Local SEO and Marketing Q&A Session April 22, 2022

Each week, Greg and Ben answer your questions on digital marketing for local businesses … local search engine optimization (SEO), Google Business Profile, social media, email marketing, websites, online advertising and more.

This Week’s Updates and Questions

  • Changes to brand accounts.
  • How do I verify my GBP when I have incorrect information that can’t be updated? 
  • If I set up a Google profile and don’t have an address, can I choose a method of verification other than postcard?
  • How should I set up the location page on my GBP for best results?
  • Can I create my own Google review link generator?
  • Is it better to select one business category over multiple on GBP?
  • How do I get rid of non legitimate GBP accounts created by a separate marketing company that doesn’t exist anymore? 
  • Offer posts now showing up on the deals tab.
  • My location isn’t labeled on Google maps but shows up in search – should I worry about it?
  • Posts seem to last longer than they used to – should I be deleting old posts? 34:10 
  • Google keeps changing “Dine-in” to “No dine-in” which is hurting the business. What can I do to “lock in” the correct “Dine-in?
  • How do I remove a negative review? 
  • If there are 2 SABs with the same address & owner, but different phone numbers & websites, and different (but related) primary categories, are their GBP’s OK? 
  • I manage a number of franchise based GBP listings. There is little to no control over the websites and citations outside of Yext are not allowed. Any suggestions on what can be done? 
  • Do Q&As help your GBP, and if so, do you have any advice on getting people to do that in a white hat manner?
  • What are your thoughts on service pages when they do not have a physical address in that city, but offer their services in that city? 
  • Is switching primary category and/or adding or deleting categories okay depending on the season?
  • I’m having issues where a post will always be rejected if it includes any pictures at all, and this has been going on for over a year – would it be better to create a new listing?
  • I have a five star rating but the review isn’t showing – is it possible that the links in the review are causing the problem?

Links from This Week’s Session