzing Voice Search Ranking Factors

By now, you’re probably sick and tired of hearing me herald the coming of voice search. The thing is, I’m not going to stop anytime soon. People are searching more and more with their voice assistants and smart speakers, and we all need to be prepared for that to continue. Voice search ranking factors are more important than ever to make sure local businesses are voice search-ready. Local businesses’ websites, […Read More]

Everything You Need to Know About Yelp Business Listings

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it as many times as needed: reviews and customer feedback are more important than ever. Having a Yelp business listing is a no-brainer. Yelp is not only a powerful site but also an essential component of the Local Search Ecosystem; after all, Yelp makes it into the top three local pages within our listing management technology. For search engines, review sites such as […Read More]

Applying Search Intent to Local Businesses’ Placement

Have you experienced that odd moment where Google suggests a query before you even finish typing? It’s as though Google’s reading your mind! That’s not quite the case, but thanks to searcher intent, Google and other search engines can usually find the perfect answer within less than a second. So, how do they do it? RankBrain, a machine learning artificial intelligence algorithm, is one of Google’s many algorithms working behind […Read More]

Best Practices for Creating Voice Search-Friendly Content

In today’s world, full of Google Homes and Amazon Echos, people no longer search the internet solely with typed queries. Comscore estimated that 50 percent of all searches will be voice searches by 2020. If you haven’t already, it’s time to acknowledge voice search for the powerful change that it brings. It’s a total game-changer! Over one billion voice searches are conducted every month – are you optimizing your clients’ […Read More]

What Is Natural Language and How to Use It for Voice Search Optimization

Remember when we released Voice Search for Local Businesses, Franchises and Brands: The Guide to Getting Found? Well, we’re not done emphasizing the importance of voice search readiness, nor will we be anytime soon! Today, we’re discussing natural language. In order for businesses to properly optimize for voice search, they need to evaluate how they deliver their information. If ComScore says 50 percent of all searches will be by voice […Read More]

Helping Service Area Businesses Place in Local Search Results

Last month, we talked about how to best optimize Google Business Profile listings for service area businesses (SABs). SABs have always experienced challenges in the digital space due to their lack of a physical storefront; creating fully optimized business listings has been difficult, as many of these businesses operate out of homes or locations that are not customer-facing like a warehouse. Fortunately, the battle to achieve a top-notch local presence […Read More]

Local Businesses Can Stand Out in a Zero-Click Search – Here’s How [#Infographic]

When you’re searching online, the last thing you want to do is scroll through dozens of pages to find what you’re looking for. Impatient consumers want the right results right now. Enter: the zero-click search. Google has learned how the average consumer behaves and has adapted their search results to produce zero-click results in the form of featured snippets, Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) listings and answer boxes. […Read More]