Do Businesses Really Care About Their Google Business Listing?

8 years ago

YES....the ones that care about their Digital and Social Media Marketing care deeply about their Google My Business. The fact of the matter is, that 95% of them don't know what to do. They need to hire a professional like me, to know only help them with Google but all aspects of their marketing.

I love showing my clients, the Insights on Google My Business, it shows what I am doing works.

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Claude Whitacre

8 years ago

Originally Posted by mak25

Do business owners really care if their Google My Business listing is claimed & verified?

There seems to be so many unclaimed listings, it seems to me that doesn't make a difference to them.
Nor do they seem to care.

What's the benefit to them if it is claimed and verified?
What's the harm to them if they don't claim and verify them?

What effect on their business does it have? It seems to me little or nothing.

I've read where some have said this is a pain point to business owners.
If it is, how so? If it was that important to them, wouldn't they taken care of that?

Can anybody shed any light on this to me?
Thanks

If they don't claim their listing, anyone can edit the listing. It won't affect their business, unless someone else (a competitor usually) changes the listing.

Thanks
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mak25

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

If they don't claim their listing, anyone can edit the listing. It won't affect their business, unless someone else (a competitor usually) changes the listing.

I don't see how they can do that Claude. In order to make changes that would show up, their listing would have to be verified first.

And in order to do that, Google would have to send a postcard with a pin number to the physical address of the business. I'm sure you know that.

But that could be a good scare tactic tell tell a business owner who doesn't know any better.

Thanks
1 reply

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Claude Whitacre

8 years ago

Originally Posted by mak25

I don't see how they can do that Claude. In order to make changes that would show up, their listing would have to be verified first.

And in order to do that, Google would have to send a postcard with a pin number to the physical address of the business. I'm sure you know that.

But that could be a good scare tactic tell tell a business owner who doesn't know any better.

I wouldn't tell business owners that, if I didn't think it was true.

I know I had to get the pin number, when I verified my own listing. But I was under the impression that someone else could change a listing, if the listing wasn't claimed.

This means I was misinformed (Or had simply forgotten) And worse, that I told it to clients. Thanks for the heads up.

Then the question is, what would be the benefit of claiming the listing?? Is it that you can now add to the listing?

I do know the benefit of a complete full listing. And I would provide that to clients.

Thanks
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DABK

8 years ago

I haven't looked into it in a while, but it used to be you could verify with a phone number... And you could change the phone number on the listing to one you controlled.

And, if I remember correctly, it's not against the rules to create a new listing with the same name, different address, verify it, then tell Google the other one, the real one, is a duplicate.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think verifying it makes it harder for someone to mess with it... Because, if there's a will, there's a way.

So, why make not make it harder and verify?

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

I wouldn't tell business owners that, if I didn't think it was true.

I know I had to get the pin number, when I verified my own listing. But I was under the impression that someone else could change a listing, if the listing wasn't claimed.

This means I was misinformed (Or had simply forgotten) And worse, that I told it to clients. Thanks for the heads up.

Then the question is, what would be the benefit of claiming the listing?? Is it that you can now add to the listing?

I do know the benefit of a complete full listing. And I would provide that to clients.

[ 1 ] Thanks
1 reply

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rseigel 8 years ago

Every single thing you just wrote is incorrect.

Why bother if you don't know?
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Cheers,

Ron
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- umc 8 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by rseigel
  
  Every single thing you just wrote is incorrect.
  
  Why bother if you don't know?
  
  Care to share your wisdom or at least shed some light on what is right?
  
  [ 2 ] Thanks
  
  Signature
  
  Simple "pay what you want" life coaching services online.
  Get out of your own way in business. It's personal. Click Here
  
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- Claude Whitacre 8 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by rseigel
  
  Every single thing you just wrote is incorrect.
  
  Why bother if you don't know?
  
  Ron; You obviously know what you are talking about. Could you let us know what's wrong?
  
  [ 1 ] Thanks
  
  Signature
  One Call Closing book https://www.amazon.com/One-Call-Clos...=1527788418&sr
  
  What if they're not stars? What if they are holes poked in the top of a container so we can breath?
  
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- DABK 8 years ago
  
  You can't be responding to me, because back in 2011 I verified several businesses using my phone, the same phone number each time.
  
  I took control over my brother's listing by changing (my brother didn't remember who verified it for him originally), slightly, the address... added B after the suite number, made the same changes in yelp and yellow pages, stuck a B on the mailbox... And Google sent me a card to the address with a B after the suite number...
  
  Can do the same for a stranger... I'm assuming if I go to the post office and tell them to redirect all mail that comes for x business located at suite B to another address, they'll do it, because that's a common request they get.
  
  Originally Posted by rseigel
  
  Every single thing you just wrote is incorrect.
  
  Why bother if you don't know?
  
  Thanks
  
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Peter Lessard

8 years ago

At any given time 9 out of 10 people do NOT care about or are not ready willing and able ot take action on pretty much ANY subject.

Clarification and a faster way to money in the bank found here: http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...e-clients.html

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rseigel 8 years ago

Originally Posted by Peter Lessard

At any given time 9 out of 10 people do NOT care about or are not ready willing and able ot take action on pretty much ANY subject.

What a crock. You clearly don't have a clue what you're talking about.
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- 1 reply
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Cheers,

Ron
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- mak25 8 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by rseigel
  
  What a crock. You clearly don't have a clue what you're talking about.
  
  Since you've come to my thread and ripped some people trying to help,
  why don't you enlighten us with your expertise.
  
  I for one, am looking for answers. Not negative insults.
  
  PS - For someone who is willing to rip others, why is your website a plethera of non-information?
  
  Thanks
  
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  rseigel 8 years ago
  
  [DELETED]
  
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  mak25 8 years ago
  
  [DELETED]
  
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  rseigel 8 years ago
  
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  DABK 8 years ago
  
  You do understand what a forum is, right?
  
  Originally Posted by rseigel
  
  Doesn't make it YOUR thread moron.
  
  I'm not interested in offering YOU anything of value. Get over yourself.
  
  Thanks
  
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sdentrepreneur

8 years ago

I have been waist deep into Digital, Internet and Social Media Marketing to business owners since 2007.

Business owners don't have the time to handle their Internet Marketing correctly. Either they try to do it themselves, ask one of their employees to become their marketing person or they hire a very under trained person to do it for them.

There is a HUGE need for top notch Internet/Social Media Marketing Consultants in this world. I would say that most people in this Forum could take on and manage some of these businesses needs with the skills they currently have. But...instead, they chase these Get Rich Quick WSO and Affiliate Commissions.

Here is my challenge to those who are considering Offline Marketing. Get out there and find 4 business owners that was pay you $750.00 an Month. Then you have $3,000.00 a month part time and can either fund your CPA/Affiliate Marketing or take on more clients and go full time....
Quit your J.O.B (Just Over Broke)

"Steps off Soapbox"

Originally Posted by Peter Lessard

At any given time 9 out of 10 people do NOT care about or are not ready willing and able ot take action on pretty much ANY subject.

Clarification and a faster way to money in the bank found here: http://www.warriorforum.com/offline-...e-clients.html

[ 3 ] Thanks
1 reply

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Ron Lafuddy

8 years ago

Jim,

You're right.

Someone could follow your outline here and do quite well.

Something related.

For years, I was involved with a service that allowed me to look at business phone bills. At the time, the same billing was used for their yellow pages advertising.

I saw firsthand what thousands of businesses (all types) were paying for their phone book advertising.

It was common to see someone like a plumber, a one-man show, paying upwards of $40,000 a year, just to be in the book. No guarantee that he'd get any calls from it, either.

You can just imagine what a restaurant or an attorney or chiropractor might be paying for their much larger ad.

I mention this cause some people here, can't wrap their head around charging $750 even once
let alone every month.

They have no idea what businesses are used to paying for marketing.

Ron

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1 reply

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Claude Whitacre

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Ron Lafuddy

It was common to see someone like a plumber, a one-man show, paying upwards of $40,000 a year, just to be in the book. No guarantee that he'd get any calls from it, either.

When I opened my store 15 years ago, I called the YP rep. It was when they were selling ads for the next year. I asked what a full page ad would cost for our small town. He said, "$3,500".

I said, "That's not as much as I thought. That only breaks down to about $300 a month"

He said, "No. The $3,500? That's for the month"

To you guys sweating over asking for $1,000 for your services, you have to understand, the locksmith down the street is used to paying $1,500 a month, for a small Yellow Page ad, along with all his competitors.

And, this should fairly scream to you that a great prospecting list is large Yellow Page display ad buyers.

Originally Posted by iAmNameLess

When a company has a listing that doesn't have a website associated with the listing and it is unclaimed, all you have to do is suggest an edit and include a similar domain name that redirects to your lead gen site. Enough suggested edits and co-occurrence with the new domain name and the business identity is enough to piggy back on all the traffic they get.

Finally, someone came through. Thank you Nathan.

What I said before? About people changing your listing? This sounds very familiar, now that you explained it. It just got muddled up over the years.

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Ron Lafuddy 8 years ago

[QUOTE=Claude Whitacre;10406240]
"To you guys sweating over asking for $1,000 for your services, you have to understand, the locksmith down the street is used to paying $1,500 a month, for a small Yellow Page ad, along with all his competitors.

And, this should fairly scream to you that a great prospecting list is large Yellow Page display ad buyers."

I was in a doctor's office talking about his phone bill and I noted he had a monthly charge of $2,500 for yellow pages. He had 3 offices, so I thought the $2,500 charge was for the 3 offices.

Then I noticed that it wasn't combined billing. The billed telephone numbers for the other 2 offices, weren't part of that bill. I asked him if he had bills for the other offices and he pulled those files and handed them to me.

Yowza! $9,000 a month total for yellow pages. I was floored!

He asked me if I could save him any money. I said, only half jokingly, "close one of your offices."

He was not amused.

Businesses have already been conditioned to pay more if you want more, by companies like yellow pages.

"Want a bigger ad, like your competitor?"

"Want color instead of plain old black ink?"

"Want to be in more zones (more books) to increase your market coverage?"

Then reach for your wallet, Jack...cause it's gonna cost you A LOT MORE to get that.

They willingly pay.

But don't take my word for it. Open up the yellow pages and see for yourself.
- [ 1 ] Thanks
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bizgrower

8 years ago

Originally Posted by Claude Whitacre

When I opened my store 15 years ago, I called the YP rep. It was when they were selling ads for the next year. I asked what a full page ad would cost for our small town. He said, "$3,500".

I said, "That's not as much as I thought. That only breaks down to about $300 a month"

He said, "No. The $3,500? That's for the month"

To you guys sweating over asking for $1,000 for your services, you have to understand, the locksmith down the street is used to paying $1,500 a month, for a small Yellow Page ad, along with all his competitors.

And, this should fairly scream to you that a great prospecting list is large Yellow Page display ad buyers.

I know of this web agency and referenced them in another thread. (The owner wrote a weekly Kim Komando type column in a daily newspaper. I'd say it was a marketing activity that paid off handsomely within a year or less.) I do not know the owner or any employees and am not an affiliate.

I do like the way they present their pricing and use their website to qualify prospects, and am
posting for newer people to get some ideas about presentation and pricing. Keep in mind this example is
from a full service web agency:
Web Design and Website Development Pricing | Colorado Web Design Company

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iAmNameLess

8 years ago

Originally Posted by mak25

Do business owners really care if their Google My Business listing is claimed & verified?

There seems to be so many unclaimed listings, it seems to me that doesn't make a difference to them.
Nor do they seem to care.

What's the benefit to them if it is claimed and verified?
What's the harm to them if they don't claim and verify them?

What effect on their business does it have? It seems to me little or nothing.

I've read where some have said this is a pain point to business owners.
If it is, how so? If it was that important to them, wouldn't they taken care of that?

Can anybody shed any light on this to me?
Thanks

I don't really care to comment on the other responses so I'll just answer with my insight and experience.

What's the benefit to them if it is claimed and verified?

A little bit of extra security... but there is a visibility issue, if you're doing SEO for a company you obviously want to claim it, because it gives you more control in optimizing the listing itself. And... though it isn't a ranking factor from what I can tell, there's a high level of correlation in claimed listings ranking vs. unclaimed.

If they are already ranking... there is little benefit to claiming it. Talking them into claiming it and paying you for it, is ignoring the bigger picture.

So... in short... there's not a big benefit of claiming a listing if the information is accurate and they're already ranking well.

What's the harm to them if they don't claim and verify them?
The real harm is what .001% of SEO's can do if they want to generate leads for another company while utilizing an existing listing.

When a company has a listing that doesn't have a website associated with the listing and it is unclaimed, all you have to do is suggest an edit and include a similar domain name that redirects to your lead gen site. Enough suggested edits and co-occurrence with the new domain name and the business identity is enough to piggy back on all the traffic they get.

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SiteSmarty

8 years ago

I haven't come across any local business owners that didn't want their Google Business Page or Google Map to be claimed or optimized. You can get a local business to do just about anything if you compare their online business results to their competition.

As far as someone else claiming a Google My Business listing, that can't be done easily but searchers can add places to a map that aren't listed or discoverable online. If a searcher adds business information to the map and it's incorrect it could hurt the local business discoverability in search.

Bottom line is if you have a local business you need to claim, optimize and keep your info updated or the sharks will eat you for breakfast. Everything matters. Local businesses have to do it all or be stomped by their competition.

Try the comparison thing with a local business in any aspect of offline to online marketing and you'll see the results. If you do it right the only thing you'll have to worry about is hiring a body guard to escort you to the bank.

Thanks

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