May 2021 Newsletter
Making the Most of Your Google Business Profile Listing
Make the most of valuable search engine real estate by optimizing your company’s Google Business Profile listing with these helpful tips. It’s a simple way you can help promote your business . . . and it’s 100% free!
Grant to Replace Older Freight and Transport Vehicles
Does your Michigan business have aging commercial, mass transit, or transportation support vehicles in need of replacing? If so, you might just qualify for a grant to replace those high maintenance, polluting behemoths with clean, energy efficient models.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is offering a three-part funding opportunity that totals $30 million for the replacement of older vehicles with new models, including electric, alternative fuel and diesel types.
The grant covers medium and heavy-duty local freight trucks, transit and shuttle buses, freight switchers, tug and ferry boats, port cargo handling equipment, forklifts and airport ground support equipment. Funds to install shore power for vessels that operate within the Great Lakes will also be available in the future.
The program is funded using Volkswagen diesel settlement money allocated to Michigan. Its goals are to reduce oxides of nitrogen emissions and maximize air quality benefits statewide, reduce diesel emissions from school buses and increase adoption of zero emission and alternative fuel vehicles and equipment.
There’s no time for delay. The deadlines for the first round of the program has already passed. The three rounds for which EGLE will accept project proposals for on-road equipment are:
Round 1: February 2021 to April 22, 2021
Round 2: June 22, 2021 to August 20, 2021
Round 3: October 19, 2021 to December 17, 2021
NOTE: If all $16 million are awarded in Round 1 or Round 2, there will not be a subsequent round.
For details and to apply for the grant, see EGLE’s Fuel Transformation Program.
Tip of the Month
How to find the direct URL to make it easy to give Google reviews
Everyone wants more reviews. But how do you find the website address to give to your customers so they can easily give you a Google review? Well, that is actually quite easy too!
- First, log into your Google Business Profile account. If you haven’t claimed it yet, see Add or claim your business on Google Business Profile to start the process.
- Navigate to the Home section in the left margin:
3. On the right side of the screen, scroll down until you reach “Get more reviews.” Then select the “Share review form” button.
4. Here you can click to copy the link. Other options are to share it on social media or email it out.
After that, the sky is the limit! Put it in your company’s email footer, add it to your website, or post it on other media. Once those reviews start coming in, check out our Guide to Reputation Management for best practices on how to respond to both the positive and not-so-positive reviews. You’ll take a big step in improving your online visibility and increasing trust in your products or services.
Quick note: The copy that Google creates to share the review link is very short and to the point. You might want to update it just a little to make it more friendly and ensure it resonates with your company’s marketing voice.
Just for Laughs
A son goes up to his dad one morning. He says, ”I’m starting a search service!”
His dad, impressed, goes “That’s a great idea! Just look how well companies like Google and Bing are doing!”
The son replies “Oh no dad, not that type of search service. I’ll find things around the house for you. For example, for five dollars, I’ll find your reading glasses. For ten, I’ll find your car keys. And for twenty, I’ll find the TV remote.”
The dad exclaims “At those prices I might as well find them myself!”
The son smiles and asks “Are you sure? I hid them pretty well.”
Our best for your success!
