Tips and Tricks

Blocked From Signing In to Old Google Business Accounts – FIXED!

Last Updated: December 8, 2020

If you’re a local SEO practitioner or a small business owner managing your own Google account, you’ve almost certainly received this Google security alert at some point:

It looks like someone else might be trying to access your Google Account. For your protection, you can’t sign in right now.

Try again later or sign in from a different device.

That’s the exact message we receive when Google blocks us from logging into a client’s old Google business account when the account has been inactive for a few years.

To date, we’ve been unable to find a reliable workaround for this common roadblock. None of the suggested solutions we’ve found online have been helpful, either, because they tell you to sign in from the original device that the account was created on—the theory being that you can take advantage of the old session cookie to remember your credentials. However, when you no longer have access to a device or machine from several years ago—which most people don’t—this trick doesn’t work.

And somehow, this is still the prevailing solution floating around the internet. Until now.

After wasting countless afternoons over the years banging our heads against our desks, we finally had a breakthrough today. We figured out how to resolve this Google login problem ourselves. And we’re now going to share it with you.

How to Get Unblocked From a Google Business Account

The next time you see that dreaded security message when signing into an old Google account, here’s what to do:

Go back to the login page.
Enter the username or email address.
Click “Forgot Password.”
Go through the steps of account recovery:
- Enter the last known password.
- Wait for an email confirmation from Google.
- Send the SMS code to a real cell phone number that hasn’t been used on any other accounts recently.

That last step is key.

If you’re a local SEO practitioner like us, you may be in the habit of using the same company phone when setting up your clients’ Google My Business accounts. It makes the job a lot faster and easier. However, it appears Google is detecting repeat phone numbers, and recovering an account with one of those numbers doesn’t work.

We were shocked and relieved to finally discover a workaround* for this problem that has been driving us crazy for years. That’s why we wasted no time in sharing it with you here on our blog. All of us SEO practitioners have to stick together if we want to keep pace with Google.

So, try out this trick and let us know if it works for you! Good luck!

*So far, we’ve only had one case where this workaround failed, generating this error message: “You’re trying to sign in on a device Google doesn’t recognize, and we don’t have enough information to verify that it’s you. For your protection, you can’t sign in here right now. Try again later or sign in from a different device.” With this message, we can’t get Google to do anything other than ask us for username and password. Even the usual account recovery steps are unavailable.

How to Undercut Google’s Pay-to-Play Model and Advertise on a Budget

Last Updated: October 26, 2020

It’s genuinely depressing to think about the totality of words we’ve wasted whining about Google’s pay-to-play model.

Not because we regret the time spent educating our readers, but because we wish this weren’t the reality of digital marketing in 2020. Especially during a crippling pandemic.

And we know this situation is just as depressing for all of the small, local service providers out there who feel like they don’t have a fighting chance.

But we’re done with despair. It won’t do anything to combat Google’s nefarious greed.

That’s why, today, we’re showing all you small business owners how to fight back.

In this blog post, we’ve compiled some of our best tips to market yourself online without handing all of your hard-earned money to Google’s coffers.

READ MORE: How Google’s Greed Is Slashing Your Website Traffic

Use Social Media Ads

Whether it’s Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Yelp, or Twitter, your audience’s favorite social platform is the perfect place to advertise your business.

In fact, designing a quick ad and paying for clicks or impressions on one of these platforms will be much cheaper and potentially more cost-effective than Google Ads in terms of ROI. Just a small investment in time and money could pay off big.

After all, the endless social media scroll is how most people are exercising their thumbs these days. Might as well take advantage of it!

Use Word of Mouth

We know, we know: Nobody likes talking in person anymore!

Thing is, that’s not entirely true. Sure, people consistently prefer texting over calling on the phone, but that doesn’t mean everything takes place virtually. People talk!

Especially people who are close friends and family. In casual conversation, they’re likely to recommend contractors and service providers whom they had a good experience with. So, there’s no harm in giving your customers a little nudge to spread the word!

However, there is such a thing as virtual word-of-mouth, too. For example, you can use platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, and NextDoor to join local groups, stay up to date on community events, and even network with other small business owners.

There are so many ways to get your name out there organically. Think outside the box!

Use Offline Materials

This might sound odd coming from a digital marketing team in 2020, but we’re big proponents of including offline materials in your overall marketing strategy. Such materials include:

Flyers
Brochures
Business cards
Direct mail
Branded calendars, pens, coasters, tote bags, etc.

With memorable marketing materials, unique branding (including logos and signage), personal referrals, and face-to-face networking in your community, you can supplement your online efforts and really stamp out a place for your business on the local scene.

Keep Fighting!

It’s easy to feel discouraged when you realize how much the Google game is rigged–but, frankly, that’s not productive. Instead, stay in the ring and keep swinging. There are so many other avenues you can take to market yourself that don’t involve draining your bank account straight into Google’s gullet.

And if you need any assistance with creating a Facebook ad or designing a business logo, don’t hesitate to contact us! There’s nothing Prospect Genius loves more than helping small businesses stick it to the big guy.

Do You Know What to Ask When Hiring an SEO Company?

Last Updated: October 22, 2019

To ask the right questions of a prospective SEO company, you first need a baseline understanding of online advertising.

Unfortunately, if you’re a small, local business owner with little knowledge of online marketing strategies, then you probably don’t quite know what to ask.

That’s why Kim Lachance Shandrow’s article, “10 Questions to Ask When You’re Hiring an SEO Consultant,” is such a godsend.

In the article, Shandrow lists some of the big questions you should ask when on the hunt for a new SEO company or consultant. Even if you don’t necessarily know what these specific questions mean, exactly, she explains their significance and tells you what kind of answers are best.

Some of those questions are:

Do you follow Google’s best practices for webmasters?
Will you please explain your SEO strategies?
Are you specialized in local search?
How do you track or measure results?

And, for a real test, one trick question:

Do you guarantee number-one rankings? (If yes, RUN!)

To see the full list of questions and the rationale behind them, check out Shandrow’s article on Entrepreneur.com!

Important caveat: The last question in Shandrow’s list has to do with content ownership. She states that the business owner/client should be given full ownership of any web content the SEO company creates on their behalf. This is certainly true when that content is on the website owned by the client. However, if the content is created from scratch on a completely separate site owned and hosted by the SEO company, then this rule does not apply. So, make sure you’re clear on who owns the website URL and content.

And, for further reading, please check out the extensive research on SEO consultants from the pros at Ignite Visibility: “Hiring an SEO Consultant? 38 Questions & 12 Things to Look For”.

Armed with all this information, you’ll hunt down the ideal SEO company for your business in no time. Good luck!

When Is the Best Time to Use Facebook Ads Versus Google AdWords?

Last Updated: June 13, 2019

You’ve probably noticed that organic search results pages are getting harder and harder to rank on.

(This is mostly due to Google’s quest to monetize every inch of space on Page 1, but that’s a rant for another day…)

As a result, many business owners are trying paid ads, instead. Most people are using either Facebook Ads or Google AdWords (or both).

If you’ve tried this alternative yourself, we don’t blame you. It’s a smart move!

However, if you’re going to start a paid ad campaign, make sure you’re using the platform that best matches what you’re advertising. Otherwise, you’ll be throwing away your money.

But don’t fret. We’re here to help. In this post, we’ll explain when you should use Facebook Ads, and when you should use Google AdWords. Keep reading!

Choosing the Appropriate Platform

Let us tell you about a mistake we see often.

Many small, local business owners start off using Facebook Ads because the platform is super-affordable and easy to understand. However, sometimes they don’t realize it’s not well suited to what they’re specifically advertising.

No matter how much a paid platform costs, it’s a waste of money when it doesn’t effectively market your services.

This is why it’s so important to recognize the differences between Facebook Ads and Google AdWords.

So, without further adieu, we’ll now discuss Facebook Ads versus Google AdWords and how to tell which platform is a better fit for your business.

Facebook Ads vs. Google AdWords: What’s the Difference?

When deciding between the two platforms, your choice boils down to one thing: urgency.

Put another way, how immediately do people need your services?

Is your typical customer calling you for a fast solution to an urgent problem?

Or, on the other hand, does your typical customer spend time planning and researching what they need before contacting you?

If your customers are often in a rush to get something fixed, then Google AdWords is the better fit. However, if you offer a service that your customers tend to put off for a while or take their time thinking about, then Facebook Ads is a more suitable option.

Why?

It has to do with the nature of the platforms.

With Google AdWords, your ads are displayed only when users search for your products or services. They have a specific need and they’re seeking you for it.

For example, here are some services that are a good fit for Google AdWords:

Appliance repair
HVAC repair or replacement
Windshield repair
Leaky pipe repair
Drain unclogging
Basement flood cleanup

As you can see, these services are for time-sensitive problems that demand a swift solution. People aren’t likely to hem and haw over price quotes or do extensive cost comparisons. Rather, their most pressing concern is how quickly the job can get done. The idea is, when they google something like “furnace repair in Albany,” they’ll see your ad right away and give you a call.

By contrast, Facebook displays your ads in the news feeds of the people you’ve selected to target. These ads interrupt their activity without them explicitly seeking out your products or services. The goal is to keep your brand on their minds as they go about their days so they remember you when the time is right.

Here are some examples of services that are successful with Facebook Ads:

Trash removal
Home remodeling
Car audio and mobile electronics
Driveway paving
Landscaping
Electric panel upgrades
Massage therapy

Before hiring a company for the above services, most people take time to do research, ask for recommendations, compare quotes, and/or plan their budgets. These are not emergency situations. Therefore, it’s helpful to plant the seed early and often by periodically displaying your ad in their Facebook news feeds.

Is the difference between Facebook Ads and Google AdWords a little more clear now?

Let us know if you need further explanation! We’d be happy to answer your questions and give you some guidance on setting up your first campaign. Just give us a call or shoot us a message!

If You Don’t Promote Your Summertime Services Now, You’ll Hate Yourself Later

Last Updated: May 21, 2019

Now that summer is only a month away, let’s talk about how you want to promote your summertime services.

We need to start looking at what you can do right now to boost your bookings this summer. Especially since your competitors probably aren’t planning ahead—which gives you an edge.

This post will arm you with some strategy ideas to help you book better jobs this season. Let’s jump in!

How to Book Better Jobs Than Your Competitors This Summer

The truth is, most people don’t plan ahead. They won’t remember to update their website or social media to highlight their seasonal offerings. And they certainly won’t think to campaign for a specific service months in advance.

Thankfully, you’re smarter than most people.

If you start advertising now, you’ll beat your competitors to the punch this summer. You’ll also put yourself in a strong position to cherry-pick your favorite jobs and book up your calendar through Labor Day.

Which Services Should You Promote?

Getting started is simple. Just think about the one or two jobs you would love to do all summer long, and advertise the heck out of them.

For example, here’s what some savvy businesses are doing to prepare for the season:

Landscapers are targeting homeowners who want to get their backyards and patios ready for summer.

Cleaners and junk haulers are pushing to help people with their big clean-out projects.

Home builders and remodelers are getting in front of people who put off their construction projects until it’s nicer outside.

HVAC technicians are marketing central air tune-ups in preparation for hotter temperatures.

Tax attorneys are marketing to people who are now in a panic about filing late or who had an issue with their returns.

Paving contractors are targeting homeowners and business owners who need new asphalt installation or resurfacing now that the weather is more cooperative.

Appliance repair technicians are seeking RV owners who need to service their special-sized appliances before taking their campers out on the road.

Mobile audio installers are marketing to boat and RV owners who want to optimize their stereo systems before the season officially begins.

Plumbers on the East Coast are promoting sump pump installation and backflow prevention ahead of hurricane season.

Basement waterproofers are also getting ahead of hurricane season by pushing drainage systems, sump pumps, and waterproofing panels.

What Promotional Strategies Should You Use?

Once you’ve chosen the summertime service(s) you want to promote, here are the next steps:

Dedicated web page. Make sure you have a corresponding page on your website for each service you wish to promote. Not only will this provide more information to interested site visitors, but it will also improve your credibility in Google’s view.

Pay-per-click (PPC). Get out in front of your competitors by starting a Google AdWords campaign for your specific service. This way, you’ll show up whenever someone in your area searches for that type of work.

Facebook Ads. Start a Facebook ad campaign and pop up in your target audience’s news feed! You’ll stay top of mind for that service they’ve been thinking about but haven’t pulled the trigger on yet.

Social media. Make adjustments to your social media profiles to showcase your summertime services. This way, when a potential customer visits your site or page, they’ll see it right away. You should also create posts and photos about these services to further boost your reach.

So… do you have a specific service you want to prioritize this summer?

Then get to work ASAP.

Or, if you need some guidance, give us a call or shoot us a message now. We’ll get you set up with a powerful campaign to boost your bookings this summer.

Prospect Genius

Blocked From Signing In to Old Google Business Accounts – FIXED!

How to Get Unblocked From a Google Business Account

Do You Know What to Ask When Hiring an SEO Company?

When Is the Best Time to Use Facebook Ads Versus Google AdWords?

Choosing the Appropriate Platform

Facebook Ads vs. Google AdWords: What’s the Difference?

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