Recent content by Chris Barnard

No No, I just work for the best local SEO agency on the planet. #dreamteam We do PPC/LSAs too.

Yeah, you bet - wish it was actually helpful/actionable info I could provide! LSAs are like throwing darts. That's nuts about the trucks/phone numbers, so that was on the images in the LSA account, I'm guessing? I recall the image policy when there were no overlays/CTAs/phone numbers, but...

I have not personally experienced a similar issue after reactivating an LSA profile that had been paused for several months. It sure could be some kind of reactivation penalty/reset, or an internal trust score issue. I do not think Google has fundamentally changed how rankings are calculated...

Yes on the Advertiser verification deal, it should be completed if it's outstanding. Since we don't have many buttons or levers to push with LSAs, it's one thing we can complete. I've heard that is recommended as a best practice.

Not just the number of reviews, but also (maybe more importantly) the consistency/velocity of reviews...which would jibe with (reported) Google efforts to make LSAs more equitable. So a smaller business with fewer reviews can compete with much larger businesses with many more reviews if they are...

I'd say it's the number/velocity of reviews compared to the competition, rather than the SAB. Always answer incoming calls with a human and message "leads" immediately (an autoresponder is best). Notate/rate all leads, and mark qualified leads as booked. Beyond the handling stuff, add images...

Great to hear Anthony! You had it ID'd from jump. Hold onto that rep!

Here's a possibly illuminating (was to me lol) checklist for video verifications: https://www.facebook.com/groups/localsearchforum/permalink/35733231749609056/

Hi Kaycie, I don't know about the paid tools; hopefully, someone else can chime in. Have you tried Google Takeout? It's extremely cumbersome, downloads all accounts from the Google Account you're using (so do it from an owner's account vs. agency account with multiple GBPs), and you'll need...

Were the missing reviews reported? This has been a reported somewhat widespread recent issue. That could impact ad rank/impressions. It also sounds like some type of spend limit/cap could be in place, if it's spending $600, then going dark. Or, the budget could be too low, and it's spending...

Hi Patrick, Are there any license and insurance verification issues? (if applicable to the industry/location) Were there any changes made to the account before this drop in volume? (bidding, budget, locations, industries/job types...etc.) Was there any change with the linked GBP? Is there...

Got it, so there are no PPC campaigns running - or have ran in the past - on that CID. Have you ever submitted an appeal via the LSA Policy Manager - that takes you here? https://support.google.com/google-ads/gethelp?hl=en Did you submit an appeal via email from the original message you...

Hi Anthony, Are the ads still running at all? It definitely sounds like a PPC violation, as you mentioned. Is there possibly a PPC account under that same CID that could be causing the violation? I would not submit multiple appeals as that will only delay the process more. The first appeal...

It could be, but I think of PPC more so with the Circumventing Systems suspension - is there by chance a PPC account with the same CID? I haven't seen that suspension reason for LSAs yet, but I can see the business name mismatch being flagged. You'll need a DBA showing the old + new business...

Be sure to check the policy manager on the Local Service Ads account too - from what you said about the Pressure Washing campaign, it sounds like the same CID. So maybe something there is affecting the PPC side?? (not common but possible) You can definitely change the bidding to Max Clicks, but...