Free Local SEO Blackbelt Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers

Question 1: A real estate agent's home and office might both have Google listings.

TRUE (Correct answer)
FALSE

Correct answer: TRUE

This statement is true. If a real estate agent operates a legitimate business from their home (e.g., a home office where clients are met or services are provided) and also has a separate physical office location, both can qualify for Google Business Profile listings. Each location must meet Google's guidelines for having a physical presence and serving customers at that address.

Question 2: Do geotagged photographs improve search engine rankings?

Yes
No (Correct answer)

Correct answer: No

While geotagged photos can provide useful contextual information, Google has stated that geotagging images does not directly improve search engine rankings. Google primarily relies on other signals like the content of the page, location information in Google Business Profiles, and user location for local search relevance. The impact of geotagged photos on rankings is generally considered negligible or non-existent.

Question 3: Can fresh reviews be added to a Google Business Profile that is currently closed?

Yes (Correct answer)
No

Correct answer: Yes

Even if a Google Business Profile is marked as 'permanently closed' or 'temporarily closed,' users can still leave new reviews. Google allows this to ensure that the historical record of a business, including customer feedback, remains accessible and can be updated, even if the business is no longer actively operating.

Question 4: What kind of relationship between Google Business Profiles is NOT one of the following?

Located In
Works At
Departments
Services (Correct answer)
Chain

Correct answer: Services

Google Business Profile offers various ways to link or relate business profiles, such as 'Located In' (for businesses within another), 'Departments' (for different departments of a single business), 'Works At' (for service-area businesses operating from a central location), and 'Chain' (for multiple locations of the same brand). 'Services' is an attribute within a profile describing what a business offers, not a type of relationship between different Google Business Profiles.

Question 5: Google will fill up your opening date from other sources if you don't provide it in GBP.

TRUE (Correct answer)
FALSE

Correct answer: TRUE

This statement is true. If a business owner does not explicitly provide an opening date in their Google Business Profile, Google may attempt to infer and populate this information from other reliable sources across the web. This could include information from the business's website, third-party directories, or public records, to provide a more complete profile for users.

Question 6: This year, Local Packs with more than three organic listings have been discovered. How many listings did you find there?

7
4
5 (Correct answer)
10

Correct answer: 5

While the standard Google Local Pack typically displays three business listings, there have been instances and tests where Google has shown more. In particular, '5-packs' have been observed in certain local search results, especially on mobile, indicating Google's experimentation with displaying more local businesses directly in the SERP.

Question 7: Which user role for Google Business Profile was discontinued in 2025?

Owner
Site Manager (Correct answer)
Secondary Manager

Correct answer: Site Manager

The 'Site Manager' role in Google Business Profile is slated for discontinuation, with its functions being absorbed or replaced by other user roles like 'Manager' or 'Owner.' This change is part of Google's ongoing efforts to simplify and streamline user permissions and management within the platform, ensuring a clearer hierarchy for business profile access.

Question 8: What shade of pink does Google's test heart look like in the SERPs for companies that have the "Identifies as Women-Owned" attribute?

Yellow
Red
Purple (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Purple

Google has introduced various identity attributes for businesses, including 'Identifies as Women-Owned.' When this attribute is displayed in the SERPs, it is often accompanied by an icon, which in testing, has been observed as a purple heart. This visual cue helps users quickly identify businesses with specific characteristics.

Question 9: What feature did Google introduce in 2025?

Woman-Owned
Black-Owned
LGBTQ+ Friendly
Latino-Owned (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Latino-Owned

Google frequently introduces new identity attributes for businesses to highlight their diversity and help customers find businesses that align with their values. The 'Latino-Owned' attribute was specifically launched in 2022, not 2025, to allow businesses to self-identify. This feature aims to promote inclusivity and support diverse business communities within local search results.

Question 10: The Vicinity Update seems to have had a massive impact on which of the following:

Ranking impact of keywords in the GBP name (Correct answer)
Ranking impact of Google reviews
Ranking impact of the primary GBP category
Ranking impact of photos added to the GBP listing

Correct answer: Ranking impact of keywords in the GBP name

The Vicinity Update, rolled out by Google, significantly reduced the effectiveness of keyword stuffing in Google Business Profile (GBP) names. Previously, businesses could gain an unfair ranking advantage by including numerous keywords in their business title. This update aimed to prioritize actual business names and relevance over manipulative keyword usage, leading to a more equitable local search landscape.

Question 11: Does adding photos to your website impact the ranking of your Google listing?

Yes (Correct answer)
No

Correct answer: Yes

Adding high-quality, relevant photos to your website can indirectly impact your Google listing's ranking. Photos improve user engagement on your site, which is a positive signal to Google, indicating valuable content. Furthermore, properly optimized images with alt text can enhance overall website SEO, contributing to better visibility in search results, including local packs.

Question 12: Does GBP Identity (women-owned, etc.) factor towards ranking?

Yes (Correct answer)
No

Correct answer: Yes

Google Business Profile (GBP) identity attributes, such as 'Woman-Owned' or 'Black-Owned,' can indeed factor into ranking. While not a direct ranking signal in the traditional sense, these attributes allow Google to better understand and categorize businesses. They can influence visibility in specific searches (e.g., 'woman-owned restaurants near me') and contribute to a more comprehensive business profile that Google values for relevance and user experience.

Question 13: Does the age of the Google listing impact how it ranks?

Yes (Correct answer)
No

Correct answer: Yes

The age of a Google Business Profile listing can impact its ranking, as older, established listings often carry more authority and trust in Google's algorithm. A long-standing presence suggests stability and legitimacy, especially when combined with consistent activity, positive reviews, and accurate information over time. This contributes to a stronger overall profile and better ranking potential.

Question 14: What has the last year shown us to be the primary trend for companies whose Google reviews don't publish?

The Google accounts are not Local Guides
The users who left you reviews aren’t located anywhere near you or haven’t travelled there recently (Correct answer)
The Google accounts are brand new and have no history
The user posted the same review elsewhere online

Correct answer: The users who left you reviews aren’t located anywhere near you or haven’t travelled there recently

A primary reason Google reviews don't publish is often related to the reviewer's location or travel history. Google's spam detection algorithms are designed to filter out reviews from users who appear to have no legitimate connection to the business's physical location. If a reviewer is geographically distant or hasn't recently visited the area, their review may be flagged and suppressed to prevent spam or irrelevant contributions.

Question 15: In terms of SEO and SMM, keywords are crucial for reviews. Why is that so?

Keywords no longer matter, according to official Google statements.
Keyword matter for SEO but not for SMM.
Many review sites like AirBnB, Yelp, or Amazon use keywords as customers search. (Correct answer)
Vendors need to know keywords but users do not care.

Correct answer: Many review sites like AirBnB, Yelp, or Amazon use keywords as customers search.

Keywords are crucial for reviews because they help customers find relevant businesses and products on various platforms. Review sites often incorporate search functionalities that leverage keywords within review content to match user queries. When reviews contain relevant keywords, it enhances the visibility of the business or product for specific searches, making it easier for potential customers to discover them.

Question 16: What is bizarre about the official policy towards reviews of most of the major platforms such as Yelp, Google, Amazon?

Their help files indicate that you should set up review tracking via Google Analytics.
They encourage vendors to give away freebies in exchange for reviews.
They do not have official policies yet reviews are everywhere.
They advocate doing nothing to get reviews yet ignore the problem that unhappy people are the most likely to review. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: They advocate doing nothing to get reviews yet ignore the problem that unhappy people are the most likely to review.

Major review platforms like Yelp and Google often have policies that discourage businesses from actively soliciting reviews, advocating for organic, unsolicited feedback. This stance creates a paradox because dissatisfied customers are inherently more motivated to leave reviews than happy ones. Consequently, businesses that 'do nothing' may end up with a disproportionately negative representation, despite providing excellent service to the majority.

Free Local SEO Blackbelt Questions and Answers

A real estate agent's home and office might both have Google listings.