Do you hate putting yourself out there, but still want your business to stand out on Google? I know I did for several years before I started showing my face on YouTube. Below is one of my early YouTube thumbnails, where i didn't want my face seen. Me as a cartoon character, which really confused my visitors. But the thing is I'm not alone. A client recently told me: “I don’t like being visible. I prefer to stay in the background.” It's totally understandable. But here’s the problem: when I looked at his Google Business Profile: - He had very few team photos - Mostly stock imagery - Little real-world proof This makes it tough for customers (and Google) to trust the business. So, what did we do? We didn’t turn him into a social media influencer. Instead, we: - Added real installation photos - Showed the team at work - Created simple case study posts - Encouraged review photos from customers No ‘look at me’ content. Just proof. The lesson: Google rewards real businesses doing real work. - Stock photos don’t build trust. - Generic posts don’t build authority. - Real people, real projects, and real reviews build prominence, and prominence drives rankings. You don’t need to be loud. You just need to be visible in the right way.

Here’s what just changed with Google reviews—and why it matters for you: 1. You can now leave a review using a nickname, not your full name. 2. This means more privacy and less hesitation for anyone who wants to share feedback. 3. When you ask for a review, say something like: “By the way, you can keep your name private now when you leave a Google review.” 4. More people will be willing to help, and your business can get the boost it needs. 5. Early adopters who spread the word about this update will see the most benefit. 6. If you want to give it a try, here’s a link where you can leave me a review—anonymously if you want: https://g.page/r/CUb_M5JrqIDWEAE/review And in the classroom is the full workshop on how to get more reviews and improve your Google rankings Next time you’re happy with a business, use a nickname and leave a review.

If you think its all even playing field, let me burst your bubble. With so many fake listings, and fraud here are the current top industries that get the least tolerance from Google 1. Locksmiths → classic spam industry, Google has long cracked down here. 2. Garage door repair → another area notorious for fake businesses and lead-gen sites. 3. Legal services (esp. personal injury, immigration, DUI lawyers) → high-value clicks mean lots of fake listings. 4. Plumbers & HVAC contractors → common targets for lead-gen spammers. 5. Towing services → lots of fake listings set up to hijack calls. What does this mean for them? In these categories, even small inconsistencies (like address formatting, hours, or sudden profile changes) can trigger suspensions. Do you think Google has got this right?

I made a new post this evening and up popped a survey from GBP by google ,I answered their question to give feedback, has anyone else done this.

I mentioned in a previous post that i automatically open up a tag on my Chrome Browser my business profile, so i can check what needs attention and what cards Google wants me to react to. If you want to do the same do this Open up chrome and make sure you are signed in with your Google account you use on your Google Business Profile Then go to top right 3 dots where you can go to browser settings Under settings go to "On Startup" see screenshot There you can use specific pages, just add the page where your business is logged into let me know how it goes, it will save you a lot of pain as its a winner I've done for years