Comments for SmallBusinessOnlineCoach.com

Comment on Google Maps: Citations, Reviews, & User Content by Michelle

Michelle — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:42:53 +0000

Yes – thanks Matt. Just knowing how difficult it can be to get people to make even a little time in their busy lives for a review, I thought your ‘do it for you’ service sounded like a terrific idea.
Oh well, I guess we’ll see how it goes for you after a while.

Comment on Google Maps: Citations, Reviews, & User Content by Matthew Hunt

Matthew Hunt — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 20:17:04 +0000

@michelle Still experimenting with maven reviewers. The jury is still out. I would personally focus on getting lots of reviews from all different IP’s addresses in your local area (ideally your clients or customers do it) and try to get them to post reviews on all the major review sites b/c Google imports that data anyways and that way you protect your reviews by not having them all in one basket. Make sense…?

Comment on Google Maps: Citations, Reviews, & User Content by Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:03:40 +0000

HI Matt – great information. I am wondering how your ‘maven’ reviewers publish other people’s reviews? looks like most of your sites need logins, memberships, etc. So that they become ‘maven’ do they always login as themselves and then how do they sign the posts? Or do they create a new account whenever they post at a site (which would negate the maven-ness?)
Seems like a good way to help people post reviews and they are more likely to get posted than if you just rely on the client to do it themself

Comment on Setting Up Google Maps Listing Within Google’s LBC by Matthew Hunt

Matthew Hunt — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:12:08 +0000

@Henky Is your map claimed by some else already…? Can send me an email with your business name, phone, business city and I will take a look.

Comment on Setting Up Google Maps Listing Within Google’s LBC by Henky

Henky — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 08:43:22 +0000

Hi Matthew, funny how you stumble on a great site after spending a bit of money on a private SEO company!
I paid to have my myself listed on google maps so I would show up when people typed my products in certain towns (plumbing in town X- for eg) I have paid specific large towns and cities. Now however I am trying to list myself so I come up against a map under different towns and cities along with my competitors, similar to the ones I paid someone else to do. The problem is when I go to the LBC it says I already have a MAP listing, because I do.
What process do you have to go through to optimise your map listing to appear under different search results?
Hope you can help, thanks.

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5 Tips for Design Students | Lee Gustin Creative Designs — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 23:46:27 +0000

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Comment on Setting Up Google Maps Listing Within Google’s LBC by Matthew Hunt

Matthew Hunt — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:21:33 +0000

@Mike Get a local phone number for $5-10 a month and have them re-directed to the number you want. Make sure each listing has a unique number and unique address. Use UPS or something like that. G-Maps says no P.O. Boxes, but what are you going to do in this case. I say UPS b/c they use suite #’s not P.O. Box #’s so you it’s most likely you will get away with it.

Make sure it’s a address and phone you will use forever on that mobile franchise. I have seen other franchises that have allowed owners to use their own personal addresses and that make a real mess if the business is ever sold, transferred, etc. NAP (name, address, phone #) is very important and must stay consistent for good G-Maps rankings.

Comment on Setting Up Google Maps Listing Within Google’s LBC by Matthew Hunt

Matthew Hunt — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:29:07 +0000

@David

It does take time. If you want to win in Google Maps then focus on dripping in citations and getting your customers to leave a reviews. Those are two biggest factors that give great rankings. There is more to it than that, but those are the basics and foundation of rankings.

Comment on Setting Up Google Maps Listing Within Google’s LBC by Mike

Mike — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:06:44 +0000

Hi Matthew,
Great site very helpfull. Thanks!
I have a question around verification which I cant seem to find an acurate answer for.

I operate a growing franchise business in Australia and New Zealand. We are a mobile home services business, so our franchisee’s dont have a fixed local address and as such don’t want to list there personal address. We can list a suburb (or ZIP code area)when registering, that seems fine but obviously in doing that we dont have a mailing address and for a phone number we use and only ever advertise a standard 13… number. Franchisees can not list individual or mobile numbers. The 13…. number goes to a call centre and the staff here would not be able to accept the PIN supplied via phone verication.
I manage all listings. I see that there are alternate numbers you can supply GMaps….do you know if verification can be acheived via alternate numbers that are not displayed in the ad??
Given that you have had some experiance with franchises, do you know of a posiible work around?

Comment on Setting Up Google Maps Listing Within Google’s LBC by David

David — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:06:31 +0000

Thanks for the great info.
I had an old GMaps listing that I recently pimped up with all the info. I have way more content than any of my competitors. Any idea on how long it takes for my listing to show on the 7 pack? Thanks.