Local Search Column
Your reputation depends on a solid (and legal) online review strategy
As consumers rely more heavily on online reviews, having a strong review management strategy in place can help your online reputation stand...
A wishlist of improvements for Google My Business in 2020
Joy Hawkins shares the top 5 features she’d like Google My Business to update or change this...
How verticalization and zero-click will impact local search in 2020
In the coming year it will be interesting to see how Google balances the priority of verticalization against the growing popularity of Google...
WhatsApp rolls out SMB product ‘Catalogs’ to support local discovery and commerce
SMBs can upload images, price lists and links for all their products or services....
The importance of an effective review management workflow
Brands are at the mercy of third-party review management sites so it’s important to monitor and manage this process as best you...
Location-based marketing: What works and what doesn’t in a campaign
Geotargeting campaigns need to manage three fundamental elements: regulation changes, a proliferation of new data sources and...
The time has come to optimize for IRLs rather than URLs
Drive-to-store strategies have reached a tipping point where they can play a significant role in improving performance of online marketing due...
How TikTok and Spotify could win through location-based marketing
There are many opportunities for apps and businesses to collaborate on co-branded experiences tied to brick-and-mortar...
Getting back to basics with location-based marketing
Learn how the different types of location-based marketing tactics work so you can utilize them efficiently for your...
Do men and women value online reviews differently?
New research suggests there is an opportunity for businesses to get ahead of their competitors by generating reviews from their female...
How the hospitality industry should approach online reviews and citations
Looking for more positive reviews? Here are some smart ways to build citations and reviews plus tips to boost the visibility of businesses in...
6 ways the August core algorithm update impacted local business
Was your site affected by the recent core algorithm update? Here's a look at the changes made to local and small business sites after the...
Rebranding your local business? Don’t start without reading these tips
Rebranding an established business is not easy, says contributor Jamie Pitman, especially for small businesses. Here are 6 marketing and local...
Apple Maps takes a step in the right direction
Keep your business listings on Google Maps updated, says contributor Adam Dorfman -- and don't overlook doing the same on Apple Maps. Here's a...
Google My Business listings: 5 frequently asked questions
GMB has a handful of new features and some best-practice confusion. Contributor Sherry Bonelli clears things up and answers five frequently...
Do Google reviews impact local ranking?
Based on her research, contributor Joy Hawkins thinks reviews may play some part in how a local page ranks. Here is a case study that shows her...
How social networks usurp Google’s local search dominance
Google may dominate most results, but not local search. Contributor Wesley Young looks at how Facebook and other social networks take a...
National ads, local results: Where should you be putting your money?
Discover which locations are your money-makers and focus on maximizing revenue, not exposure in unprofitable places, says contributor Jacob...
Practice useful marketing for local business content success
As a small business owner, you fight big brands and a ranking system that favors them. How can you compete? Contributor Jamie Pitman shares 3...
How does Yelp’s review solicitation penalty work?
Contributor Joy Hawkins provides an overview of how Yelp's review solicitation penalty works and explains why you should not ask for...