How to Start, Build, and Grow a Google My Business Marketing Agency 🚀

Summary

In this video, Tim Stoddard shares how to start and grow a Google My Business (GMB) marketing agency. He emphasizes the importance of optimizing GMB profiles by focusing on accurate business information (NAP consistency), gathering positive reviews, using high-quality photos, and listing services as products. Tim also recommends using BrightLocal for managing multiple profiles and tracking progress. Success in GMB marketing comes from persistence and attention to detail. By providing consistent updates and optimizing profiles, businesses can rank higher, attract more customers, and significantly boost their profits, making it a highly effective tool for agencies.

Takeaways

• 😀 Consistency is Key: Ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) is exactly the same across all platforms for better local SEO and higher rankings on Google My Business (GMB).
• 😀 Optimize Your GMB Profile: Fill in all key information, such as business name, address, phone number, and hours, to improve visibility and credibility.
• 😀 Reviews Matter: Google My Business thrives on positive reviews. Encourage customers to leave reviews through ethical methods like offering incentives or free products.
• 😀 Photos Drive Engagement: High-quality, attractive photos of your business and products can significantly impact user engagement, especially for visually-driven businesses like cafes and restaurants.
• 😀 Post Content Regularly: Keep your GMB profile active by posting updates and news. Google values profiles with fresh, relevant content.
• 😀 Utilize the Products Section: For businesses with products, such as bakeries, adding product images directly to the GMB profile can increase visibility and attract more customers.
• 😀 Track Performance with Tools: Use tools like Bright Local to track your client's GMB rankings, impressions, and lead generation, allowing for data-driven decisions.
• 😀 Local SEO Optimization: Use local citations and backlinks to improve GMB ranking and increase visibility in search results.
• 😀 Google My Business is Not a Social Media Platform: While it allows posts, it primarily serves as a tool for improving search rankings and local visibility.
• 😀 Long-Term Success Requires Maintenance: Once your client ranks high on GMB, the work shifts from constant optimization to regular maintenance, improving profit margins.
• 😀 Bright Local is Essential: If you're running a GMB marketing agency, Bright Local is a must-have tool for managing client profiles, tracking rankings, and managing local SEO efforts.

Q & A

What is the main topic of this video?

The main topic of the video is how to start, build, and grow a Google My Business (GMB) marketing agency.

Why does the speaker mention using his own company as an example?

The speaker uses his own company, Stazzi Internet Marketing, as an example because it has a GMB profile, even though it does not generate local leads. This allows him to demonstrate the process without sharing specific client information.

What does NAP stand for, and why is it important?

NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number. It is important because consistency in NAP across all business profiles is critical for Google’s ranking algorithm and helps ensure better visibility in search results.

How does the speaker suggest businesses can get more reviews on Google My Business?

The speaker suggests encouraging customers to leave reviews by offering incentives like small gifts (e.g., a ginger shot) and providing them with a postcard containing a QR code that links directly to the review page.

What is the significance of posting photos on a Google My Business profile?

Posting high-quality photos is essential for making a business profile visually appealing, particularly for businesses like restaurants or coffee shops. Photos increase user engagement and contribute to higher search visibility.

What is the difference between 'edit services' and 'edit products' on Google My Business?

'Edit services' allows businesses to list their services in the backend, but these don’t appear directly on the front-end profile. On the other hand, 'edit products' allows businesses to display services as products on the front end, which is more visible to potential customers and can lead to more engagement.

How can businesses track the effectiveness of their Google My Business profile?

Businesses can track their profile's effectiveness using tools like Google Analytics and services like BrightLocal. These tools provide insights into key metrics, including how many people view the profile, click on links, and make contact through phone calls or lead forms.

What role does Google My Business play in local search rankings?

Google My Business plays a crucial role in local search rankings. The more complete and active a GMB profile is, with accurate NAP, reviews, photos, and posts, the higher the business is likely to rank in local search results.

What tool does the speaker recommend for managing Google My Business profiles, and why?

The speaker recommends using BrightLocal, as it is a powerful tool for managing GMB profiles. It helps track rankings, monitor citations, and manage local search efforts effectively, especially for geolocated businesses.

What is the importance of posting fresh content on Google My Business?

Posting fresh content regularly on Google My Business signals to Google that the business profile is active and maintained, which can help improve its ranking in search results. While it may not directly generate leads, it is important for staying competitive.