NOTES FROM INSIDELOCAL WEBINAR SERIES

For those who recently watched the Q&A from the recent InsideLocal Expert Webinar Series with David Mihm, Andrew Shotland, and Matthew Hunt. Here's a list of the live user-generated Q&A information that came out of the session:

Q: will presentation be emailed afterwards
A: Yes will be recorded. Replay will be up in a few days here: http://www.brightlocal.com/insidelocal/ and here: http://www.localsearchforum.com/insidelocal-webinars/

Audience Question
Q: will presentation be emailed afterwards
A: Yes will be recorded. Replay will be up in a few days here: http://www.brightlocal.com/insidelocal/ and here: http://www.localsearchforum.com/insidelocal-webinars/

Audience Question
Q: I have a client that his listing drops or practically disappears but if I barely move the pinpoint and submit it comes back for about 24 hours but happens over and over again. Has anyone else experienced this? Or have a permanent solution? I have reported it and talke dto support but nobody seems to be able to fix it permanently.
A: Please post in our help forum with details and link to listing: http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/google-places-help-support/

Audience Question
Q: I have a client that his listing drops or practically disappears but if I barely move the pinpoint and submit it comes back for about 24 hours but happens over and over again. Has anyone else experienced this? Or have a permanent solution? I have reported it and talke dto support but nobody seems to be able to fix it permanently.
A: There are too many Qs for us to go into QA on complicated cases during webinar. And we also can't usually give the best answers by just guessing as each case is unique. Please post in our help forum with details and link to listing: http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/google-places-help-support/

Audience Question
Q: do you want to use my friends site as an example to review?
A: Thanks we are jam packed and won't have time

Audience Question
Q: where are your cool glasses andrew?
A: Andrew is plain vanilla Andrew today. ;-)

Audience Question
Q: We've done manual submissions for our clients to a lot of major and minor local sites. Is Yext still needed at this point for the premium listings alone?
A: IMO - Yext isn't necessary of you have already done good manual submissions

Audience Question
Q: What is IYP/agregator?
A: Internet Yellow Pages/Aggragtor

Audience Question
Q: what do you prefer yext or moz local or both?
A: check this out - http://www.brightlocal.com/2014/05/27/mozlocal-vs-yext-vs-ubl-vs-brightlocal-vs-whitspark/

Audience Question
Q: link for presentation David just referenced?
A: http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/local-search/25135-clicks-drive-rank-citations-not-important-local.html

Audience Question
Q: link for presentation David just referenced?
A: There are several good ones in that thread. David's on top.

Audience Question
Q: Would "neighborhoods" be considered in the same category as "real estate development areas?"
A: Could be. The point is that it's hyper local and relevant to where the searcher is.

Audience Question
Q: So Centroid is now dependant on where the searcher is located?
A: In a lot of cases, yes.

Audience Question
Q: what u recommend just keyword or keyword with geo modifiers?
A: Where? Site title tags or???

Audience Question
Q: what is gmb
A: Google My Business

Audience Question
Q: what is gmb
A: Google My Business - new name for Google Places dashboard

Audience Question
Q: In terms of hyper local, how well is Google getting at differentiating between businesses that benefit from location vs. those that do not? Exp. A retailer as opposed to a contractor who goes to consumer location.
A: Google is becoming much better with this

Audience Question
Q: to target in SEO
A: Geo and KW

Audience Question
Q: I've suspected that this is where it was going. The traditional centroid factor seemed too restrictive.
A: There is also a "business cluster centroid" but yes, the searcher is really the new centroid.

Audience Question
Q: which review sites are the most important?
A: Depends on the industry. Google+ Local and Yelp are pretty big ones

Audience Question
Q: Do you have suggestions for cultivating reviews for a business with no existing ones?
A: Never stop asking :)

Audience Question
Q: Will it change so that you cannot rank for a location that you are not located in in the future?
A: I will always be possible if Google thinks that would produce a better search result

Audience Question
Q: Will it change so that you cannot rank for a location that you are not located in in the future?
A: No crystal ball for future - but since Pigeon some folks are ranking outside the city more now. Depends on area and competition

Audience Question
Q: if i have reviews is he legimate to post review on reviews sites using software?
A: That's a risky approach

Audience Question
Q: we are a dental practice in harley street and find it very hard to rank for keywords high enough to get traffic!
A: Please post in our help forum with details and link to listing: http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/google-places-help-support/

Audience Question
Q: If i change business name should i start over with a new google page or just change name?
A: Just change name - Google may make new page - it's up to them

Audience Question
Q: Isn't adding keywords to your business title listing inconsistent with NAP of other citation sites?
A: It can be, but there is no strong evidence to suggest that it can mess it up.

Audience Question
Q: What do you recommend for a business that goes through a re-branding? Do you recommend keeping old directory listings and creating new ones so that the result is 2 listings? Or updating the old directory listings so that there is one listing?
A: Update old listings to new.

Audience Question
Q: Invalid Forum specified. If you followed a valid link, please notify the administrator
A: http://www.localsearchforum.com/insidelocal-webinars/ All Webinar links are inside here

Audience Question
Q: Recommendations for helping to soothe clients when the best thing to do is wait?
A: Blame it all on Google. No one can control Google. ;-)

Audience Question
Q: missed something define PACs for me
A: That's the local search results - 7 pack, 3 pack...etc

Audience Question
Q: how do you make sure that old customers can find you via the new listing name?
A: Google should have both indexed you you'll come up for old name.

Audience Question
Q: Is it better to add more categories to gmb when creating a google+ profile to get into more local results?
A: Only add the main ones that are super relevant

Audience Question
Q: Is it better to add more categories to gmb when creating a google+ profile to get into more local results?
A: As long as the categories are relevant

Audience Question
Q: David just metioned tracking numbers, are trackng numbers bad?
A: Generally yes - can be.

Audience Question
Q: when you say tracking phone numbers, are you saying tracking phone numbers that are used for PPC?
A: Similar, yep

Audience Question
Q: if someone has 2 business website on same location should we create separte gmb listings?
A: Only if it's two legally separate businesses

Audience Question
Q: Did I just hear that using tracking numbers like CallRail can hurt rankings?
A: FYI all - Too many Qs to keep up with. For questions we can’t get to during the event, please post at Webinar Q & A Thread here: >>> http://www.localsearchforum.com/showthread.php?t=24922

Audience Question
Q: Did I just hear that using tracking numbers like CallRail can hurt rankings?
A: Yes, it's possible.

Too many Qs to keep up with. For questions we can’t get to during the event, please post at Webinar Q & A Thread here: >>> http://www.localsearchforum.com/showthread.php?t=24922

Yes will be recorded. Replay will be up in a few days here: http://www.brightlocal.com/insidelocal/ and here: http://www.localsearchforum.com/insidelocal-webinars/

Audience Question
Q: can you follow up with how tracking numbers can hurt your business?
A: It boils down to NAP consistency

Thanks to our speakers:
David Mihm: http://www.davidmihm.com/about.shtml
Andrew Shotland: http://www.localseoguide.com/
Matthew Hunt: http://www.poweredbysearch.com/
Thanks go out to Colan, my right hand man at the Local Search Forum, for helping me with Q & A. Here is link to his company: http://imprezziomarketing.com/

Audience Question
Q: Localeze or MozLocal? What have you seen work better?
A: Well, MozLocal cover Localeze plus others...

Audience Question
Q: When using a traking number is it best to place it on a photo rather than use it in the # field for Citations or on the website?
A: Haha I try AND have Colan to help thank goodness!

Audience Question
Q: which is best tool to track citations & check NAP consistency?
A: Bright Local and Whitespark have good tools

Q: How closely do citations have to match data on your tax records?

Audience Question
Q: Congrats to the WonderLinda for keeping up with the tsunami of questions!
A: Oops posted in wrong Q: Try to keep up - have Colan to help thank goodness

Audience Question
Q: Yext or Moz local? which one is better?
A: Check this out - http://www.brightlocal.com/2014/05/27/mozlocal-vs-yext-vs-ubl-vs-brightlocal-vs-whitspark/

Audience Question
Q: do very small businesses without a website stand a chance to rank locally? many can't afford organic but can afford a local campaign
A: I'm seeing many rank post Pigeon with just a G+ L page or even FB

Audience Question
Q: Moz Local places your business into Localeze? I didn't know that...
A: and InfoUsa, Factual, Acxiom and a few others

Audience Question
Q: do very small businesses without a website stand a chance to rank locally? many can't afford organic but can afford a local campaign
A: Facebook

Audience Question
Q: Doesn't Google flag you if you show a lot of activity with links, citations ,etc because it's deemed "unatural"?
A: If they appear unnatural it can

Audience Question
Q: When using a traking number is it best to place it on a photo rather than use it in the # field for Citations or on the website?
A: Tracking # for PPC - yes I'd put in image to be safe.

Audience Question
Q: What about creating local pages targetting the cities you service. Will that not have a value?\
A: That can have value if done properly

Audience Question
Q: Unnatural in terms of the source/destination or speed at which they are added?
A: I suspect both, but mostly the source

Audience Question
Q: Regarding citations, if a smb has major name inconsistencies, should they consider changing their legal business name to match their branded name? (ie legal name is Robert Smith DDS PA, but they've branded to Robert Smith Dentistry). Or does this matter?
A: Too complicated to answer here. Please post in forum Chris.

Audience Question
Q: What is the process of claiming multiple duplicates on Google maps and getting them deleted or merged with our main listing?
A: You don't want to claim duplicates. You should report them as duplicates. But also depends on the type of duplicate.

Audience Question
Q: A business has three physical locations, one website, and three G+ Local Pages. How does publisher markup work in this situation?
A: Too complicated. We have too many Qs to keep up with. For questions we can’t get to during the event, please post at Webinar Q & A Thread here: >>> http://www.localsearchforum.com/showthread.php?t=24922 OOORRRR for complicated ones start new thread.

Audience Question
Q: When building citations, what is the best game plan to seem like a natural progression? 10 a month? 20 a month?
A: I wouldn't worry about that too much. As long as they are quality sites you should be ok.

Audience Question
Q: YAY POUTINE!!!
A: HAHA

Audience Question
Q: I recently saw a drop in only my most two competitive keywords and ONLY on the local listings NOT organic drops at all. Could this a penality due to my excact match anchor text or just competition changing after an update?
A: There are too many Qs for us to go into QA on complicated cases during webinar. And we also can't usually give the best answers by just guessing as each case is unique. Please post in our help forum with details and link to listing: http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/google-places-help-support/

Audience Question
Q: MOZ Local or Yext? Or both?
A: This may help with the thought process - http://www.brightlocal.com/2014/05/27/mozlocal-vs-yext-vs-ubl-vs-brightlocal-vs-whitspark/

Audience Question
Q: I recently saw a drop in only my most two competitive keywords and ONLY on the local listings NOT organic drops at all. Could this a penality due to my excact match anchor text or just competition changing after an update?
A: OOPS sorry didn't mean to copy that. Was going to say I've seen it for a variety of reasons. Post in help and support with link and we'll check it out for you.

Audience Question
Q: Any advice for removing duplicates of Google Pages? /Users/faithzaki/Desktop/Screen Shot 2014-11-19 at 2.28.22 PM.png
A: You can report them using Google's Troubleshooter found at the Help Center

Audience Question
Q: How do you find all the most prominent authority sites in your local area and in your industry?
A: Check competition - plus lots of resources on this at the forum.

Audience Question
Q: what u recommend subdomain or subfolder or different sites if the client wants to target multiple cities and states?
A: Most suggest subfolders, but it's a pretty debated topic

Audience Question
Q: What has more citation value? A citation claimed manually or a citation created by yext or put on sites by data aggregators?
A: I don't think it makes any difference. Maybe worth testing

Audience Question
Q: Brightlocal does check for the quality citations correct?
A: It reports in Domain Authority

Audience Question
Q: with the "more reviews" button on the knowledge graph, if the more reviews connect to the wrong business (with a similar name), how can you change this? For example, a franchise with different locations.
A: Contact Google My Business Support and they might be able to fix it

Audience Question
Q: with the "more reviews" button on the knowledge graph, if the more reviews connect to the wrong business (with a similar name), how can you change this? For example, a franchise with different locations.
A: Knowledge graph is complicated - esp that issue. Post that one at the forum.

Audience Question
Q: What is best practices for phone number format for citations (123) 456-789 or 123-456-7890?
A: The 1st format for sure

Audience Question
Q: What is best practices for phone number format for citations (123) 456-789 or 123-456-7890?
A: Google seems to (123) 456-789. But each citation site has their own formatting so it's sometimes out of your hands.

Audience Question
Q: What is important to do when changing domain name
A: Thats a huge Q, and a little off topic for this webinar. Please post at forum.

Audience Question
Q: What is best practices for phone number format for citations (123) 456-789 or 123-456-7890?
A: When I said for sure - I was talking about own site. Some citations diff format, so can't control that.

Audience Question
Q: If consistency mattters why do so many sites format phone number differntly.
A: it's a small detail. It doesn't have as big of an impact as say an inconsistent business name.

Audience Question
Q: If consistency mattters why do so many sites format phone number differntly.
A: Don't sweat it. Google is good at figuring out. Just be as consistent as you can.

Audience Question
Q: What are their thoughts on GetFiveStars... this sounds like a very similar approach
A: Great service!

Audience Question
Q: Is adding a geo keyword on your Google+ custom url beneficial?
A: You can't add them unless Google offers them to you. Have you been offered one?

Audience Question
Q: Has Matthew experienced any problems with reviews sticking on G+ Local?
A: I think we all have?

Audience Question
Q: awesome seminar Thanks! is it being recorded? gotta bounce
A: Yes will be recorded. Replay will be up in a few days here: http://www.brightlocal.com/insidelocal/ and here: http://www.localsearchforum.com/insidelocal-webinars/

Audience Question
Q: We have two staffed locations. We got a fair amount of reviews on one Google listing locations. Is there anything wrong with asking some of our more enthusiastic to leave a review on our second location as well?
A: Sounds like a risky plan.

Audience Question
Q: awesome seminar Thanks! is it being recorded? gotta bounce
A: Slide deck and this QA chat will be posted at that forum thread too.

Audience Question
Q: Does Google still have "Top Reviewers"
A: Yes, I believe they do

Audience Question
Q: is there are articles on the 5 review rule mentioned?
A: Virtual offices, in most of there incarnations are not allowed for Google+ Local pages

Yes some are editorial snippets

There is a help doc if I can find it that explains the diff type of snippets and how they are generated.

Audience Question
Q: I am expanding my tile business to another city. I used a virtual office. Is this best practice. What recourses can you give me about starting multiple locations?
A: Virtual offices are not permitted to have Google+ Local pages, at least most types aren't

Audience Question
Q: How do you go about opening multiple location?
A: Please post in the 101 section of the forum and we'll help there.

Audience Question
Q: how much impact do you feel the google photo tour has on the rankings - if any?
A: Lots of insight at the Local Search Forum

Audience Question
Q: will the powerpoint be available too?
A: http://www.localsearchforum.com/showthread.php?t=24922
Slide deck and this QA chat will be posted at that forum link too.

Audience Question
Q: I've seen some review stars in Google showing up by select PPC ads - what's that about?
A: These are something called Seller Ratings

Audience Question
Q: What is the forum URL?
A: http://www.localsearchforum.com

Audience Question
Q: I also learned from Joy that those review snippets don't just come form G+ reviews.
A: Yes they can come from other sites as well

Audience Question
Q: What about B2B reviews? Could there be potentially more weight given to those when the businesses are in the same city?
A: B2B is interesting Q. Joy has insights about that.

Audience Question
Q: How big a deal is Four Square in reagrds to SEO anyways?
A: They seem to be a big player and they are getting bigger

Audience Question
Q: I had a hot pot in college
A: Hot pot - who named that???

Audience Question
Q: Will sending a direct link to land on G+ Local review page to write review be penalized? Or better for user to find the review page on their own via search engine results page or Google Map business search?
A: Direct link is just fine. What you want to avoid is a sudden influx of reviews.

Audience Question
Q: Is that David referring to "People talk about..." when he was talking about Google manually writing snippets?
A: Yes

Audience Question
Q: I only askd bc it ssems to me that they have dies off a bit on social media, espcially since you can log in on FB.
A: DAvis Mihm wrote an interesting article about them a few months back

Audience Question
Q: That State of search info was epic! I might - might know someone else who has tested and proven how that works...!
A: Consistency and Quality over quantity

Audience Question
Q: Consistency or quanitity as a priority in citations? E.g. if you already have 20 citations, 10 of which were identical and the other 10 had minor spelling/spacing inconsistencies. Would you say time is better spent building more citations or aligning everything to the letter first?
A: Consistency and Quality over quantity

Audience Question
Q: on multiple locations: is it important to link to a unique city page from each citation? or linking all listings to the homepage is fine?
A: Unique pages are generally best. Plus it creates a better user experience.

Darren Whitespark did AWESOME prezo on how user signals like CLICKS boost ranking >>> http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/local-search/25135-clicks-drive-rank-citations-not-important-local.html

Clicks Drive Rank? See Darren's Prezo: http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/local-search/25135-clicks-drive-rank-citations-not-important-local.html

Audience Question
Q: Would love to get a link to that deck that was just mentioned...
A: http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/local-search/25135-clicks-drive-rank-citations-not-important-local.html

We did click test at forum. Bumped rank then died off.

Audience Question
Q: Are reviews considered a behavioral signal?
A: I would think they would be.

Audience Question
Q: crowd source traffic because activity trumps everything
A: Yep be active and newsworthy and get lots of links that way naturally

Audience Question
Q: MIght have missed this as I just joined in, but what is the best argument for the relevance of Google + to a SMB owner who feels it is unnecessary?
A: Do you want new potential customers to be able to find you?

Audience Question
Q: Fivrr was mentioned, was the conclusion that will be penalized for sending traffic to your site through services like these?
A: It's risky

Audience Question
Q: Fivrr was mentioned, was the conclusion that will be penalized for sending traffic to your site through services like these?
A: Don't think there was a conclusion it was just mentioned that folks are gaming with it. Don't think anyone here would recommend it as a good strategy.

Audience Question
Q: Will the be a recording of this webinar to view again?
A: Yes will be recorded. Replay will be up in a few days here: http://www.brightlocal.com/insidelocal/ and here: http://www.localsearchforum.com/showthread.php?t=24922
Slide deck and this QA chat will be posted at that forum link too.

Audience Question
Q: if we write one blog post for 100 clients, due to it not being unique for all 100 clients does it lose valure
A: Yes it loses value.

Audience Question
Q: if we write one blog post for 100 clients, due to it not being unique for all 100 clients does it lose valure
A: if it's duplicate content yes

Audience Question
Q: Do Adwords play a roll with Google Local organic rankings?
A: Nope

Audience Question
Q: Vey good! TY! So basically letting them know the importance of Google search and it's relation to G+ now also being duplicitous with places?
A: Yes - Just tell them Google is the new yellow pages. Sounds like they are behind the times.

Audience Question
Q: I did a client search and the local map that populated in goode search showed a map, when i clicked the map is took me to a canpages (yellow pages) map? Why notm goolge maps in google?
A: Interesting, care to share link here - http://localsearchforum.catalystemarketing.com/google-places-help-support/

Audience Question
Q: Has anyone received any update on Apple Maps for multi-location businesses?
A: Andrew is big on Apple maps and may have answer

Audience Question
Q: but will you be penalized for these 100 blogs and/or web content?
A: Well, the blogs will most likely get filtered from the Search results

Audience Question
Q: What about Apple Maps? Any suggestions on how to get shown?
A: Andrew has a site all about Apple Maps. Don't have time to find it

What tip Myles? I was busy typing

Thanks David!

Audience Question
Q: very recently Google My Business has been removing "of" from business names. How will this affect citations consistency. Should businesses change their names on their schema tags and directory citations to match?
A: WHAT? You mean like if "Of" is part of name G has been deleting???

Audience Question
Q: Thanks for handling the questions, Linda!!!
A: Colan is helping - could not do alone! Thanks Colan!

Audience Question
Q: Thanks to YOU Linda!
A: You're welcome Celeste!

Audience Question
Q: Great webinar, thank you all!
A: Thanks Ed - glad you likee!

Audience Question
Q: it should be called "Citation Repiar" or "Citation Optimization"
A: Unless you have no citations :)

Audience Question
Q: it should be called "Citation Repiar" or "Citation Optimization"
A: Haha I like Citation Repair!

For questions we can’t get to during the event, please post at Webinar Q & A Thread here: >>> http://www.localsearchforum.com/showthread.php?t=24922

Yes will be recorded. Replay will be up in a few days here: http://www.brightlocal.com/insidelocal/ and here: http://www.localsearchforum.com/showthread.php?t=24922
Slide deck and this QA chat will be posted at that forum link too.

Audience Question
Q: Thank you Linda and Colan! And thank all those other dudes as well!
A: You're welcome Mark. Thanks for joining us!

Audience Question
Q: Is this webinar being recorded?
A: Blogging is always good!

Audience Question
Q: Is this webinar being recorded?
A: RECORDED?
Yes will be recorded. Replay will be up in a few days here: http://www.brightlocal.com/insidelocal/ and here: http://www.localsearchforum.com/insidelocal-webinars/

Audience Question
Q: Is this webinar being recorded?
A: Oops wrong Q - yes recorded Yes will be recorded. Replay will be up in a few days here: http://www.brightlocal.com/insidelocal/ and here: http://www.localsearchforum.com/showthread.php?t=24922
Slide deck and this QA chat will be posted at that forum link too.

Audience Question
Q: Is blogging good or bad for local SEO?
A: Yes blogging always good

Audience Question
Q: Thank you to everyone on the panel and to Linda and Colan as well for all the time and expertise that you have so generously shared with us. I appreciate your help!
A: Thanks Tim!

Audience Question
Q: How do you find the most prominent authority sites for your location and your industry to get citations from?
A: Check competition is one way. TONS of resources in our citation forum too.

Audience Question
Q: What do you blog about and how much?
A: Depends on client. Gotta run. Ask in webinar QA http://www.localsearchforum.com/showthread.php?t=24922

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NOTES FROM INSIDELOCAL WEBINAR SERIES﻿

NOTES FROM INSIDELOCAL WEBINAR SERIES