Merchynt's Local SEO Blog

Everything you need to know about Heatmaps Reporting

If you have ever heard the term “heatmaps reporting”, there’s only one of the two things. You either know all about heatmaps reporting and can explain it in your sleep like me, or you’re like Winnie on my team who just nods whenever it’s mentioned. Don’t worry, I’ll definitely send over this blog post to her. Heatmap reporting is an integral part of ranking online, sadly a lot of people have turned it into a local SEO buzzword. In this blog post, we’ll explain the components of a heatmap ranking audit, explain how to interpret rankings and explore how to use this data to enhance SEO efforts.

February 21, 2025

From Service to SaaS: How to Sell Your Marketing Agency For The Most Money

If you’re running a digital marketing agency, you’re probably familiar with the grind of managing clients, and employees, and the endless stream of tasks to keep everything running smoothly. But what if you could transform your agency into a SaaS (Software as a Service) business? Doing so could significantly boost your profit margins and the valuation multiple when it’s time to sell your business.

February 14, 2025

Newsletter

Did Your Google Reviews Disappear?

In the past few days, many businesses have noticed their Google reviews mysteriously vanishing. Don’t panic—Google has confirmed this is a temporary bug and is working on a fix. Google did confirm that all of the missing reviews still exist and will come back once they sort this out. In the meantime, the best thing you can do is continue gathering fresh 5-star reviews.

February 12, 2025

The No Bullsh*t Guide To Ranking Higher on Google Maps in 2025

Simply being online isn’t enough. You need to rank higher. Research shows businesses ranked in the top 1-3 spots on Google Maps consistently get more customers, website visits, and, ultimately, more sales. If you can move your business from your current position to #4, you could 10X your sales. In this blog post, we’re sharing the 5 steps to ranking higher in 2025 — no fluff, no filler, just actionable strategies that work.

February 7, 2025

Newsletter

New GMB AI Feature Increases Calls

Google just launched a brand new exciting feature for GMB, continuing their implementation of AI. This time it’s a pretty big one that aims to increase customer engagement with your profile (which means more business!!!). The new feature is called “Ask for Me” and it will allow users to utilize Google’s AI to call local businesses and ask a question.

February 5, 2025

5 Ways to Refresh Your Online Presence and Kickstart Your Year—According to Google

The start of a new year is the perfect time to hit refresh—not just in life but online too. Whether you’re a solopreneur, a thriving small business, or building a side hustle, your online presence is your first impression. And in 2025, a strong online presence isn’t just helpful; it’s essential.Why? Because your digital identity isn’t just where people find you—it’s how they decide if they want to trust you, engage with you, and ultimately, invest in you. The good news is that refreshing your online presence doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It’s about making simple, impactful changes that resonate with your audience.Here are 5 actionable ways to make your online presence pop in 2025:

January 31, 2025

Newsletter

Customers Trust GMBs with This New Label

Google just started rolling out a brand new feature that will make potential customers trust your business and choose you over your competitors! Popular profiles that users save are now rewarded with a banner that says “Frequently Saved”. This is a signal to potential customers that you are trusted by tons of users and your business is the real deal. The catch is that you need users to start saving your profile to earn this badge, so we threw a list together of the top 3 things you need to do to get more users to save your profile! Not all users and profiles see this yet, so don't worry if you don't.

January 29, 2025

How To Get Alerts When Someone Makes a Change to Your Google Business Profile

How to get alerts when someone makes a change to your Google Business Profile. Unauthorized changes to your Google Business Profile (GBP) can quietly wreak havoc on your business. Your reputation, customer trust, and bottom line are at stake. But here's the thing: most business owners don’t realize how vulnerable their profiles are—or how to protect them. Let’s break it down.

January 27, 2025

Newsletter

Another GMB Scam Has Been Busted by Google

This week, Google took another big step in cracking down on sneaky practices affecting Google Maps and GBPs. The latest scam they fixed? The “pin scam,” where unethical users exploited the “Suggest an Edit” feature to move competitors’ business pins on Google Maps. This would often trigger suspensions when the business owners tried to move the pins back. Thankfully, Google has patched this loophole, reinforcing their ongoing commitment to maintaining fair play in the local SEO space. But let this be a lesson: shady tactics may work temporarily, but Google always catches on, and the consequences can be brutal.

January 22, 2025

The Easiest Way to Get Access to Google Business Profiles

In a world where everything seems to be online first, a GBP is more than a listing—it’s your first impression. A Google Business Profile (GBP) is a business’s digital storefront on Google. It’s a free tool that allows your clients to manage how their business appears across Google Search and Maps. From business hours to customer reviews, a GBP is often the first impression potential customers get—and in the world of local SEO, first impressions are everything. Here’s the kicker: For many agencies, getting access to their client’s Google Business Profile (GBP)—a task that should take 10 minutes tops—can drag on for weeks, even months, ultimately losing them their clients. But there’s a ridiculously simple way to gain access—and it’s often overlooked.

January 20, 2025

Newsletter

The Most Overlooked Section of GMBs

Let’s be honest—would you visit or call a restaurant or store with zero photos on their Google business profile? Probably not. The media section is constantly overlooked by business owners trying to optimize their profile and what’s even worse is that neglecting it will cause potential customers to overlook your business! Photos and videos don’t just make your profile look good; they boost your rankings, increase customer trust, and can directly influence people to choose you over the competition. Plus, Google loves active profiles that consistently upload fresh, optimized media.

January 15, 2025

60% of Marketers & SMBs Forgot to Do This Important SEO Thing on January 1st

Happy Wednesday, Marketers! As you know, every week we come to you with a tip on how you can improve your odds of Google ranking you higher in search results, specifically focusing on your Google Business Profile. This week, we're going to focus on something a little different: your website footer. The reason we're doing this is because Google gets a holistic view of your business. If you want to rank your Google Business Profile higher on Google Maps, you need Google to trust your business fully, which means making sure all of your information is up to date.

January 13, 2025

Newsletter

Kickstart 2025 with These Free AI Tools

Happy New Year! As we move into 2025, it’s time to start making those new years resolutions again and if your resolution this year is to skyrocket your business’s online presence, you’re in luck! AI tools are making this easier than ever before and if you’re not taking advantage of them you’re going to be left behind in the new year. We compiled a list of 4 must-have AI tools to help you grow your business in 2025.

January 2, 2025

Newsletter

Is Your Google Business Profile on Santa’s Nice List?

Merry Christmas! We hope you’re soaking up the magic of the season with family, friends, and maybe a mug of hot cocoa. While you’re enjoying the day, here’s a quick but essential reminder for your Google Business Profile: make sure your holiday hours are updated!

December 25, 2024

Newsletter

Did Google’s Latest Update Grinch Your Rankings?

Freaking out over recent ranking shifts? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! Google just dropped its December 2024 Core Algorithm Update last week, and as always, it’s shaking up search results across the board. These core updates are like Google’s way of reorganizing the rules of the game. They aim to improve search quality and relevance, but the adjustment period can feel like a rollercoaster. Remember, these updates don’t punish businesses—they refine search results to better serve users. It’s natural to see some movement while the update is still rolling out, so don’t hit the panic button yet! It’ll take weeks for the dust to settle on new rankings as the update rolls out and A/B ranking tests begin. Not sure if your rankings tanked? Check here.

December 18, 2024