Google has taken control of your business description in search results. Specifically, the description that is on the right of search results in your Google My Business (GMB) description, above address and below your business name, and on Google Maps. Google makes the distinction this is an “editorial summary.” So what are your options to change the editorial summary if it is inaccurate or undesirable?

First make sure it isn’t something you accidentally created. Log into your Google Plus business page and check under “Story” to make sure you’ve filled out your fields (Tagline & Introduction). While Google, won’t nessesarily pull this info, it can only help your case. Once that is done, proceed to the following.

Option 1) Get Reviews

Get well written reviews up on your Google business listing. By well written, I mean reviews with headlines that could replace that description. I’m not suggesting creating false or misleading reviews, however, you likely know someone who could easily edit their review they already left for you, or you probably have a customer that you could solicit for a beaming well written review; just make sure they create a quality review, with a great headline and a good description.

Option 2) Report it

Report it to Google. I have this as option two, because your chance that Google will take down or remove the summary is not good, unless you’ve already done Option 1 and you have a strong case. Google makes the rules, so it’s best to give them something to feed off of. To request a change you’ll need as much detail as possible such as: your name, business name, official email address used to manage your Google My Business page, how you manage your GMB account, full public GMB url, text of the summary, why it’s incorrect, your relationship to the company, and finally how you’d like a response. When you are ready, here’s the link to report an incorrect summary on a business page.

Good Luck!

To learn more visit: https://support.google.com/business/answer/6088158

Add Your Business to the Google Maps “Service Area” in Two Easy Steps!

Small businesses are often turned off to adding their business to the Google map, because they don’t actually have a physical address. Logically, this makes sense. You probably don’t want to show your home address or PO Box number to the public, and Google has accounted for this by allowing you to include a “service area.”

On Tuesday, I hosted a “Grow Your Business Online” workshop to 50 working professionals, on behalf of Big Cat Advertising. I presented on the topic of leveraging your local search presence using Google My Business, website SEO 101, and an overview of Google Adwords and best practices. The response to the event was great as we sold out a week ahead. Judging from the feedback and the reactions during the event, the topic generated a lot of engagement from small business owners; as it should, because it’s a powerful tool. I’ve released my presentation notes with links and expanded topics over on the Big Cat Advertising website. I’m enclosing the full presentation slides here to this post.

Claiming ownership of your social profiles is one of my four covered topics (Local Search). Claiming your Yelp for business page is an easy way to control your branding and manage your reviews. Luckily, it’s easy enough that the average business owner or manager can take do it. In this article, I’ll go over the benefits and how to.

When I speak at events, I always leave the audience with this to-do: Claim your business locations on Google Maps and Bing Places. It’s low hanging fruit that’s free and important.