Department listings, video verification tips, new suspension appeal process, and more!

Hello local search fans! This week, we’re pulling some classic posts from the archives that you may have missed.

1. Social media’s impact on SEO

SEOs have typically scoffed at signals like followers, likes, and shares having any ranking impact, but with Google's latest updates, being active on social media might be a trust signal (the T in E-E-A-T).

In the screenshot below, it's clear that Google thinks this business' social profiles are important.

Google also recently added the ability to list your social media profiles to your GBP. This might be a sign that they're trying to connect these dots and understand your business better through your social media.

Brian Loebig on LinkedIn shared that his client had done a lot of website optimization, but didn’t start ranking until they built out their social profiles.

2. Google will delete 21.7 MILLION websites created with GBPs in less than 3 weeks

Google’s business . site websites were a great solution for mom-and-pop businesses worldwide.

They were free, quick and easy to make, and updated automatically, all while increasing the business’s online presence.

Google has given businesses a mere 3 months to make a whole new website on a different platform, which will likely leave a large portion of them without a website.

If you know any businesses that will be affected by this shutdown, we can help them.

We added a new feature to our GBP Management software that allows businesses to create a one-page website based on their Business Profiles.

It only costs $1/mo, and it comes with all the other benefits of the GBP Management software. Check it out ⬇️

3. Ep. 7 - Anne ACES the GBP Video Verification

In the new episode of Ranking This Small Business, Anne shares how she successfully secured a new office location for her small business.

With the location challenge resolved, Anne and I review the Google Business Profile Video verification checklist in preparation for the actual process.

Watch her complete the verification process like a pro 👇️

4. What we can learn from U-Haul’s GBP strategy

U-Haul used to have just one Google Business Profile per location, but they quintupled their number of Profiles (and rankings) overnight 📈

How?

With Department Profiles.

See my full breakdown of their strategy on Twitter and LinkedIn.

5. Your Google Business Profile got suspended? We got you.

Swipe through this carousel to learn about the new GBP reinstatement process.

See the second slide on Instagram.

I post about local SEO every day. Follow me on Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram so you don’t miss anything!

PS: Whitespark can help you ⬇️

🚨 Get notified when Google updates your GBP and reject unwanted changes

🚀 Increase your local rankings and conversions

📈 Track rankings across different zip/post-codes

⭐️ Get more reviews

🧹 Clean up and build citations

🔍 Find citation opportunities

Did you know we have a referral program?

🤑 Refer to Whitespark and earn big!