All Script And Tols For Free: 🔍 $340 million in SMB ad credits

Mar 30, 2020

Good morning search marketers, how about some good news this Monday?

The spirit of this community has been on display since this crisis began. One example is the host of search marketers offering free, no-strings attached services and support for SMBs who are struggling. From gratis consulting, web hosting, budget coaching, schema audits and more, marketers have raised their hands to help. And others are working to connect businesses in need with marketing volunteers. Mr Rogers was right: "Look for the helpers." We are lucky to have them in abundance here.

Google announced it's going to make $340 million in ad credits available to current SMB advertisers to help them weather the impact of COVID-19 as part of a broader $800+ package, including more ad grants. There are some unknowns about the SMB ad credits program such as when the credits will be available, what the amounts will be and … the timing. Those eligible will be alerted in their Google Ads accounts "in the coming months," Google said.

Greg Sterling hosted a lively discussion and Q&A with local search marketers in our second Live with Search Engine Land on Friday. We'll have the full video up here a little later today. Next up, I'll be hosting a B2B-focused session with PPC marketers this week. Stay tuned for details.

A quick note that we've made it easier for readers to find our Periodic Tables (SEO, PPC, Digital Commerce Marketing and Email Deliverability) and buyers guides all in one place with a new "Resources" link in the top navigation on Search Engine Land.

We want to hear your stories and tips for navigating during this unprecedented time, read on to learn more.

Take care,

Ginny Marvin
Editor-In-Chief

Pro Tip

Tell us how you're pivoting during COVID-19

The massive disruption of COVID-19 is forcing many of us to pivot and rethink everything we do. And right now, our community needs some fresh ideas on how to manage the overwhelming situation.

That's where you come in. We're looking for tips on how to work through the varied challenges so we can learn from each other and offer some hope for control (even if small) during this uncertain time.

Share your tips and creative thinking on managing your work. It can be client-facing or something you've tried with your staff. We'll highlight the best on our site and include an excerpt right here in our newsletter.

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5 critical elements for local marketing success

This guide from MarTech Today examines the market for local marketing solutions and the 5 critical elements for local marketing success: Listing Management, Local SEO, Local Landing Pages, Reputation Management, and Paid Search and Social Media. Also included are profiles of 17 leading local marketing solution vendors and capabilities comparisons.

Read more »

Mindful Moment

This is a difficult time for us all. We are sharing a mindfulness exercise daily to help those interested to take a moment to decompress and regain focus. If you have a tip or exercise to share with the community, please email me at gmarvin@thirddoormedia.com.

This week, we have a series of suggestions from Tara Martello, a meditation and mindfulness coach based in Philadelphia. "Fear, stress, and panic can lead to unhealthy distractions like food, alcohol, and technology binges. Instead of self-medicating with unhealthy habits, take the extra time you have in your day to start a mindfulness meditation practice," advises Martello. Stay grounded exercise: Take a seat or stand still and feel your feet on the ground. Imagine them connected to roots that are firmly planting you into the earth. Enjoy the feeling of strength and grounding that follows.

Search Shorts

Google My Business advice for medical offices

Google My Business for healthcare facilities. Google posted some helpful advice around changes you can make on Google My Business for your healthcare facility.

Image SEO. Google's John Mueller said on Twitter for image search, it definitely makes sense to have unique & compelling imagery. Even in web search & discover, images can be quite attractive for users.

Slow sites. "Users don't care why a site is slow, they don't care where the slowness came from," John Mueller of Google said. "If you see that anything causes your site to be "too slow" (where & how you draw the line is up to you), then I'd fix that," he added.

"What should I look for in an SEO solution?"

There's nothing like curling up with a good book — or good Marketing Intelligence Report — when you're stuck inside. MarTech Today's Enterprise SEO Tools For Content Marketing, Search Intelligence, UX, And More guide is an insightful and informative read that will help you understand who the leading players are and what capabilities these platforms provide.

Get your free copy now! »