Digital Marketing News: Google Releases Google Marketing Platform

Every week we’re collecting a host of links, videos, and assorted analysis on the ever-changing world of digital marketing. We invite you to skim, share, analyze, argue, and refute – just so long as you don’t get embarrassed at the water cooler again. Here are the latest digital marketing news and trends for the week of July 6, 2018.

Location3 Named Member of Google Marketing Platform Partners

Google announced last week the release of Google Marketing Platform, a combination of DoubleClick Digital Marketing and Google Analytics 360 Suite. According to its announcement, this will help “buy, measure, and optimize digital media and customer experience in one place.”

As a Google Analytics Certified Partner who was already strategically integrating the two platforms, Location3 is excited for the opportunity to educate and lead as businesses and advertising teams become accustomed to the new platform. We also were notified that our previous dedication to Google Analytics was being recognized with membership to the newly formed Google Marketing Platform Partners.

As a Certified Company, Location3 is capable of providing:

“…consulting, training, implementation, operations and technical support services for Google Marketing Platform. These companies not only have individuals certified in one or more products, but they have a high level of knowledge, practical and industry experience, as well as stellar customer references. These strict requirements ensure they have both the expertise and a proven ability to deliver results.”

More to come!

Location3 Recognized for Ethical Business Practices

Local Search Association has recognized Location3 as one of its Certified Companies, joining 20 others in the local and location-based marketing space that have displayed high ethical business practices. These practices include:

• Sales practices and representations made to prospective clients
• Service standards and accountability
• Hiring and training practices
• Service agreements and contracts
• Transparency
• Security and privacy of information

The LSA Certification program was created to help SMBs find trustworthy partners for their local marketing programs, and all applicants undergo an extensive review process. Location3’s dedication to transparency and accountability has been at the center of its success for nearly 20 years, and we are proud to be officially recognized for those efforts by the Local Search Association.

Digital Marketing Tactics for Mobile Franchises

Service-area businesses and mobile franchise systems have the same digital marketing needs as traditional brick-and-mortar brands, but must work within an ecosystem that isn’t necessarily designed for their business model.

The unique nature of these franchise systems, however, can be seen as an opportunity to apply tactics where their competition isn’t. Location3 Director of Marketing Josh Allen recently compiled a list of strategies for service-area businesses to maximize customer volume through digital channels via Franchising USA Magazine. Here’s an excerpt from the post:

“…arguably the most important SEO strategy a franchise can implement is the creation of an optimized store locator and individual location pages for every single business within the system.

For franchises that are mobile in nature, one key extension of this includes the addition of metro pages or city pages that help organize individual locations into defined service areas. Not only does this offer an opportunity to capture more real estate in search engine results with additional, relevant pages, it also provides an opportunity to improve the user experience in helping a customer choose which particular franchise can best be of service based on their own location.”

For more tips, including how to set up your Google My Business profile as well as paid advertising, the entire post can be read here.

Halfway Through 2018, Here’s What Local Marketers are Talking About

We’re halfway home in 2018, and plenty has already happened in the local marketing world. Local Search Association has done us the favor of compiling the most popular and important posts of 2018 thus far. Two posts with Location3 ties were featured in the list:

LSA Top Pick: First Impressions of Google My Business Agency Dashboard

Most Popular: A 1.5-Star-Review Improvement Equals 13K More Leads in Study

The full list of posts can be found here.