A few weeks ago, Google launched a brand-new platform for small businesses. Called Google My Business, it combines the features of Google+ Local and Google Places for Businesses, streamlining advertising and campaign management. Should you be worried about the change? As a Prospect Genius client, the answer is no. We're staying on top of the updates and can safely say that we'll be able to continue managing your account without any interruption to your campaign. For several years now, we've been … [Read more...] about Should You Be Worried About Google My Business?
How to Make Google+ Work for You
As a business owner in the year 2014, you most likely have a Google+ page. If you're enrolled in the Prospect Genius Starter or Core program, then you definitely do. But the simple act of having a listing isn't enough if you want to truly optimize your lead generation. To get the most out of your Google+ page, you'll have to become an active participant. In this blog post, we'll cover two of the easiest ways you can optimize your listing: adding photos and getting reviews. Add Personality With … [Read more...] about How to Make Google+ Work for You
How Having a Large Number of Customer Reviews Can Save Your Business
At Prospect Genius, we're pushing to improve our own web presence through increased customer reviews and social media activity. As we embark on this long-term project, we thought it would be helpful to illustrate why it's so important for your company to have a large pool of customer reviews online. In fact, customer reviews might be what save your business one day. Here's how. A Lot of Good Outweighs the Bad Negative reviews are like vinegar. If a salad dressing or cleaning solution had too … [Read more...] about How Having a Large Number of Customer Reviews Can Save Your Business
Hand Over Your Google+ Local Listing to a Pro
One of the great things about the Internet's advancements is that average people have a lot more autonomy than they used to when it comes to handling difficult tasks. Various DIY repair guides, YouTube tutorials, and customized shopping options make everything easier to do on your own—whether it's cleaning an A/C filter or filing taxes. However, there are some tasks that are best left to the experts, no matter how many online resources you skim over. You probably shouldn't attempt to install … [Read more...] about Hand Over Your Google+ Local Listing to a Pro
Make Your Presence Known: Get More Customer Reviews Online
Day in and day out, you're churning out terrific work for seemingly appreciative customers. You have no shortage of confidence in the quality of your services. So how come your online presence doesn't reflect that? Why aren't your company's customer reviews pages brimming with five-star ratings? Unfortunately, it's not enough to perform dependable dryer repairs or to install central air systems flawlessly. You also have to get the word out about your satisfying work. That's why getting online … [Read more...] about Make Your Presence Known: Get More Customer Reviews Online
Keep Calm and Carry On: How to Respond to a Negative Review
Customer reviews are a blessing and a curse. When you have countless satisfied customers leaving you glowing reviews on directories like Google+ Local, Yelp, Facebook, Angie's List, CitySearch, and so on, your business gets a huge boost and your self-esteem soars. But as soon as you notice one negative review, a record scratches and the party stops. You can't believe what you're reading. It's upsetting to read negative things about your company, especially when you try so hard to satisfy every … [Read more...] about Keep Calm and Carry On: How to Respond to a Negative Review
Missed Calls, Missed Customers
Right now, you could be hindering your company's growth without even knowing it. It's no joke. Every time you miss a call, you lose money. In fact, you could be losing upwards of thousands of dollars annually from missed calls alone. Whether it's a call from Google+ Local or a prospective customer, you chip away at your business's future success every time you don't pick up the phone. At Prospect Genius, we've noticed a disturbing behavior among our clients: they aren't answering their phones! … [Read more...] about Missed Calls, Missed Customers
Ring, Ring: It’s Google Calling
If you have a Google+ Local listing, chances are Google is going to call your business—or they already have. That’s because when Google isn’t able to verify information about your business with their own resources, they pick up the phone to confirm that info with the owner. In particular, specific things, such as alterations or updates to your listing, can often trigger a phone verification. So if you’ve recently changed your business’s name or switched phone numbers, be prepared for Google to … [Read more...] about Ring, Ring: It’s Google Calling
Goodbye, Google Places
Last Wednesday, Google rolled out some major changes: They did away entirely with Google Places, replacing it with the new Google+ Local. If you follow us on Twitter, you’ve already heard, but we thought it would be helpful to go into a little more detail to help folks understand just what this change means for their businesses. (If you want to check out our tweet, you can find it here. It also includes a link to a CNN article covering these changes.) Within two hours of this Google update … [Read more...] about Goodbye, Google Places