The past couple of years has been a tumultuous ride for the everyday business owner and internet marketing consultant in regards to Google+ Local (formally Google Places) and local search. Keeping up with Google’s never-ending changes and guidelines is an ongoing task.
Through extensive research, working with Google+ Local clients, joining Google and Your Business Forum, the Local Search Forum, and many local search blogs, we know who the go-to experts are when it comes to Google+ Local and local search. We frequent their websites and blogs, make comments, ask questions and have complete trust in what they have to say. They are the experts that welcome you to their place, take pleasure in sharing their knowledge, respond to comments and questions and help people to better understand the importance of building their online presence the “white hat way”.
We decided to start a Google+ Local / Local Search Expert series that features one expert each month. We highlight who they are, what they do and why we appreciate their hard work, dedication and ethics. Experts in this series include Mike Blumenthal, Phil Rozek, David Nihm, Nyagoslav Zhekov, Linda Buquet and many more. You will find these experts are a diverse group that highly respect each other. The resources they offer of themselves and on their websites will help you learn more about Google+ Local, local search and how to strengthen and grow your online presence the right way. You will also learn how you can be the leader and go to expert in your industry or field of interest.
Catalyst Local eMarketing – Linda Buquet
Catalyst Local eMarketing is our first expert and the most impressive. Linda Buquet, founder, is well-known in the industry. She was selected as a Google Top Contributor and works directly with Google management, such as Jade Wang, Community Manager for Google+ Local, helping business owners and internet marketing consultants.
When we first started learning about Google Places 3 years ago we had an urgent issue. I posted it on the Google Places Forum and Linda was there right away to support us. I remember she enlisted Venessagene from Google to help with the issue and all was solved and taken care of that day. I found out later that she is a Top Contributor in the Forum and what that meant from my partner Ellen, who then directed me to Catalyst’s website where I learned more from Linda’s blog.
Linda has over 11 years of Internet marketing and SEO experience working major long-term Internet marketing campaigns for companies as large as Google Affiliate Network, Microsoft and National Geographic. She provides ADVANCED Google+ Local TRAINING and ENHANCED Local SEO TRAINING , maintains a great blog and is Community Leader of the Local Search Forum. Linda is also a Local Search Ranking Factors Contributor. Pretty impressive!
Local Search Forum
Over a year ago Linda founded the Local Search Forum. It’s a place to learn, discuss local search, Google+ Local issues, support each other and share information. The Forum offers the latest news, tips and encourages participation by all. It’s a place where the experts hangout and help out – Colan, Phil, Miriam, Nick and so many others, teaching those of us who want to learn more. Linda is the Community Leader keeping us updated with Google+ Local changes, guideline updates, she answers our questions and responds to our concerns. Sharing new information, tips, and concerns is an important part of the forum community. I’m one of those that asks questions to make sure I’m providing our client’s with correct information and I vent Google+ Local frustration. My goal is to participate more with the knowledge I’ve learned and to become a valued member of the forum community.
Once you join the Local Search Forum you will receive their weekly Local Search Forum Community Newsletter. The newsletter gives you a snapshot of the latest news, Google+ Local issues, strategies and best tips in the forum for that week. The newsletter lists what was posted in the Forum – the title of the post, who started it (the thread), replies to the thread and a direct link to the topic. It’s a great way to catch-up on what you might have missed during the week.
Jade is back!
I recently vented on the Local Search Forum that none of our Google+ Local dashboards had been upgraded yet. Linda put me at ease saying neither was hers and pointed out what Jade Wang, Community Manager for Google+ Local, had to say about the topic in a recent video. Jade is back with her Google and Your Business Forum video updates – yeah! This is another example of Linda keeping us in the loop. Here’s the post with the video called New! Google and Your Business Forum Update Video – 6/24/13.
New – InsideLocal Expert Webinar Series
These bi-weekly webinar series are for small and medium-sized businesses and consultants to stay on top of the latest changes & opportunities and learn how to use them to best serve their business and clients’ businesses.
The first InsideLocal: The State of Local Search is being held Wednesday, July 10, 2013 from 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EDT. Checkout the topics, speakers and presenters – you will be impressed. The speakers and panelists are people we will be writing about in our Google+ Local / Local Search Expert Series.
Wrap-up
As you can see, Catalyst Local eMarketing is a valuable resource for local businesses and internet marketing consultants. If you want to learn more about Google+ Local, keep up with the latest updates, guidelines, tips and get involved in a community that will help your business or your clients’ business, join the Local Search Forum. When you frequent the blog or Forum don’t be shy about replying to threads others have started, providing information, tips, venting frustration or adding your two cents – participation goes a long way!
