On December 3rd, 2014 we were joined by 4 local search experts to discuss advanced optimization tips for Google+ Local. Here’s a preview of some of the issues our experts will discuss – - Category selection & ranking - Landing page selection & impact - Creative methods for boosting conversion - Managing behavioural signals - Advanced competitor analysis - Hidden gems, game changers, and MUCH more!

1. Advanced Google+ Local
Optimization
December 3rd 2014

2. Meet The Panellists
Casey Meraz
Ethicalseoconsulting.com
Phil Rozek
Localvisibiltysystem.com
Greg Gifford
Autorevo.com
Susan Hallam
Hallaminternet.com

3. Hosts & Help
Myles Anderson
brightlocal.com
Colan Nielsen
imprezziomarketing.com
Linda Buquet
localsearchforum.com

4. Topics/Questions
 Overview
 GMB Guideline Updates
 Category Selection
 Landing Page Selection
 Increasing Conversion
 Behavioural Signals
 Activity on GMB
 Competitor Analysis
 The Hard Yards
 Hidden Gems / Game Changers

5. Q&A & Chat
 Use ‘Question’ box to pose Q&As
 Linda & Colan will answer & help
 Some questions will be put to panellists
 Look out for links & comments in chat box
 #insidelocal

6. Webinar Recording
Available Friday!!
Brightlocal.com/insidelocal
Localsearchforum.com/insidelocal-webinars

7. Stay in the Loop
 Slidedeck available right now!
 Slideshare.net/brightlocal
 Follow-up email on Friday
 Link to webinar recording
 Link to slide deck

8. Polls Running
 3 polls running during webinar
 Sample of 1,000 marketers/SEOs/SMBs
 Understand how YOU see these issues
 Results shared at the end

9. Overview
How much impact do GMB ('Places')
signals have on local ranking?

10. 1st Poll
Q. Do you believe that GMB/Google+
Local delivers good ROI?
VOTE NOW

11. Latest GMB Guidelines
Descriptors in biz name
- Why does the latest advice contradict old advice?
- When can ‘descriptors’ be used within a name?
Practitioner Businesses
- What are the key issues to be aware of when
optimizing GMB for Lawyers/Dentists/Doctors etc?
- Do Google’s updated guidelines make it clear how to
manage Practice vs. Practitioner?

12. Categories
- How important is category selection in local
ranking?
- What is the latest advice from Google on
correct category selection?
- What optimization techniques do you use to
get clients ranking for additional categories?

13. Landing Page Selection
- Do you typically link from G+ to website
homepage or to location landing page?
- Which has more impact on local ranking?
- Page Authority or Domain Authority

14. Increasing Conversion
- What is the single most powerful factor in
boosting views-to-clicks from Google Maps/Local?
- What are the most innovative/smart methods
you've seen for increasing views to clicks from
Google Maps/Local?
- Have you seen much uplift from use of Business
View?

15. 2nd Poll
Q. How much of your time do you
focus on conversion tactics vs. ranking
tactics?
VOTE NOW

16. Behavioural Signals
- Why are Behavioural Signals growing in significance?
- Can Behavioural Signals be easily manipulated?
- There have been some recent ‘tests’ What's your take on
these studies & their validity?
- If yes can this approach be scaled & successful long term?

17. Activity on GMB
- Does adding posts, images, videos to your G+
Page help boost ranking?
- Does update frequency have any positive or
negative impact?
- Do ‘followers’ & ‘views’ impact your ranking and
do you have a strategy for boosting these?

18. Competitor Analysis
- Do you have any cautionary tales about purely
focusing on top ranked businesses?
- What Intel is important in competitor research &
what can be ignored?
- What does the term 'stretching the map' mean
and why is it significant here?

19. The Hard Yards
After covering all the standard local search
bases, what tactics/approaches would you
focus on to try to improve ranking?

20. Hidden gems
- What hidden gem / game changer is most
underused or not known to many other SEOs?
- Which piece of optimization work improves local
ranking most?

21. Q&A Time
Put your questions to the experts!...

22. Poll Results

23. Poll Results:
Do you believe that optimizing for Google+ Local
delivers good ROI?
Coming soon!

24. Poll Results:
How much of your time do you focus on
conversion tactics vs. ranking tactics?
Coming soon!

25. Thanks to our Panelists!
Casey Meraz
Ethicalseoconsulting.com
Phil Rozek
Localvisibiltysystem.com
Greg Gifford
Autorevo.com
Susan Hallam
Hallaminternet.com

26. Thanks to Linda & Colan!
Colan Nielsen
imprezziomarketing.com
Linda Buquet
localsearchforum.com

27. Upcoming Webinars
DATE TIME TITLE PANELISTS
Dec 10th 2pm EST / 11am PST Troubleshooting Local Ranking
Issues
Mary Bowling,
Gyi Tsakalakis,
Dev Basu
Jan 14th 2pm EST / 11am PST State of Local Search in 2015 Mike Blumenthal,
Mike Ramsey,
Adam Dorfman
Jan 28th 2pm EST / 11am PST Best Practices for Local Onsite
Optimization
Mary Bowling,
Matthew Hunt,
Mike Ramsey,
Gyi Tsakalakis
See More: Brightlocal.com/insidelocal

28. Troubleshooting Local
Ranking Issues
Gyi Tsakalakis
gyitsakalakis.com
Mary Bowling
Marybowling.com
Dev Basu
PoweredbySearch.com
December 10th 2pm EST / 11am PST
bit.ly/Rankingissues

29. Thanks for watching!