How to get your business to Rank Higher on Google and Improve SEO – Part 3

How to get your business to Rank Higher on Google and Improve SEO – Part 3

by | Feb 17, 2020 | Google, SEO

How to get a Google Knowledge Panel for your Brand or Online-only business

Google Knowledge Panels are rich results that show up as sidebar panels when a user “Googles” your business. Getting a knowledge panel is easier for location-based businesses than for online-only businesses. A location-based business is a business which has a physical address and either customers come to this location to do business, or employees of the company travel to meet with customers to perform services or deliveries from the business. (See this blog post for more information.)

If your company is online-only, then it’s not as easy to get a Knowledge Panel. It is currently not possible for an online-only business or brand to apply for a Google Knowledge Panel. Instead, Google’s algorithm decides whether your brand or business merits a knowledge panel based on the online presence of your business.

One helpful step to gaining a Google Knowledge Panel for your online-only business or brand is to get your site on Google Search Console.

We’ll explain the steps for getting your website on Google Search Console. Like these steps and all steps mentioned, you must first establish a Google Account for your business. Open your Google Account here.

This image is the Knowledge Panel for the Stormcrow Entertainment, LLC film, RINGERS: LORD OF THE FANS, we have verified with Google that we own this film and so can update this knowledge panel by editing it and posting updates.

Step 1: Getting a Google Search Panel and Adding a Website Property

First you must be able to prove that you own the website in order to add it to your Google Search Console account. You do this by verifying your site ownership. These are all technical processes so if someone else manages your website for you, you’ll need to reach out them to verify your website.

  • Verify with an HTML File Upload
  • Verify with an HTML Tag
  • Verify with a DNS record
  • Verify with a Google Analytics Tracking Code
  • Verify with a Google Tag Manager container snippet
  • Verify with Google Sites, Blogger or Google Domains.

Google has instructions posted on how to complete the steps above. You must have access to the back-end server for your website, or manage the Domain name for this website. This is different than the process for adding your website to the Google Search Console. Read the instructions here.

Step 2: Add a Web Property to your Google Search Console.

Google needs the URL or your website to add it to your Google Search Console. 

Step 3: Verify Ownership of Web Property in your Google Search Console.

Click on the Settings Button on the Left hand navigation of the Google Search Console page for the URL you entered above.

We have been verified by Google, but if you haven’t been, it will tell you here.

You also need to click on the Users and Permissions and make sure to add yourself here as well. This links your Google account, or another person’s Google account to this Google Search Console.

In our next installment we’ll walk you through editing your Knowledge Panel and setting up a Google Brand account with Google Photos or YouTube.

Click on our Blog page for more articles on getting better organic SEO through Google.

Improving Your Google My Business Listings for SEO

Improving Your Google My Business Listings for SEO

by | Jan 24, 2020 | Google, SEO

This is the second article in our series on how to list your business online with Google. Part 1, then click here.

Ever looked up a company on Google to see a nice little “feature” for them in the sidebar on Google Search? This is called a Rich Snippet, or Knowledge Panel for a business.

These look best when all information is complete. Google will only accept images and additions if your business has been Verified by Google My Business. To check to see if you’re verified, or to learn more, click here. https://support.google.com/business/answer/2911778

Once you have established your Google My Business Account, click Photos in the left hand menu of your Google My Business dashboard to upload photos.

To improve your business listing on Google My Business you can add photos, videos and your company’s logo.

Open your Google Account here.

Image Guidelines

If you’d like to add a Cover photo to your business listing make sure that it follows these guidelines:

  • Must be a JPG or PNG file format.
  • Must be at least 720 pixels wide by 720 pixels tall
  • Must be compressed for the web

These images can be photos of the Exterior of your business, the Interior of your business, photos of products, photos of people working at your business, photos of the common areas of your business, photos of your team.

You can also add a video to your business listing. Since YouTube is owned by Google, it’s best if your video is posted on YouTube.

Video guidelines

Make sure your videos meet the following requirements:

  • Duration: Up to 30 seconds long
  • File size: Up to 100 MB
  • Resolution: 720p or higher

You can also add a Logo to your Business Listing. That way your logo will appear next to snippets of your business.

Logo Guidelines

For best results Logos should be:

  • At least 1000px wide
  • SVG or PNG file
  • 3:4 or square aspect ratio

File size: Images files can’t be larger than 5MB.

These practices only work for businesses who qualify for a Google My Business Listing. If you do not qualify, you can establish a Google Brand Account.

 

How to Establish a Google Brand Account

You and others can jointly manage a Brand Account through your own Google Accounts. You won’t need a separate username or password. Your account can have multiple owners and managers.

You create a Google Brand Account by creating a Brand YouTube Channel or a Google Photos.

Learn More

Learn more about improving your business’ SEO and Google presence in the next post in this series – Part 1 –

How to get your business to Rank Higher on Google and Improve your SEO

Follow Us!

RINGERS: LORD OF THE FANS

by | December 14, 2020 | Content | 0 Comments

In another post, we used the knowledge panel for our Documentary film RINGERS: LORD OF THE FANS. This film was originally released in 2005 by Sony Pictures Entertainment. We recently finished a re-edit and overhaul of this film and are seeking distribution.

Read More

How to get your business to Rank Higher on Google and Improve SEO – Part 3

by | February 17, 2020 | Google, SEO | 0 Comments

Google Knowledge Panels are rich results that show up as sidebar panels when a user “Googles” your business. In this article, we’ll explain the steps for getting your website on Google Search Console to improve your online-only website SEO.

Read More

Improving Your Google My Business Listings for SEO

by | January 24, 2020 | Google, SEO | 0 Comments

Ever looked up a company on Google to see a nice little “feature” for them in the sidebar on Google Search? This is called a Rich Snippet, or Knowledge Panel for a business. These look best when all information is complete. Google will only accept images and additions if your business has been Verified by Google My Business

Read More

How to get your business to Rank Higher on Google and Improve your SEO – Part 1

How to get your business to Rank Higher on Google and Improve your SEO – Part 1

by | Jan 8, 2020 | Google, SEO

I’m sure that you’ve Googled a business name and seen a nice looking sidebar pop-up on the Google Search Results page with the Company’s Name, their Logo, address and contact information with a description of what they do and possibly a list of star rating reviews of the company.

This is called a Google Knowledge Panel. It’s pretty nifty. Want to know how to get a Google Knowledge Panel for your business or website? (Or, want to know how to correct your company’s Google Knowledge Panel?) Well, read on!

The First step is simple and solves an age-old existential question, tell Google you exist.

Step 1: How to tell Google that your business exists.

While this might seem simple at first – they’ve added a few more steps that involve verification and due diligence on your part.

Step 1 A: Open a Google Account for your business.

This involves getting a business gmail account. Never use gmail? No problem, you can forward your gmail emails to the email account you use, and you can associate other email accounts with your Google account. Open your Google Account here.

Step 1 B: Determine if you can register with Google My Business.

Google My Business is a way for Google to help local businesses with a physical location get found in Google search and Google maps.

Signing your company up for Google My Business is easy

Does my business have a physical location where we meet with customers, or do we travel to meet with customers?

YES

If your business has a physical location where customers can come to you and do business OR, if you leave your business location to regularly meet with customers or perform a delivery or service for customers then you can sign up for a Google My Business account.

Make sure that you are verified by Google My Business!  Google verifies companies by sending a code on a postcard in the mail to your physical mailing address. This cannot be a PO Box, it must be a physical USPS registered mailing address.

 

If your business meets the criteria above, then you can start a Google My Business Account.

NO

But wait – I don’t have a brick & mortar, I’m only online.

If you’re an online only business, then you cannot sign up for a Google My Business account.

There is only one way for online only companies to get their own Google Knowledge Panel, and that’s by having the right kind of Google Structured Data and/or Schema.org microdata programmed into your company’s website.

You can also set up a Google Brand Account.

If you need help setting up your Google Account – this is our speciality at Stormcrow Digital.

Contact Us

Learn more about improving your business’ SEO and Google presence in the next post in this series – Part 2 – Improving Your Google My Business Listings for SEO

Follow Us!

RINGERS: LORD OF THE FANS

by | December 14, 2020 | Content | 0 Comments

In another post, we used the knowledge panel for our Documentary film RINGERS: LORD OF THE FANS. This film was originally released in 2005 by Sony Pictures Entertainment. We recently finished a re-edit and overhaul of this film and are seeking distribution.

Read More

How to get your business to Rank Higher on Google and Improve SEO – Part 3

by | February 17, 2020 | Google, SEO | 0 Comments

Google Knowledge Panels are rich results that show up as sidebar panels when a user “Googles” your business. In this article, we’ll explain the steps for getting your website on Google Search Console to improve your online-only website SEO.

Read More

Improving Your Google My Business Listings for SEO

by | January 24, 2020 | Google, SEO | 0 Comments

Ever looked up a company on Google to see a nice little “feature” for them in the sidebar on Google Search? This is called a Rich Snippet, or Knowledge Panel for a business. These look best when all information is complete. Google will only accept images and additions if your business has been Verified by Google My Business

Read More

Pin It on Pinterest