Google + Local Listing Verification PIN

It’s important to get the Google local listings verified for each of our clients business locations. Each of the locations will receive a postcard from Google in the mail with a verification PIN number on it. (see postcard below) We need to enter this PIN in order to complete the local listings for each location. Each of these postcards are going to be addressed to you (our client). When you receive notice of the postcards you will need to let us know what the PIN is in order for us to complete the verification process. The postcard(s) should arrive in about a week or so.

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What is Local SEO and how does it affect my rankings?

Local SEO is a specialized kind of online marketing that increases visibility for businesses interested in ranking for geographically-related keywords. A large part of Local SEO involves ranking in the Local algorithms, as well as ranking well in the organic results for Local keywords.

What types of businesses need Local SEO?

Any business that gets some or all of its customers or clients locally should consider local SEO. That could be a local restaurant, retail outlet, doctor, dentist /orthodontist or lawyer, but it could just as easily be a local ad agency. If you have a physical address in a city and expect people to go there, you should be doing local SEO for that location.

How is Local SEO different from National SEO?

While all of the elements that apply to national SEO also impact local SEO (on-page factors, links, social, indexing, etc.), local comes with a few unique elements.

The first and probably most important is that for local SEO you need to create and claim a local profile on Google (and other platforms as desired. See the Local SEO Guide for more information) Your local listing is what will show (usually) for localized search results.

The second most important thing is called a citation. A citation is any place online that uses your company NAP (name, address, phone number) all on the same page, in the same format as your local listing. This same format bit is pretty important. While Google is pretty smart, it’s best to make sure that your local citation efforts match your local listing as closely as possible. Don’t abbreviate in one and not the other (St. vs Street, (800) vs 1-800, etc.)

Third, reviews. Lots and lots of reviews (preferably really good ones.) Quantity and quality of reviews left for your business on your Google Places page is one of the most important local ranking factors.

How does on-site optimization differ for Local SEO vs. National SEO?

All of the same elements apply, but there are four things you should strongly consider mixing in. One, make sure your name, address and phone number are used on every page of your site, in the same format as your Google local listing (in the footer is an ideal location.)

Two, use your City and State names in your Title tags, Meta descriptions, and the content on your site (as it fits, don’t just force it in there.)

Three, make use of Schema local markup to better help search engines identify and show your location.

What are the most important signals that boost local SEO rankings?

The three biggest factors in local listings appear to be the number of citations, the number of reviews (primarily on your Google Places listing, though other places do count), and how positive the reviews are overall. From what we’ve seen, positive reviews will trump citations, so persuading your customers and clients to leave great reviews on your Google local page is the single most important thing you can do. Of course, there are some things that have a big impact and that may not be directly in your control, such as how close your business is to the city center.

What does the location of a business to the city center have to do with anything?

Google uses something commonly called “centroid bias”, which means that if someone searches for, say, Seattle Dentist, there will be a bias towards the dentist locations that are closest to the center of the city. While it is possible for a business in a neighboring city to rank for a metro keyword (i.e. a business in Cambridge trying to rank for a Boston keyword), if you’re on the outskirts of a city, or in a city neighboring a major metropolitan area, you’re going to be at a disadvantage.

Can you outline a brief action plan you’d recommend for new company looking to compete for local search results?

First, claim your local listing on Google Places, and make sure to complete your listing until it’s at 100%. This will require adding images, videos, and more. When creating this listing, DO NOT use any keywords or location names in your business title or business description that aren’t a part of your official business name or absolutely critical to accurately describing your business.

Second, make sure that the information from your Google Places page is spread across all of the other major local platforms, in the same format. Each of these will become a citation, which is hugely valuable.

Last but not least, do everything you can to get your happy customers to leave positive reviews for you on Google Places. You aren’t supposed to directly solicit positive reviews, but there are plenty of ways to encourage great reviews.

Can you recommend some ways a local business can get reviews?

Let your customers or clients know that they can rate their experience with you on your Google Places profile. Have logos up in your windows or in your office showing the places where people can leave reviews. Include your profile links in your email communications (particularly in follow-up emails after a purchase or visit), direct mail, and anywhere else you can think of to get it in front of customers. Of course, if you want positive reviews, you need to provide a product and/or service that warrants them.

And while this should go without saying, DON’T BUY REVIEWS. While Google doesn’t always catch fake reviews, they are working constantly to get better at it. Yelp on the other hand errs on the site of extreme caution, and often banishes overly positive reviews.

Is Local SEO an ongoing endeavor, or is it more of a set-and-forget expense?

There is absolutely an ongoing component. You should be getting new citations, reviews, social mentions and links each and every month.

Source: Search Engine Journal

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Yelp Business accounts offer a suite of free tools that include the ability to:

• Communicate with customers both privately and publicly;
• Track how many people view business profiles;
• Add photos, a detailed business description, up-to-date information, history, and areas of specialty;
• Recommend other businesses.

To take advantage of these benefits, you must first claim your listing, which you can do by searching for your listing on Yelp.

How do I add my business to yelp.com?
If your business is not listed, create a Yelp account (or login to your existing account) to begin.
Go to biz.yelp.com then click “Create Your Free Account Now”

Follow the steps/enter information accordingly. You will need to claim the listing at business telephone number. If the listing already exists but has not been claimed, you will see a button on the page that says “Claim This Listing.” Whenever you need to make edits to your listing go back to biz.yelp.com to login and make edits.

To Contact Support: Email: feedback@yelp.com

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How do I add my business to yp.com?
Go to: http://adsolutions.yp.com/SSO/Login

• Click “Get Started”

• You may run across ads/upgrade requests throughout the process of filling out information – there will be a small option somewhere (usually towards the bottom) that says something along the lines of “Skip” or “No Thanks”
• Follow the steps/enter information accordingly
• You will need to get the listing verified by business telephone

When you want to edit/update your listing you will need to go to the business login: http://adsolutions.yp.com/SSO/Login

To Contact Support: Phone: 1-800-577-7126

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How do I add my business to Citysearch.com?
You can find them at www.expressupdateusa.com

How to Claim a Business:
Use this link: http://signup.citygrid.com/cyb/find_business

• Search for your business by entering your business name and zip code. Then click “Find my Business”.
• Click “Claim This Business” below your business
• You will need to claim via business telephone #

Logging into your account:
if you cannot login via citysearch.com then login via CityGrid using this link: http://myaccount.citygrid.com/login

• If your business is not verified by phone yet, then as soon as you login it will ask you to verify it by phone and it will not let you do anything further until you verify the business by phone.

To Contact Support: Email: customerservice@citygrid.com
Call Support: (800) 611-4827 – hours are: 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM Pacific Time

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How do I add my business to Manta.com?

• On the homepage click “+add your business”

• Follow the steps/enter information accordingly
• You will need to verify the listing via phone – they will give you a code on the screen. You have to call them – it does not have to be from the business telephone number.

To Contact Support: Phone: 1-866-751-6481

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SuperPages: www.superpages.com
Superpages.com is the local expert, and another one of the top online resource for finding business information and insights. SuperPages helps millions of consumers find local business information from driving directions and hours of operation to photo, links directly to their website and customer reviews.

How do I add my business to superpages.com?

• While on the home page superpages.com, click “Add Your FREE listing” in the top right corner

• Follow the steps/enter information accordingly
• Once your listing is created, in order to make edits to your SuperPages listing you must login to www.supermedia.com. It may take up to 48 business hours for your edits to go through.

To Contact Support: Phone Support: 866-558-0400
Sign-in help page: http://www.supermedia.com/help/account-information/sign-in/

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Foursquare: www.foursquare.com
Foursquare is a location-based social network that relies on a mobile app, which allows people to “check-in” to your business, write comments, leave tips, and share information on Facebook and Twitter. Once you have claimed your listing on Foursquare you have the ability to edit your business information, gain access to analytics about customers, and create special offers to reward new and loyal customers.

How do I add my business to foursquare.com?

• Go to business.foursquare.com then click “Your Listing”

• Click the orange button that says “Get Started”

• Follow the steps/enter information accordingly
• You will need to verify the listing via phone and postcard. Foursquare has a different type of phone verification. They allow you to use your cell phone. They will have you press a button to enter your phone number then have them call.

When they call it will be an automated voice that will ask you for your personal name, the company name, and your relation to the company (Marketing Representative). After that, you will have Foursquare send a postcard to the business address. The postcard will contain a PIN. Once they receive the PIN and let you know what it is then you can log into the account and enter it for verification. The PIN can take up to a month to arrive.

To Contact Support:
To submit a support request: http://support.foursquare.com/anonymous_requests/new
Tweet support: @4sqSupport
FAQ’s: http://support.foursquare.com/categories/20060487-foursquare-for-business

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Angie’s List: www.angieslist.com
Nationwide there are millions of visitors on this site to check reviews to find the best service providers locally. Some of the service providers shown on Angie’s List include roofers, plumbers, house cleaning, mechanics/handymen, doctors and dentists and much more.

Angie’s List collects ratings and reviews on more than 700 different services. Angie’s List helps you find trustworthy companies that perform high-quality work in your local area.

How do I add my business to angieslist.com?

• On their website click on the button in the top right corner titled “Business Owners”

• Next click the orange button that says “Create your free account now” or “Register” in the top right corner
• Clicking either will take you to the same page

• Follow the steps/enter information accordingly. There will be no type of verification needed.
• If you find an unclaimed or claimed listing on Angies List you can still claim it and manage it without any verification process you just have to fill out extra information and agree to their terms to let them know you are allowed to represent the company.
• If you do not have login information for a listing but you need to find out if a business is on Angie’s List you will not be able to search within the website because it costs money to use Angie’s List to search for companies. You will need to Google search “Company Name Angie’s List”.

To Contact Support: Toll-free number: 1-866-843-LIST (5478)
Email: businesscenter@angieslist.com

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Hotfrog: www.hotfrog.com
A Hotfrog Local is a tool for you to create demand for your business. It helps you convey exactly what’s different about your products and services, add images, create coupons and put your business’ unique approach and personality in front of people searching online.

How do I add my business to hotfrog.com?

• On the homepage click “Add your business”

• Follow the steps accordingly, there will be no verification process

To Contact Support:
To submit an issue: http://www.hotfrog.com/ContactUs.aspx

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