Multi Location Google Maps Bootcamp
Local Brand Manager
Meet Your Presenters
A little about me…
Nate Fischer
Meet Your Presenters
A little about me…
Chaz Edwards
The safest way to manage multiple GBP listings for a chain or franchise is Local Brand Manager software
https://localbrandmanager.com/manage-google-business-listings/
This is because it allows you the safety to use individual manager accounts for every listing without worrying about the nightmare it would be trying to log into dozens or even hundreds of listings to post photos or posts or respond to reviews. Instead, you authorize the manager account one time to utilize the Local Brand Manager software to manage GBP Posts, GBP Photos, GBP QandA’s and Respond to GBP Reviews.
Pro tip: use branded emails that you turn into Google accounts to manage the listings, avoid the risk of creating new Gmail accounts. You can find a complete overview of setting up a branded email to use as a Google account in my free Local SEO Course 2.0 on Local Client Takeover https://localclienttakeover.com/courses/local-seo-course-2-0/
Multi Location Data Consistency & Hygiene
Many multi location brands suffer from data hygiene issues as Google allows for attribute updates from multiple sources:
Multi Location Data Consistency & Hygiene II
What can you do?
Stay vigilante!
Yes, you can have multiple SAB listings under specific circumstances, but don't mix multiple SAB listings and visibile address listings
You can use company registered vehicles to show separate staff, city or county licenses for key staff or managers, or separate utility bills or bank statements for the locations.
Don’t filter your multiple listings!
When assigning service areas for multiple SAB or hybrid listings try to avoid overlap at the zip code level as we saw suspensions and filtering from this. We also had listings denied reinstatement because the zip codes overlapped.
It is common for listings to filter each other along the edge where their service areas or radii meet. Multilocation listings will tend to filter each other along the edges, have clear service areas for each listing
LBM is Perfectly Suited to Manage the GBP Posting for Multiple Location Brands
There are no issues reusing GBP Posts or syndicating other brand content across your multiple GBP listings.
https://localbrandmanager.com/schedule-google-posts/
Use GBP Posts in a similar strategy as you do the brand’s social media profiles. You share updates about the products and services and local company. Ideally you should be posting about 3 to 4 times per week, avoid posting multiple times per day as we saw potential keyword filtering from this
Use dedicated location pages on the website for each listing, optimized page urls!!
*if using the home page use it for the HQ or most competitive market, example the Home page is optimized for Atlanta and there are several inner location pages optimized for nearby secondary locations like Gainesville, Athens and Marietta.
Generally, the homepage is branded and not optimized for a location, though a regional chain may optimize it for the region and a national chain may optimize the homepage for USA, Inner Location pages are typically used for multi-location sites.
Use dedicated location pages on the website for each listing, optimized page urls!!
Examples of great multi location websites:
https://www.rotorooter.com/ https://www.popalock.com/ https://www.hrblock.com/
Location Page Optimization Checklist
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1YZFUq6k2CvipOvQVPjfzHB4BenVBn3rDNQuS2h1FfT4/edit?usp=sharing
Complete Guide to Using Location Pages for Multiple Locations https://web20ranker.com/multi-location-seo-strategy/
Easily Publish Images Across Multiple Locations
We do recommend unique photos for each listing and Local Brand Manager allows you to easily Publish Images Across Multiple Locations.
The Image Gallery's scheduling functionality gives you the flexibility to publish images across a single or an unlimited amount of locations. Checkout some example scenarios of what you can do:
Easily Publish Images Across Multiple Locations
Scenario 1 (1 Image to Multiple Locations - Instant Publish) - select a single image and any number locations (and/or tags), set publishing days to '1' and select your date. The system will publish the image to each location on your selected date.
Scenario 2 (1 Image to Multiple Locations - Drip Publish) - select any number of images and any number of locations (and/or tags), set your desired number of publishing days, start date and 'business day' setting. The system will programmatically space out the publishing of the images over your selected schedule.
Easily Publish Images Across Multiple Locations
Scenario 3 (Multiple Images to 1 Location) - select any number of images and a location as well as your publishing settings. The system will programmatically space out the publishing of the images over your selected schedule. Ex. selecting 10 images and 20 publishing days will result in ten (random) days of publishing over the date range.
Scenario 4 (Multiple Images to Multiple Locations) - select any number of images and any number of locations (or tags) as well as your publishing settings. The system will programmatically space out the publishing of the images over your selected schedule, to your selected locations
Easily Publish Images Across Multiple Locations
Image Optimization
Before publishing images to your GMBS (and soon, as a stand alone feature), Local Brand Manager can automate the entry of EXIF data and auto rename the file with a SEO friendly filename.
https://localbrandmanager.com/schedule-google-images-inject-metadata/
Create signals for every listing
Build out the brand and social profiles completely for each location, ie each location should have a FB page, a local Twitter account, a local YouTube channel, and their own Data Aggregator submissions.
Every GBP Listing Should Have It’s Own Set of Online Citations and Mentions:
Brand Profiles - FB, Yelp, Twitter, YT (brand foundation)
Web 2.0’s - unstructured citations, very affordable
Create signals for every listing
Top USA Business Directories: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jLv4-NVD5AQoz1YvMGMSjHlpj4lGoipiwU0Agb1Vzt4/edit?usp=sharing
Top Social Profiles: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fNcINetPvEqOCJw3Pty2fA_yYTVZLqsFaQOZ00Qb41o/edit?usp=sharing
Whenever mentioning the location online try to use the complete NAPW reference.
Identify High & Low Performing Locations
Quickly identify underperforming and well performing locations by generating multi location reports to see GBP analytics across locations and find which of your locations need some extra TLC (optimization, content, citations, etc).
Use GeoGrids to also track visibility across your locations and see rankings at a glance.
Analysis of 3 Enterprise Models and Reasons Why You Might Use Each
National Franchise Model: Rotorooter and Pop a Lock
They use location pages on the corporate website and varying degrees of local silo pages
GBP listings are connected to individual location pages on the corporate site
Analysis of 3 Enterprise Models and Reasons Why You Might Use Each
Rotor Rooter GBP Listing:
Links to a location page: https://www.rotorooter.com/harrisburg/ on the corporate website
Pop A Lock GBP Listing:
Location page: https://www.popalock.com/franchise/baltimore-md/shop/#/
Analysis of 3 Enterprise Models and Reasons Why You Might Use Each
Local Franchise Model: ServPro
Even though they have location pages on the corporate website, most locations have their own locally optimized website domain which they use to link to the GBP listings
Analysis of 3 Enterprise Models and Reasons Why You Might Use Each
Location Page on Corporate Website: https://www.servpro.com/locations/pa/servpro-of-west-chester
Locally Optimized Domain: https://www.servprowestchesterpa.com/
Analysis of 3 Enterprise Models and Reasons Why You Might Use Each
Subdomain Model: Paul Davis Restoration
Individual locations use locally optimized subdomains and attach these to their GBP listings
Analysis of 3 Enterprise Models and Reasons Why You Might Use Each