Hey Bill, I am dealing with a few negative GMB reviews that were left by former employees, but they’re posting them as if they were real customers. What’s the best way to: - Prove they were employees - Figure out which Google guidelines apply - How to report them properly - Decide when it’s better to respond vs push for removal Would love your advice 🙏

Welcome @John Kiama! John is a marketing and growth professional based out of the land down under (Australia)! Thanks for joining - we hope to hear from you soon!

I’ve been thinking about some of the biggest challenges I run into when I’m helping blue collar businesses grow. Figured I’d share them here just to give you some of my perspective. 1) Thinking big results can happen without a solid team. You can only do so much on your own. If you want to scale, you’ve got to build a team you can count on, otherwise you'll hit the ceiling quick. 2) Getting owners to pitch in photos, videos, and the stories that go with them. I don’t need essays, but even a quick thumbs-up or a two-sentence story about one of their job photos makes the marketing ten times more effective. The tough part? They’re already buried in work, so it’s hard to get their input. That's why I encourage using speech to text or even quick screen recordings for communication. 3) Not seeing professional services as an investment. This one’s huge. Owners don’t think twice about dropping cash on tools or trucks, but when it comes to marketing or admin support, they hesitate. The reality is, that’s the stuff that keeps the business growing so those tools and trucks actually get used. That's my 2 cents. I’d love to hear from you! 👉 If you’ve ever worked with or for a blue collar business, what challenges do you think they face with growth? 👉 And if you run one yourself, which of these hits closest to home?

I want this to be a space where you all can ask questions, learn, and grow. A lot of the threads that I start come directly from questions asked by my clients and prospects. So if something is on your mind, please ask!

I care what you think - so please let me know if you're getting any benefit out of this group. What drives you nuts? What do you want to see more of? Happy Labor Day!