Richard Beverly's Blog

2020 has nearly come to an end (cue sighs of relief!)� While this year presented many challenges, especially for local businesses, it also created the opportunity for triumph. Google My Business introduced more new features than ever, and we saw the good side of many organizations that strived to provide extra resources and relief to those in need. Although we may all be glad to see the back of what’s been a pretty hectic year, we’d be remiss not to look back on all the exciting things that have taken place. For us, it’s been a year filled with GMB news, updates, and changes, and we even had some laughs along the way too, ( Four Season Total Landscaping anyone?) So, before we say “so long†to 2020 for good, we invite you to join us in reflecting upon the year in local search. What would a year in review be without GIFs? Keep your eyes peeled throughout and let us know how many TV shows or films you recognized in the below! January Suffice to say, the year started out

As we approach Christmas, there seems to be no let-up in the fast pace of updates and tests in Google My Business. At BrightLocal, we may have been busy releasing a detailed piece of research , a complete guide to local SEO and an entire learning Academy , but that won’t stop us catching you up on the goings-on around Google My Business over the past month. Between official updates, rumored tests and new features, there’s a lot to cover, so strap in! Google launches Small Business Advisors program In Mid-November, Google served up a new program designed to assist small businesses in the United States with their online marketing (using Google tools throughout, naturally).� For $39.99 per session, a small business owner can discuss a maximum of two Google tools with an official advisor, and get the tips they need to perform better online using those tools. Wondering who’s eligible for the SBA program? Google says it’s specifically designed for business owners who: Feel overwh

We’ve been working hard behind the scenes and are thrilled to announce the arrival of BrightLocal Academy ; a free online school dedicated to teaching you all about local SEO. Built with busy professionals in mind, it will help you to: Make the most of the time you have to learn with short interactive videos. Fill your knowledge gaps by letting you learn what you want, when you want to. Make what you learn really stick, through regular quizzes. Stand out from the crowd with certificates you can add to your CV or LinkedIn profile. � The first course we’re launching is Level Up Your Local SEO with BrightLocal which uses the power of interactive content to guide you through the theory of local SEO and shows you how to put its awesome powers into practice with confidence.  So if you’re not sure where to start with BrightLocal, or want to uncover new insights in your data to improve results quicker, then this is the course for you!  We’ve got some other great courses from

It’s time for the last Local Quizness of the year! Every month , we pay close attention to all of the new features, bugs, and trends affecting local marketers – so you don’t have to. Answer 10 quick questions to find out if you spotted some of the biggest stories in local SEO from November, and catch up on any you might have missed in the complete reading list below. Only the most vigilant local news-readers can score more than 6/10 – try your luck, and share with your colleagues and peers to find out who’s the highest scorer! Refresh your memory with all the news below, and don’t forget to share your score on Twitter using #LocalQuizness. Local U – New Google My Business Dashboard Search Engine Land – Google’s new Small Business Advisors program aims to help SMBs grow Amy Toman on Twitter – New Placement for ‘Suggest an Edit’ Nextdoor – Neighborhood Sponsorships Claire Carlile on Twitter – Google Posts CTA Update Google – Google Maps Updates to Get You Through the Holidays

There’s no doubt content is key to both ranking high in local search and generating more leads, but there’s a lot of mixed messages about the best ways to approach this. And often what ranks and what converts can be very different beasts. Luckily, we’ve enlisted Sterling Sky’s content creating champion Carrie Hill to get answers to questions such as should local businesses be blogging regularly? What kind of content coverts? And what do you do if great content isn’t ranking? On this episode, Carrie reveals her secrets to make the words (and leads!) flow. Listen to learn: How to do effective content research How to ensure content doesn’t just rank, but also converts The mistakes to avoid when creating content The methods Carrie uses to make writing much easier Listen to the episode Subscribe today If you want instant access to the latest episodes, be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts: Listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts Listen and subscribe on Spotify

30-second summary: 60% of consumers have been shopping online more often since COVID-19. Making your local SEO strategy a top priority for small retailers and those with multiple locations. Shoppers are browsing more frequently and making more purchases, although they are smaller in value. Local retailers should focus on creating in-store experiences online and pick up. Understanding your local audience and optimizing at the hyper-local level is key. Jim Yu, Founder and CEO of BrightEdge highlights five great ways your business can use local SEO to dominate search and translate it into sales this holiday season. A shorter than usual shopping season, last-mile shipping uncertainty, and ongoing health and safety concerns are just a few of the factors driving wild shifts in consumer behavior in the lead-up to holiday season 2020. Given how wide-reaching and long-lasting the coronavirus pandemic is proving to be, we couldn’t possibly have predicted or envisioned the circumstances

Advance Your Agency� is a BrightLocal series designed to equip you with the skills, knowledge, and advice necessary to take your agency operations to the next level.  As in any industry where trust has to be placed in an expert or authority, there are sharks in SEO. While we in local search like to think of ourselves as the more approachable, more trustworthy kid brother of mainstream SEO, sadly there are always opportunities for professionals to behave less than professionally, taking advantage of businesses and eroding the good standing and expertise SEOs should have. You might not have dealt with SEOs playing fast and loose with the truth, but if you’ve been in SEO for some time, and worked with a variety of clients, you’ll no doubt have come across clients who have. The experience of dealing with SEOs who overpromise and overcharge can leave more than a bad taste in the mouths of local business owners and marketers, but that doesn’t mean you should leave them to turn tail