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David Mihm Answered August 23rd, 2018

What’s the most important data aggregator for local search?

Based on the duplicate listings I occasionally see for my sole consulting client these days, Infogroup seems to be the only data aggregator on whom Google is still relying to any significant extent.

David Mihm Answered August 23rd, 2018

What’s the impact of citations on local search rankings?

From where I sit, the impact of citations on local search rankings has changed significantly over the last 4-5 years.

Should we build a Google Site, or will it compete with our existing website?

Google Sites are really are meant to be primary websites, so they probably aren't something most businesses should consider.

How do I rank in local searches without a physical location?

Google's answer would be to buy Ads -- and increasingly that's my answer as well. But in terms of organic techniques, there are a couple of tactics that might work.

What’s the best way to track local SEO rankings?

I'd argue that your energy (or budget) is better-spent on a lot of other tactics than rank-tracking in local, given the importance of location and personalization.

Are links the most important ranking factor in Local SEO?

Links still do contribute to local rankings -- but they're far from the be-all end-all they are in traditional organic search.

Does Google track actual store visits to rank local searches?

I've suggested at least since 2017 that Google's been shifting its algorithm to focus on more democratic, transactional signals of popularity, like clicks to call, clicks for driving directions, and store visit information to rank local businesses.

How do I make the most of customer email addresses?

Gather feedback, re-engage your customers with transactional emails, share knowledge with newsletters to build loyalty and word-of-mouth. And beyond direct communications, email addresses can be used for retargeting and lookalike audiences on both Facebook and Google ad networks.

What’s the #1 Local SEO ranking factor?

There's no easy answer to this question, as it varies by industry, the age of your business, and a number of other criteria. But for new businesses, even if all you care about is rankings, reviews are quickly becoming the dominant ranking factor in local search.

How do I audit my website’s SEO?

Do a “site:yourdomain.com” search on Google.com.

What Schema.org markup should a local business use?

The LocalBusiness schema is the most important one. Beyond that, look at place review schema to mark up your testimonials.

How can a small business prepare for Mobilegeddon?

Mobilegeddon is actually overblown, as so much of what is happening in local search these days is happening on the Google SERP, not on your website.

How important is SEO to a local business?

It's important, but it's not the silver bullet it was a decade ago. SEO falls somewhere in the middle of the Local Marketing Stack.

What’s the MOST important digital marketing trend affecting small businesses right now?

At least for locally-focused businesses based in the U.S., the extent to which Google is becoming pay-to-play for discovery searches.