We are excited to announce we have joined Google’s Get Your Business Online (GYBO) program, providing clients and area partners with information and resources necessary to become more visible in search. Established in 2015, Google’s GYBO program is designed to educate businesses on the importance of taking ownership of their business information online so that it is easily accessible to potential customers. 

Google works with not-for-profit organizations that support local businesses, like Chambers of Commerce, America’s Small Business Development Centers, Service Corps of Retired Executives chapters, Workers Compensation Boards, and city or neighborhood associations. Since we’re a trusted advertising agency, with badged Google Partners and badged Google Trusted Photographers accreditations, we were eligible to enroll in the GYBO program 

As a fully integrated marketing and communications firm, specializing in tourism and destination marketing, we know that a destination is only as great as its area partners. Sure, our marketing efforts can attract visitors from around to world to visit our clients all day long, but the reputation of the destination and the experience that visitors have relies on area hotels, restaurants, tours, excursions, shops, and any local businesses that visitors may stumble upon. 

So we understand more than most the importance of making sure visitors find things to do in the area that match their interests. We also know that the days of visitors solely relying on concierge recommendations and brochures in a hotel lobby are long gone. Visitors have evolved, and today’s travelers are using personal handheld devices to plan their trips, find things to do, and make decisions on where to stay and eat by looking at online reviews and search engine recommendations. Valuable, up-to-date, and correct business information can significantly impact the decision an individual makes when choosing one business over another to visit as a result of using a search engine. 

Google offers a suite of free tools that business owners can use to update and maintain their business information in Search and Google Maps. The GYBO program provides area experts who can guide local businesses on how to use these tools. 

Who are these area experts? That’s right, it’s us. Now that we’re an established GYBO Google partner, we have the unique opportunity to provide valuable information to area partners of the Destination Marketing Organizations we serve. For example, we present Digital Marketing Summits, like this one held for the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, in which Krystina Lisi of our digital team spoke to 60+ area partners about: 

• How today’s travelers are using search and Google’s travel tools to help plan their vacations 
• The importance of verifying and maintaining your Google My Business Listing 
• The reason why taking control of your information online can help your business to be found in search when people are looking for your particular product or service 

In this presentation, we provided strategic solutions to area businesses inquiring about verifying their Google listings, issues that businesses were having with GPS directions on Google Maps, how to optimize their listings so they generate more attention from people searching, and other specific challenges they were facing. This is just one step we’re taking to ensure we always provide the most up-to-date digital information and services for our clients. We look forward to hosting more events just like this for years to come.