June Online Marketing Updates
- Google launches new GMB marketing tools and trusted partner program for agencies.
- GDPR is here: What should you do to become compliant.
- Page Speed will be officially a Google ranking factor, starting July 2018.
- Now you can add videos to Google My Business posts.
- Google AdWords updates for June 2018.
- Facebook rolling out new metrics and tools that will change the way we approach video marketing.
Google Launches New GMB Marketing Tools and Trusted Partner Program for Agencies
Google has recently updated the Google My Business API, making it easier for agencies and partners to manage manage multiple local business listings.
Google says:
“In the last couple of years, we’ve invested in the Google My Business API, introducing features like Reviews, Menus, Insights, and Posts to make it possible for agencies and platform partners to maintain and update Google listings for their end customers easily. With our latest API update, we’re adding more features like offer posts and merchant description so partners can continue to offer Google My Business’ latest features to their customers efficiently and at scale”.
Agencies will soon be able to get exclusive access to the new Agency Dashboard. The main highlights of the new dashboard will be:
- Manage an unlimited (well, Google says ‘thousands’) number of locations from within one account.
- New ‘Location Groups’ can be set up to collect organizations. Access to the Location Group can be sought by or given by both client and agency.
- The quick search function allows for easier access to locations within your entire account or Location Group.
- User Groups help management of teams and access control, with permission levels available for different user types.
- Invite others to manage listings and view invite status.
Google is also launching support for platform partners. The selected partners will be getting early access to new GMB features, a Partner Manager and a chance to get featured on the main GMB site.
If you want to be among those selected few or want to learn more about it, fill out this form.
GDPR is Here: What Should You Do to Become Compliant
In an effort to expand the privacy rights of EU individuals, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) places new obligations on any organization, no matter where it is based, that markets to, tracks, or handles EU personal data. As you can imagine, the GDPR is the compliance talk-of-the-town for any company doing business in the European Union (EU) or, in fact, any organization that might have EU personal data within its databases.
Although GDPR applies to the European Union as of now, it’s a good practice to follow and inform users how their information is being used on your website.
To start with, here are a couple of changes you need to implement on your website.
All forms should have a message – [✓] By checking here, you are indicating that you have read and agree to our Privacy Policy. Make sure to link to your Privacy Policy page on the website.
All pages should have this message – “Our site uses cookies – We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. By using our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy.” [link privacy policy]. Example – https://getsitecontrol.com/usecase/promo-widget/add-cookie-consent-message-your-website/
Need any help with your website? You can talk with our GDPR experts for quick assistance.
Page Speed will be Officially a Google Ranking Factor, Starting July 2018
Google announced that they will be making speed a ranking factor within mobile search results starting July 2018. However, this speed update will affect only the worst pages since the intent of the query is still one of the strongest signals. So slow pages can still enjoy higher ranking if they offer relevant content.
BUT, it’s not just about Google. Speed is a huge factor when it comes to user experience as well. A 2017 Google study revealed that 53% of the visitors abandoned sites that took longer than three seconds to load. It might be a mark that’s hard to achieve, especially if you have high-quality images and videos on your site but you can still work on the aspects that can be improved.
You can use Google’s Test My Site to check your page load time, the approximate percentage of visitors you are losing and other aspects of your site that need improvement. It’s quick, comprehensive and FREE.
Now You Can Add Videos to Google My Business Posts
GMB Posts have the immense power to boost the bottom line of your business. Those who know how to utilize it to the fullest have seen a massive boost in sales. The latest addition to the Google post is VIDEO. Now you can upload videos of your business or any topic that revolves around it. It’s already proven that Video marketing is EXTREMELY beneficial for your business, and now with the ability to upload videos to Google posts it further enhances the benefits.
For those new to it, follow the steps below:
- Access Google Posts by logging into your Google My Business account.
- Now you will see the “Posts” option right below the Home.
- Click on it and upload the type of content you want to share.
- After uploading, you will have the option to preview it and once you are satisfied, hit the publish button.
- After publishing, actively monitor the conversions and see how your targeted audience is responding
The best way to find out which type of videos work best for you is to TEST. Analyze your audience’s reaction to different videos to figure out what type of audio-visual content really clicks with your audience.
Here are some facts that will encourage you to create and upload more videos:
- 63% of businesses use video as a marketing tool.
- 76% of businesses said that video has helped them increase traffic to their website.
- 84% of consumers have been convinced to make a purchase after watching a brand’s video.
Download the report here: 