Many SEO companies promise first-page rankings to attract clients but the reality is that no one can guarantee such results. Search engine algorithms, particularly Google's, are complex and constantly changing. Rankings are influenced by numerous factors, including competition, keyword difficulty, and user behaviour, making it impossible to ensure a specific ranking. When a digital marketing agency guarantees first-page rankings, it’s a sign that you should steer clear.
No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google
Google itself warns: "Beware of SEOs that claim to guarantee rankings, allege a 'special relationship' with Google, or advertise a 'priority submit' to Google. There is no priority submission for Google. The only way to submit a site to Google directly is through our Add URL page or by submitting a Sitemap, and you can do this yourself."
SEO is about 75% knowledge and expertise and 25% ‘educated-guessing’. Google is transparent about some aspects of what they’re looking for when ranking sites but frustratingly opaque in other facets. Whenever there’s an algorithm update, SEOs spend weeks puzzling over clues to determine the changes that were made and the impact on sites.
No one has complete insight into what propels a site to the top of the search results. What we know are the best practices that websites need to follow and some pro tips to give you a competitive edge, but there’s still some (educated) guessing involved.
Basically, you can’t guarantee something you have no control over. SEO agencies don’t make the rules; Google does.
What Dubious SEO Companies Have in Common
So, what’s the deal with SEO companies that promise first-page rankings? While they might get you on the first page of Google results, there’s often some fine print involved:
Obscure Keywords: They might rank your site for long-tail keywords with very low search volumes, offering minimal value.
Paid Advertising: Some use Google Ads to place your site on the first page, which isn’t the same as organic SEO and requires continuous payment.
Black or Gray Hat Techniques: These can temporarily boost rankings but often lead to penalties from Google, harming your site in the long run.
Artificial Traffic: Some use bots or manipulative tactics to inflate traffic numbers, which don’t lead to genuine engagement or conversions.
What Can Help You Rank Higher With Google
First, hire an SEO company that doesn’t make promises they can’t keep. A qualified SEO firm will promise deliverables like:
Keyword Research: Finding the right keywords means striking the right balance between too broad and too narrow. An SEO agency will conduct in-depth research to identify the terms people use to find your business, as well as those used to find your competitors.
Content Creation: Producing quality content regularly is key. It should be well-written and useful, not just churned out using AI. High-quality content engages your audience and provides value.
Site Optimisation & Technical SEO: SEO isn’t just about keywords and links. Google values user experience - this includes site speed, mobile usability, and the overall structure of your website.
Link Building: This involves outreach and establishing backlinks from reputable sources. Genuine link building is essential for SEO but can't be guaranteed in terms of numbers.
Google Business Profile (GBP): For small businesses, actively managing your GBP can significantly improve local search rankings.
A Few More Things to Look for in an SEO Agency
Transparency: Your SEO agency should be open and clear about the strategies they're implementing and the progress being made.
Responsiveness: Expect timely responses to your queries and proactive communication about your campaign's status.
Training: A good SEO consultant will provide training to help you understand the basics of SEO and how you can help maintain your rankings.
Realistic Expectations: Effective SEO is a Long-term Investment.
Immediate results are rare, and it often takes several months to see significant improvements. Be wary of companies that promise quick fixes or guaranteed rankings.
By understanding these points and setting attainable targets, you can make informed decisions and achieve sustainable growth through effective SEO strategies.
Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool provided by Google that helps website owners monitor their website's performance in Google search results and will alert of any technical SEO issues. By connecting your website to Google Search Console, you can see how many people visit your site, which keywords they used to find your site, how Google crawls and indexes your website, and if there are any issues with your site that need resolving.
Below are some of the tasks you can accomplish using GSC:
Monitor how your site is performing on Google
Submit Sitemaps and Individual URLs for Crawling: A sitemap is a file that provides information about the pages on your site to search engines. By submitting your sitemap, you help Google better understand the structure of your site and index its content more effectively.
Check Indexing Status: See which pages of your website have been indexed by Google and which ones have not.
Identify and Fix Errors: Google Search Console alerts you to any crawl errors, server errors, or other issues that may be affecting your site's visibility and ranking on Google. By addressing these errors promptly, you can ensure that your website is more search engine-friendly and user-friendly.
And more
Why do businesses need to have Google search console connected to their website?
This is a valuable tool for understanding how their websites are performing in search results and identifying potential issues that could be affecting their website's visibility. By monitoring the data in Google Search Console, business owners can optimise their website's content and structure to improve their search rankings and drive more traffic to their website.
To find out how to connect your site and a comprehensive guide to the various tools within GSC, check out SEMrush’s GSC 2023 Guide
Instagram has kept us hopping this year! Our team has noticed several new features added to Instagram's reels, posting functionality, API, and more... Let's have a look at the latest updates and how they can work in your favour.
Pinned Posts or Reels
Instagram has launched a new feature to allow users to pin up to three posts or Reels to the top of their profile grid. For users of Facebook, this tool will be familiar as we have always been able to pin posts to the top of the Page.
The ability to pin a specific post to your profile is a welcome feature for users who want to highlight their favourite posts that may have been buried somewhere in their photo grid. The feature could also be useful for those who post frequently but want to highlight a specific post. Currently users have the option to pin Stories to their profile and now also their posts or Reels.
How to Pin a Post:
Select a photo or reel on the navigation page
Click on the three dots in the top right corner
Select “Pin to your profile” and that’s it!
Once you have pinned a post, it will appear on the top of your profile page with a push-pin icon. To unpin a post, enter your profile page, repeat the steps above and select “Unpin from your profile”.
Auto Captions on Reels
Want to watch a Reel without disturbing others? Auto captions function in Instagram can help you do that.
Rolling out earlier in 2022, this feature will let viewers watch a Story or Reel without having the need to turn on their volume. Anyone speaking in the video – their words will be automatically displayed in the caption. By default, it's turned on to make Reels more accessible and easier to consume.
To turn on the auto caption for the Reel you are watching, simply click on three dots on the top right corner of the Reel -> manage captions -> turn on the “Captions” button. To add Auto captions to the Reels you are creating, click the “sticker” button and select “CAPTIONS” in the list.
90 Second Reels are Here
Now you can create a longer video, up to 90 seconds. The time limit expansion should provide users the opportunity to better communicate with their audience and showcase their offerings.
"You will have more time to share more about yourself, film extra behind-the-scenes clips, dig deeper into the nuances of your content, or whatever else you want to do with that extra time," says the official Instagram blog post.
New Stickers for Reels
The Poll, Quiz, and Slider stickers, previously only available in Stories, will now be available on Reels as well.
Try to poll your audience on questions, test your viewers’ skills, and ask them to share their feelings by adding Instagram stickers to your Reels.
No matter the content of your Reels, these will increase a level of interaction for your audience.
Templates for Reels
Instagram now allows you to select the existing Reels and use them as templates to create your own!
When you find a Reel that has a “Use template” button above the poster’s user name, you can click on that button and enter the template editing interface.
Simply on “Add media” button and add or replace media sources inside. You can add both photos and videos as materials for your new Reel. Once you have finished, you add stickers, audio, and special effects as normal.
With this function, it is now easier than ever for you to easily create Reels without having to spend all your time editing and creating them from scratch.
Import Own Audio to Reels
The updated Instagram now allows you to add your own audio (voiceover, sounds, music, conversations, etc.) into your Reel-making!
You can save the desired audio file to your local mobile storage and add it as your own audio to your Reel. You will see the new button called “Import” next to the “Saved” button once you click on the “Music” icon when making your Reel.
API Opened Up for Reels
With Instagram Meta announcing that it is launching the Reel APIs for external uses, the third-party platforms will be able to create and schedule Reels and manage related activities in their Instagram accounts.
With API access, third-party platforms like Hootsuite, Later and Sprout Social can keep track of their social posts much easier and they can track cross-platform posts and activities in one place. The current API enhancements include Content Publishing, Insights, Comment Moderation, Hashtag Search, Business, Discovery, Mentions, Promote API, and Instagram Basic Display API.
Reels Cross Posting
Want to create a Reel for different platforms? Instagram’s new cross-posting function makes it easier to do that. Now you can automatically cross-post Instagram posts, Stories, and videos (Reels) to Facebook.
To check your cross-posting settings, tap your profile picture, then the menu icon. Choose “Settings” -> “Account” -> “Sharing to other apps” and then you can see the accounts liked to your IG account.
A great way to re-purpose your content and extend your reach!
More NFT Testing
Another new feature coming on Instagram Meta! Instagram Meta is now testing non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The token collection is expected to include art, images, videos, music, and trading cards. The initial test involves a small select group of U.S.-based creators and collectors. For this test phase, they're expanding access to more countries, so it won't be long until NFTs are widely available on Instagram.
Provide/Get Quotes for Services on IG
One more new function on Instagram Meta – they are testing a “Get Quote” button with select businesses. This button will allow the users to create questions in their profile or add a “Get Quote” sticker to their Stories to ask their customers questions.
Once customers fill out the questionnaire, they can then quickly request a quote from the business about a product or service. This new feature facilitates e-commerce leads and business-customer conversations.
Instagram's New 'Notes' Test
Instagram is also testing a new message function called “Notes”.
On the top of your inbox page, the user can create notes and see the notes created by their followers whom they have also followed back. You can create and share a note by clicking on the “+” button, inputting the message (no more than 60 characters), and sharing it with whoever you want to send the messages to.
Replying to a note will trigger a chat thread with the note creator, which will be private and only accessible to two of you. The notes are going to remain on your page for 24 hours and will be deleted automatically after that.
As it is still in the testing stage, it may not appear on all the users’ devices now but it is already on its way!
We know there are a multitude of benefits that video can have for businesses. However, more often than not people feel out of their depth when creating video content. Inshot is a video editing app which can be a game-changer for businesses wanting to create engaging content for their audience but just don’t know where to start.
InShot is a feature-rich app that lets you drill down into all sorts of editing and enhancement options. Just about everything you’d want to edit on a video can be done within this one app, and there are all different payment options so you can invest as much or as little as you want.
Some of the video editing features that InShot includes are:
Video trimming
Video splitting
Merging video clips
Importing photos or images
Applying various filter effects
Adjusting speed of video
Adding music or sound effects
Adding voice-over effects
Adding animations, stickers or text to videos
Steps to using InShot Video Editing App:
1) Download the app
First off, you’re going to need to download the free app from either the Apple store or Google play.
2) Import and edit videos and images
The InShot app serves as a 2-in-1 editing tool because you can also edit photos. When you open the app, you’ll be asked to choose between importing photos and videos, editing photos and videos, or making a collage.
Once you select a photo or video to edit you should first adjust the canvas. For example, we recommend 1:1 or the square aspect ratio for video posts on Facebook and Instagram and 9:16 for Reels/Stories. From here you can crop it, trim it, add a background or integrate other visual and sound effects. These basic video editing tools are pretty decent for a business but there are far more exciting tools on offer.
3) Add sound and music
After you’ve made basic edits to your photo or video, you can then add sound effects, voice-over effects or music. InShot gives you the option to import a song from your device, or choose from the app’s music collection.
After you’ve selected sounds and music, you can control the volume of each using sliders.
4) Add text
Next, you’ll be able to add text onto the video. There is a wide array of font styles and colours to choose from. The text can be moved around the screen to get the perfect placement. InShot allows you to select start and end times for when you want the text to appear and disappear in your video.
5) Add animations and stickers
Inshot allows you to add custom animations, stickers and GIFs to your video for that fun, personal touch.
6) Save and share
Once you’ve finished editing your video, all you need to do is hit the ‘save’ button in the InShot app. This will begin the rendering process, which may take some time. Once rendering and conversion is complete, the video will be saved and can be easily accessed in your Inshot gallery. From here you can share it directly to your social media channels.
InShot Pricing
The free version of InShot has a wide variety of tools you can access. However, if you like the app and plan to use it a lot, you’ll probably want to upgrade at some point, or at least spend some money on the enhancement packs you’ll use over and over. You can either do one-off purchases of enhancement packs or be a subscriber.
InShot Pro is the app’s premium version and it doesn’t have any limits on the effects, filters, stickers and transitions you can use. Plus, you won’t see the InShot watermark on your creations and there aren’t any ads.
With over 1 billion users, Instagram has grown to be one of the most influential social media platforms in the world. It is known to generate the highest engagement rates out of any platform, because of this, it pays to keep on top of all the movements and evolutions that are occurring within the site.
Here are just a few of the latest updates that all digital marketers should be aware of.
Reels Expands to 60 Seconds
While Reels were originally limited to 15 seconds and then quickly expanded to 30 seconds, we've been limited to that for a while. But now, all users should have access to the option to create 60 second Reels.
New Reels Effect Grid
In another move to imitate TikTok, Instagram Reels have a new ‘Effects’ area and the grid where you choose your effect looks very TikTok-esque. If you haven't noticed it yet, go to Reels and select ‘Effects’ to see the new layout.
Facebook Shops
Facebook (owner of Instagram) has recently made a huge step into eCommerce by introducing Facebook Shops that are accessible though both Facebook and Instagram. Put simply, businesses can now create customisable catalogues of their products that users can browse, save, share and purchase from.
Insights for the Last 60 Days
IG insights in-app previously only gave you the last 7 days in the overview section. But now there is 60 days of data in the overview section and they'll be expanding this to 90 days in the coming months. On top of this, stories archives seems to have also been extended from 14 days to up to 2 years old.
Instagram Video Ads up to an Hour Long
Instagram is now allowing video ads up to an hour length for Feed, Stories, and Explore placement. While an hour-long video ad won’t be that appealing, this does at least mean you can use video ads longer than 2 minutes (the previous limitation). This will also allow you to include your Facebook video ads (that are longer than 2 minutes) in Instagram placements for more exposure.
Added Alt Text Feature
Instagram has introduced a new option of adding alt text to images. Not only does adding alt texts to website images help to better SEO ranking, it also means people with visual impairments can enjoy the social media platform more.
Stickers to replace ‘swipe-up’ links on Instagram
Instagram has just removed (end of August 2021) the ‘swipe up’ link in Instagram Stories in favour of a ‘link sticker.’ This link sticker will behave much like the poll, question and location stickers in that creators will be able to resize it, select different styles and place it anywhere in their stories. Ultimately this will enable greater engagement between audiences and creators.
The age of social media has meant that attention spans have been dwindling. To market effectively, it's becoming more and more crucial to do so in a concise yet entertaining manner. Instagram Reels is fast becoming a popular marketing tactic to convey messages in an easily digestible, fun way.
What is Instagram Reels?
Reels was developed by Instagram as a direct reaction to the popular Tik Tok platform that gained huge momentum during 2020. Instagram realised they needed a new feature to gain back some of the market share it had lost to Tik Tok.
Reels’ design is very similar to that of Tik Tok; bite-size video clips (15, 30 or 60 seconds) which can be edited with text, filters, stickers and music.
Unlike Instagram stories which are temporary photos or videos that expire after 24 hours, and IGTV long-form videos, Instagram Reels are short-form videos that can live on your profile indefinitely. The casual format of Reels and the editing features within the Instagram app makes it much more feasible to create clips which don’t require high-end production. Reels offer a place to share informal, behind the scenes glimpses into you and your brand. The feature can be a very useful tool to a business wanting to share information in an engaging way.
Instagram Reels is Currently the Favourite Child
At Facebook’s Q2 earnings call in July 2021, CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that Reels is the largest contributor to engagement growth on Instagram. Facebook, which owns Instagram, will be doing all it can to promote the new feature among its users. Uploading a Reel to your account will likely mean that it will get pushed to the Explore page of your followers. This will reach more of an audience than a normal Instagram feed post would. In order to maximise your reach and exposure, utilising Reels is definitely something to try given its current status as the favourite child.
Improved Engagement on Reels, is this the case?
Engagements such as views, comments, likes and reshares are important in order for your post to rank in the feeds of Instagram users. Many companies have seen their engagement skyrocket since switching to Reels - although it is not as straightforward as uploading a reel and forgetting about it. Improving engagement on Instagram through Reels can be done, however it requires careful care and attention. The Instagram algorithm will give your Reel more exposure but it's your job to create relevant, engaging content. The more likes/comments/shares you receive on a reel, the more Instagram will increase the reach of your Reel which means more eyeballs on it. It eventually becomes a self-perpetuating cycle. Its also important to try and cultivate conversation on your reels. This can primarily be done by responding to comments on your Instagram Reels, or at the very least ‘hearting’ them.
Instagram Reels are currently one of the hottest topics in the world of digital marketing. This is party due to the fact that Instagram has been pedal-to-the-metal since releasing the feature. In a bid to compete with Tik Tok they’re doing everything in their power to promote the feature. This plays into the hands of any digital marketer. Through careful attention to the content you create, using Reels is currently the best tool you have to increase your organic, free reach.
No matter who your audience is, they are likely using YouTube. YouTube is the second most visited website in the world (second only to Google) with two billion active users per month with an average number of one billion video views per day across 91 countries in 80 different languages. YouTube is mainly used for entertainment, music, informational or tutorial purposes. It is so popular because it provides easily consumable content, especially on mobile that eclipses desktop viewing time.
Despite the popularity of YouTube, many businesses are overlooking this powerful platform as a marketing tool.
Why should businesses care about YouTube?
Videos are more entertaining than reading a blog, and can provide the same information comparable to written text that sustains interest.
They are a great way to:
Connect with your target audience and reach new people
Visually showcase products and services
Show client video testimonials
Present your business and brand in a personal way
Establish credibility in your industry and grow brand awareness
A study from Brightcove (an online video company) showed that 76% of users are more likely to buy a product online after watching a video.
If you're ready to use YouTube to help your business reach and capture new audiences, here are 10 free tips to accelerate your YouTube channel growth.
1. Use relevant search terms in your video title and description
The title of your video is just as important as the content. Using appropriate keywords in your title will help draw in engagement from your audience, and it will also help YouTube’s sorting algorithm pair your video with the correct viewers. The same can be said about the video description – include relevant keywords here to further support the appropriate pairing of your video with viewers. Using relevant keywords in both your video title and description is an effective way to reach more people on YouTube.
Test your title by starting to type into the YouTube search bar the words you WERE going to use in your title. Which search results come up? Now try other words (one word at a time because YouTube will autofill based on popular search terms) and you can see what other people are ACTUALLY typing into YouTube. This can give you a better idea of what to use for your video title and what words to use in your description.
2. Design an eye-catching thumbnail
The thumbnail image you choose for your video is important because people naturally look at images rather than text. Use your thumbnail as another visual location to engage viewers and convince them to click on your video. Make sure your thumbnail is eye-catching, and if possible, include brief text in the image that relates to your video content - but not too much text where it makes the thumbnail cluttered.
Always use close-up content in the thumbnail image. Many people view YouTube videos on their smartphone or tablet, therefore a close-up image (relevant to your video) will be easier to see on smaller screen sizes to grab people's attention and interest.
3. Consistency with posts
Much like other social platforms, being consistent with posts is one of the most important tips to grow your YouTube channel. The people who subscribe to your channel expect consistent content with regular posting – that’s why they have subscribed. Viewers won’t subscribe if it doesn’t look like you post regularly. YouTube’s algorithm is also influenced by regular posting – it heavily favours channels that upload at least once a week.
4. Include video tags
Think hashtags – but for YouTube! Tags are a great way to further optimise your video. Just like hashtags for other social media platforms, tags can provide extra information about videos to both viewers (to give them additional context on the video) and YouTube’s algorithm (to assist in ranking and pairing the video with searches). To save time, you can prepare tags in advance that are automatically populated every time with every video you upload.
To create these default tags, go to: YouTube Studio>Settings (left side)>Upload defaults>Scroll down to see the Tags section>Add tags>Save.
To add specific tags at the time of uploading a particular video, while on the upload screen, go to: Click on MORE OPTIONS. Here you will see your default tags where you can simply add to them.
To add specific tags after uploading a video, go to: YouTube Studio>Videos (left side)>Select video>Click on SHOW MORE and tags>Save (Top right-hand corner).
5. Collaborate with other creators
A simple and fun way to expand your channel's organic reach is to collaborate with other people on YouTube. Naturally, when you do a collaboration, your video will get views from your regular viewers in addition to the viewers coming from the other channel – this benefits both channels. A common misconception with collaborations is that you must do them with people in the same industry as you. In fact, people watch a variety of content on YouTube, and don’t just watch one topic of a video, so being more creative with who you collaborate with may even expand your reach more so than collaborating with someone from within the same industry.
6. Having captions can expand your reach
Captions contain the text of the audio used in your YouTube videos. Since more and more users are watching videos on-the-go or in public places, many prefer to watch videos on mute and simply read the captions. A survey of U.S. consumers found that 92% view videos with the sound off on mobile according to a report from Verizon Media and ad buyer Publicis Media. The report also recommends that advertisers caption because 80% of consumers are likely to watch an entire video when captions are available.
There are two types of captions: open and closed. Open captions are a fixed transcription embedded within the video that can’t be removed, while closed captions can be turned on or off. YouTube reports that videos with closed caption options enjoy 12% more view time than those who do not. YouTube automatically transcribes captions for your videos using machine learning with speech recognition AI technology. The accuracy of the captions is dependent on audio quality however, since captions are generated by AI.
You can help YouTube get every word right by uploading a transcript rather than trusting their voice recognition.
Making the transcript yourself is one option, but these days, it’s fast, easy, and inexpensive to get an .SRT transcript file from a service like Rev for your video. The transcript will help YouTube understand what topic your video covers, and help it show up as a suggested recommendation.
Adding closed captioning also opens up your videos to a wider audience, including those who may speak a different language or those who may be deaf or have difficulty hearing.
Bonus: If you add open captions, every word said in your video will be searchable on Google.
7. Use YouTube cards as free mini-ads
YouTube cards are a great way to direct viewers to other content online. YouTube cards are small pop-ups that you can choose to appear at any point throughout your video, where you can direct viewers to watch another one of your recent videos, visit your website, or even subscribe to your channel. Viewers can click directly on the card and it will bring them exactly where the cards want them to. It is a great interactive way to link to other content of yours.
A clever thing to do is to have the cards visible moments before the user navigates away from your video. Always make sure that the cards link to your channel's content that is relevant and interesting to your users to keep them engaged and interested in your other videos.
To add a YouTube card to a video, go to: YouTube Studio>Videos (left side)>Select video you want a card added>Cards (right side)>Select a card category you'd like and populate with the appropriate content at a specific point in the video timeline>Save.
8. Don’t forget your end screen
End screens are a great place to consolidate all of the information you want your viewer to see – especially because they made it to the end of your video. Use your end screen to promote your other videos, display contact information, or to provide a link to your website or social media channels. In addition, end screens play a contributing role in extending the total session time of the viewer. Similar to cards, end screens can be used as a place to encourage viewers to take action and view more of your content.
To add a YouTube card to a video, go to: YouTube Studio>Videos (left side)>Select video you want a card added>End screens (right side)>Select the type of end screen you'd like (to promote specific things like another related video or channel) and populate with the appropriate content>Save.
This is an example of an end screen from the small business Adventure Horse Trekking NZ where the owner is using an end screen to promote three other videos she has created.
9. Group your videos in YouTube Playlists
Since 2015, YouTube has incorporated an autoplay feature where, when one video ends, another starts immediately after a few seconds. A great way to ensure that the next video played is from you (and not from a different channel with a related video) is to set up playlists on your channel. Playlists allow you to group related videos on your channel together into one collection, so that viewers can watch your videos consecutively, without needing to continuously make multiple clicks around the webpage.
You could group playlists based on video type or videos that are part of a series – really in any way that you choose!
In this example, the playlist is of client testimonials.
Playlists can also play an important role in minutes watched – which is what YouTube is referring to as "watch time". This is important because YouTube no longer promotes videos and channels based on views but rather on watch time. This is being done to prevent people from posting short three-second videos with clickbait titles and racking up views that mean nothing – this shifts the goal of a YouTube channel to creating LOTS of content and LONG content that people really want to watch.
If you can keep people watching, i.e., through the use of playlists, you will be rewarded by the YouTube algorithm in future searches.
In addition to playlists, another way to extend watch time is to save important information for the end of the video, and let your viewers know. For instance, you could say something like “and remember to stay until the end as I have a really great bonus to tell you about.” It's a great way to keep people watching to the end of the video.
10. Promotional strategy
Promote your channel and videos on your other social media channels, emails, print, business store and website so people know your channel and videos exist.
Theses are some of the many ways to nurture and grow your YouTube channel.
If you need any advice on where improvements can be made on your YouTube channel for improved content and engagement, get in touch with cre8ive@cre8ive.co.nz.
Customer feedback is one of the most valuable resources for any business. Understanding what your customers love about your products and services, as well as what they wish could be better, can provide valuable insight to both your business itself, and for future customers.
Research has shown that prospective customers look at reviews while considering buying products or services.
Customers may choose not to use your company and go elsewhere if you don’t have any reviews, even if your company does great work and has a great reputation.
How to Make it Easy for Your Customers to Leave a Google Review
Many customers often don't leave a review after having an experience with a business, simply because they were not encouraged to give feedback or they didn’t know how to. Providing a review link soon after they make a purchase or experience one of your company’s services will help generate feedback.
The review link brings them directly to your Google My Business listing where they can easily give their input on how their experience went. A little encouragement on your end can go a long way for your business’ future success!
Google offers an easy way to generate a review link direct to your Google My Business listing's review section - just follow these steps:
Step 1: Create your @shortname Log into your account to create your @shortname - a new feature Google added in the dashboard. This is an important part of your listing, so choose carefully. The best names will be simple and easy for people to understand and remember. By creating your business' short name, it will be contained in the link, instead of random letters / numbers.
Step 2: From the home tab, scroll down and you will see "get more reviews."
Click on this and you will have a couple of ways to share the link - if you click on 'email' you can copy the link for future use.
The review link will bring users to a page which looks like this:
If you need any assistance with your Google My Business listing or would like a Google My Business audit to see where improvements can be made with your listing, get in touch philippa@cre8ive.co.nz. Our audit also includes our comprehensive, step-by-step guide with our best tips and actionable tactics to help you get more visibility on Google, generate more leads and engagement.
Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool created to help businesses manage their online presence across the Google platform. A Google My Business listing (or account, or profile) can be considered a combination of an online directory listing and a social media profile. Not all businesses can have a listing however, those with physical locations, mobile businesses, individual practitioners and service area businesses are typical examples that can. Examples that can't are brands, organisations, artists and only online businesses.
A complete and optimised Google My Business listing is absolutely important for all businesses no matter the size as it directly impacts how many people find you on Google when searching for your brand, service or products.
Google My Business Provides Quick Information for Your Customers
A Google My Business Listing is important because it gives customers insight and information about your business. Phone number, address, photos, videos, business hours, website link and reviews are all readily available in one convenient place for your customers.
Often users are just searching for contact details, location, and business hours. When they do a search they will type in your business name. Mostly likely the information they will see first is your Google My Business listing, especially if they are searching on a mobile device. Therefore it is vital that all businesses claim, verify and update the content within their Google My Business listing.
Google Owns It, You Can Claim It
Claiming your Google My Business listing puts you in the driver’s seat. It gives you complete control –over what is seen here. It’s important to note that even if you haven’t claimed your listing, it is likely Google already has one made. Google is filling it with information they have gathered or that customers have added, which could include information that is inaccurate, and could potentially harm your business’ success. Therefore, claiming the profile gives you complete control over the information, which is displayed, ensuring its accuracy. You will see something like “own this business” or “manage this listing” about half way down the GMB box – click on this link and you will see whether the listing has been claimed, and if so, which email claimed it. Or it will show you that it hasn’t been claimed and you can follow the steps to claim it.
Verify Your Google My Business Listing
Once you have finished completing your information you will need to verify your listing. Until you verify, Google inputs information from other locations online that may not be accurate or up-to-date. Verifying is simple to do, and can help you control the information Google is providing to customers, which will benefit your business in the long run and you’ll be able to:
allow new customers to find you across Google
create promotional posts
track business analytics
respond to customer reviews
Anyone Can Make Edits to Your Listing
It is vital to complete your company’s information because anyone can suggest an edit to your business listing, including your competitors.
When someone clicks on “Suggest an edit”, it gives them the opportunity to make some pretty dramatic changes to your listing.
Many times, these “suggestions” are immediately made live on Google, even if you don’t approve them. That’s why it is of utmost importance to proactively monitor and manage your Google My Business listing.
Improves Local Google Search Rankings
Having a Google My Business listing also improves local search rankings. It’s known that the top three to five results of a google search are the most important – so how do get you get there? One step in improving your ranking is to, believe it or not, complete your Google My Business profile! This shows Google that your business is trustworthy and reliable, and Google will better align your business with accurate search results. Google also uses the primary category that you choose for your business listing to help better match your listing with what people search for, so it’s vital that you ensure an accurate category is selected.
Show up in Google’s Local 3-Pack
Simply creating a listing increases your odds of showing up in the Google Local 3-Pack list which appears before all of the organic results so it greatly increases your visibility. About 44% of all clicks go to the 3-Pack.
Google Online Reviews
Arguably one of the most important features of the Google My Business listing is the section specifically for feedback. Potential customers who search for your business can read reviews from your other customers – this helps them make the decision whether to do business with your company or not. You can encourage feedback from customers to be posted on the Google My Business listing by providing them with a quick review link.
Note: if your listing is deemed 'equal' in terms of value (rated by Google) with a competitor's listing, if you have more quality reviews than your competitors, then your listing will appear higher.
Once you have a review – whether positive or negative, you must respond. Use your responses to build your brand; affirm positive experiences and addressing negative reviews helps change the perception of the reviewer and reader, shows you care, gives the reader insight on the issue and ultimately helps your online brand reputation.
Google My Business App
Managing your Google My Business listing can now be done via the Google My Business App (for iOS and Android) which allows for easy editing on the go. Share information on upcoming offers and events, engage with customers in the review section, and quickly upload photos or videos directly from your smartphone or tablet.
Overall, creating and optimising your Google My Business listing will…
Give customers all the information they want in one easy location, including reviews which could convert more visitors into paying customers
Improve your Google ranking – help your business to appear higher in local search results
Increase engagement – drive more traffic to both your website and physical location
Star ratings help establish trust, credibility and will boost your appeal
Provides another platform for you to stand out from your competitors
A Google My Business listing is basically free advertising space on Google
Build your brand, increase visibility, and grow your business
Google My Business Audit
If you are unsure about how to best optimise your Google My Business listing, we offer an audit of your listing which will show you where improvements can be made. You will also receive our comprehensive, step-by-step guide with our best tips and actionable tactics to help you get more visibility on Google, generate more leads and engagement.
Get Our Google My Business Experts to Help Manage Your Business Listing
Need help creating eye catching Google Posts visuals? We can help, as well as manage your other Google My Business features, reviews and more. Gain the edge you need to stand out and take control of your local, branded search results. Email us to find out more cre8ive@cre8ive.co.nz.
