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Google Local Listings, Good or Bad For Offline SEO Consultants?

by MIB Mastermind
12 replies
Hey folks,

So I have got into the whole offline niche and I have worked with a few local businesses, the services I have been doing so far have mainly been submiting a business to Google local listings, some article writing and content etc.

This has be ok so far but I no there is alot more potential profits within this niche, such as monthly seo and ppc management, as I have good experiance with both.

My question is this.

Can I really expect a business to pay me hundreds of dollars a month to get them first page and hopefully number one rankings in google, when there is now a 10 box above all the natural listing for local targeted keywords, As these keywords only recieve a few hundred phrase match searches a month.

I mean being in position 1 on google now doesn't even get your site above the fold. Do you guys find this a problem? obviously the traffic is going to be much less than it would have been, even if you have 1 of the 10 boxes and number 1 in the natural results.

I would really like your thoughts on this guys, especialy for the folks who do this full time and provide seo services to local businesses.

Thanks

Bryan
#bad #consultants #good #google #listings #local #offline #seo
  • Profile picture of the author Mikedb
    Hi Bryan,

    first, it is a 7-box now the 10-box is gone.
    Also, why don't you offer them both?
    1 listing in Google maps for a onetime fee ($2,000) and the a second listing on the first page for a monthly fee.

    Upfront money and recurring.
    It is easy and that is how I do it

    regards,

    Mike
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    • Profile picture of the author Christian Sawyer
      What are the key factors in getting a higher rank within the local results? Reviews?

      -Christian

      Originally Posted by Mikedb View Post

      Hi Bryan,

      first, it is a 7-box now the 10-box is gone.
      Also, why don't you offer them both?
      1 listing in Google maps for a onetime fee ($2,000) and the a second listing on the first page for a monthly fee.

      Upfront money and recurring.
      It is easy and that is how I do it

      regards,

      Mike
      Signature
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      • Profile picture of the author Mikedb
        Originally Posted by Christian Sawyer View Post

        What are the key factors in getting a higher rank within the local results? Reviews?

        -Christian
        Yes they really count!
        Most important to start with?
        NO

        Regards,

        Mike
        Signature
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    • Profile picture of the author MIB Mastermind
      Originally Posted by Mikedb View Post

      Hi Bryan,

      first, it is a 7-box now the 10-box is gone.
      Also, why don't you offer them both?
      1 listing in Google maps for a onetime fee ($2,000) and the a second listing on the first page for a monthly fee.

      Upfront money and recurring.
      It is easy and that is how I do it

      regards,

      Mike
      Hey mike,

      Yeah sorry 7 box. Can you really get $2000 for a google maps listing
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      • Profile picture of the author Mikedb
        Originally Posted by MIB Mastermind View Post

        Hey mike,

        Yeah sorry 7 box. Can you really get $2000 for a google maps listing
        YES,

        even more €2000

        That is $2,600

        Regards,

        Mike
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  • Profile picture of the author Steve Peters Benn
    Bryan - why are you pitching yourself as an SEO consultant? Also - why can't that definition include local results - as far as your target market is concerned?
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    • Profile picture of the author MIB Mastermind
      Originally Posted by Steve Peters Benn View Post

      Bryan - why are you pitching yourself as an SEO consultant? Also - why can't that definition include local results - as far as your target market is concerned?
      Hey steve, I'm not pitching myself as an SEO consultant I am looking for feedback from seo consultants, I no enough about seo for me to be of value to local businesses.

      Also it would include local results, I was just wondering how much the traffic drops off because of the 7 box.

      Bryan
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  • Profile picture of the author Kelly Verge
    Don't try to sell the details. Sell the results.

    Can you bring the prospect more leads or customers? Can you help him close sales? Can you help him make more on each customer he has? Can you help him bring customers back into his office/store/location?

    The rest are just details.

    Did your dentist try to sell you on what size bit he was going to use? No. He said he'd fix your tooth.

    Ask questions to find out what your client wants, then charge them for helping them get it.
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    • Profile picture of the author MIB Mastermind
      Originally Posted by Kelly Verge View Post

      Don't try to sell the details. Sell the results.

      Can you bring the prospect more leads or customers? Can you help him close sales? Can you help him make more on each customer he has? Can you help him bring customers back into his office/store/location?

      The rest are just details.

      Did your dentist try to sell you on what size bit he was going to use? No. He said he'd fix your tooth.

      Ask questions to find out what your client wants, then charge them for helping them get it.
      Hey Kelly thanks for the feedback, I respect your opinion on the subject alot.
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    • Profile picture of the author LisaSchwartz
      I think Kelly brings up some good ideas and excellent points. Separate yourself from your competitors (there are more feet on the street now doing offline marketing and consulting than before) by offering the conversion and the results! This is because there are so many feet on the street showing a "line card" meaning a list of services from A-Z. The small business I talk to every day want to know how much money they are going to make. Sure some biz guys are savvy with the Internet Marketing scene and may ask for details, so that's when you show them the "line card" but other than that talk results and stand firm on your ability to deliver results.
      Hey, I'm going by what you said in a post on this thread. You said to us, "I know how to do SEO". Well, that's how confident you'll be with the details after the client gets the big picture first.

      Originally Posted by Kelly Verge View Post

      Don't try to sell the details. Sell the results.

      Can you bring the prospect more leads or customers? Can you help him close sales? Can you help him make more on each customer he has? Can you help him bring customers back into his office/store/location?

      The rest are just details.

      Did your dentist try to sell you on what size bit he was going to use? No. He said he'd fix your tooth.

      Ask questions to find out what your client wants, then charge them for helping them get it.
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    • Profile picture of the author Bayo
      Originally Posted by Kelly Verge View Post

      Don't try to sell the details. Sell the results.
      This sums it up in one sentence.

      You're good at what you do and by the way you've responded you are confident in your ability to deliver, so focus on the value that you offer.

      As Kelly mentioned, the results are what count. Our clients aren't worried about how we get the results as long as we get them and your skills are certainly something that you want to avoid promoting as a commodity.

      When what you offer is seen as a commodity, then price comparison automatically kicks in and that's a downer for us as local business marketing consultants.

      Bayo
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      • Profile picture of the author coach
        Interesting thread...

        >>Can I really expect a business to pay me hundreds of dollars a month to get them first page and hopefully number one rankings in google, when there is now a 10 box above all the natural listing for local targeted keywords, As these keywords only recieve a few hundred phrase match searches a month. I mean being in position 1 on google now doesn't even get your site above the fold. Do you guys find this a problem? obviously the traffic is going to be much less than it would have been, even if you have 1 of the 10 boxes and number 1 in the natural results.<<

        The answer is "yes" and "no."

        No, you should not expect businesses to pay you hundreds of dollars to get them on the first page. That's not what they pay for. What they pay for is leads and customers from the Internet as a marketing / advertising media. Focus on and deliver that.

        Is the "7 Pack" or "3 Pack" a problem.

        Not at all. It's a grand opportunity. Google has just given you an additional way to make money helping local businesses. Local search should be part of every local business strategy.

        Your assumption about the traffic may or may not be true. Have you tested this, ie having a company at the #1 or #2 position and having them in the 7 Pack or 3 Pack. You may be surprised once you see what really happens.
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