Kelton Murphy
Sales & Client Services, Lehvel
Kelton works directly with businesses from first conversation through launch and ongoing support.
Writes about
- What owners misunderstand about their online presence
- Google Business Profile and reviews, day to day
- Buying websites and search services
- Implementation and adoption with clients
Published
Learn
Answers to the questions business owners ask, by topic.
Reviews
- Google reviews vs Yelp: which matters more for a small business?Google reviews vs Yelp for a small business: where customers see each, what each lets you do, and why the rules on asking for reviews differ.
- Why do Google reviews disappear?Why Google reviews disappear from a business profile: spam filters, policy removals, deleted accounts, merged profiles, and what you can and can't do about it.
- How to make a Google review QR codeHow to make a Google review QR code from your Business Profile's review link, where to put it so customers scan it, and the free QR codes to avoid.
- Google review calculator: how many 5-star reviews you needA free Google review calculator: enter your rating and number of reviews to see how many more 5-star reviews it takes to reach the rating you want.
- How to remove bad Google reviews: what's actually possibleCan you remove bad Google reviews? Only some. The ones Google takes down, the legal route for defamation, and what to do about honest negative reviews.
- Google's review management tool, and managing reviews day to dayGoogle's review management tool lets owners report reviews, check the status of reports and appeal decisions. How to use it, and a simple routine for the rest.
- How to see my Google reviews, as an owner or a reviewerHow to see my Google reviews: where a business owner finds every review of their profile, and where you find the reviews you've written yourself.
- Anonymous Google reviews: can you find out who wrote one?Anonymous Google reviews: why some reviewers can't be identified, whether Google will tell you who wrote a review, and how to reply when you don't know.
- Should you buy Google reviews?Should you buy Google reviews? Short answer: no. What Google does when it finds bought reviews, what the FTC rule says, and what works instead.
- Yelp business reviews: how they work for ownersYelp business reviews for owners: why some reviews are 'not recommended', why Yelp says not to ask for reviews, and how to reply publicly or privately.
- Can you edit Google reviews?Who can edit Google reviews: reviewers can change their own, owners can only edit their replies. How each works, and what to do about a review that's out of date.
- Google review tap cards and stands: do they work?Google review tap cards and stands open your review link when a customer taps their phone. When they work, what to put on them, and the rules they can't bend.
- How to earn 5-star Google reviewsHow to earn 5-star Google reviews: the moments in a job that decide the rating, when to ask, and why asking everyone still gets you more 5-star reviews.
- How to search Google reviews for a word or a nameHow to search Google reviews for a word, a service or a staff member's name, and how owners use it to find patterns in what customers say.
- Good customer reviews: examples of what helps a businessCustomer reviews examples: what makes a review useful to the next customer, illustrative lines that name the job and the person, and how to get more like them.
- Google reviews with images: what owners can and can't doGoogle reviews images: customers can add photos to reviews, owners can't delete them but can report policy breaks, and photo reviews help new customers choose.
- Restaurant Google reviews: what diners read and how to get moreHow restaurant Google reviews work: what diners read first, how to ask without being awkward, and how to answer the review about the cold fries.
- How to post a Google review (instructions to send your customers)How to post a Google review on a phone or computer, why a review might not show up, and short instructions a business can send to customers.
- Using a Google reviews icon on your websiteWhere to get a Google reviews icon for your website or print, what Google's brand rules allow, and how to link the icon to your review page.
- Google reviews points: how Local Guides points workWhat Google reviews points are, how Local Guides earn them, what the levels unlock, and what points mean for businesses that ask for reviews.
- Can a business delete a Yelp review?Can a business delete a Yelp review? No, but you can report reviews that break Yelp's rules, reply publicly or privately, and understand why some reviews get hidden.
- Can you get a Google review link without a business profile?You can't get a Google review link without a business profile, but you may already have a listing to claim. How to find it, and how to get the link once you do.
- How to get more Google reviews without breaking the rulesHow to get more Google reviews without risking your profile: ask every customer, make it one tap, and never filter who you ask or pay for reviews.
- How to respond to negative Google reviewsHow to respond to negative Google reviews: a short, calm reply helps more than a long defense. What to say, what to avoid, and two replies to adapt.
- How to report a fake Google reviewHow to report a fake Google review: you can't delete it yourself, but you can flag one that breaks Google's policies, track it and appeal.
Google Business Profile
- Google Business Profile video verification: what to filmWhat Google Business Profile video verification asks for, what to show in one continuous take, and the mistakes that get a video rejected.
- How to delete a Google Business Profile, and when not toHow to delete a Google Business Profile from your account, why the listing may stay on Maps, and the better options when you've moved, closed or sold.
- Google Business Profile photo size and what to postGoogle Business Profile photo size and specs: format, file size and resolution, plus the logo, cover and videos, and which photos are worth posting.
- Google Business Profile posts: are they worth it?Google Business Profile posts: the kinds you can publish, what they do and don't do for ranking, and a simple routine that keeps your profile current.
- Google Business Profile verification: methods and what goes wrongGoogle Business Profile verification: the methods Google may offer, how to prepare so it passes the first time, and what to do when verification fails.
- How to edit your Google Business ProfileHow to edit your Google Business Profile from Search or Maps, which changes Google reviews before they go live, and which can send you back to verification.
- How to add my business to Google, or claim the listing that's already thereHow to add my business to Google Maps and Search, or claim a listing Google already made, and what to do if someone else already manages it.
- What happened to Google Business Profile messaging?Google Business Profile messaging (chat) was shut down in 2024. What replaced it, how customers can still reach you from your profile, and what to update.
- Google Business Profile hours: regular, special and more hoursHow to set Google Business Profile hours properly: regular hours, special hours for holidays, and 'more hours' for things like delivery or senior hours.
- How to log into your Google Business Profile now that the app is goneHow to log into your Google Business Profile: there's no separate app anymore. Sign in to the Google account that manages it and search your business on Google or Maps.
- Google Business Profile stickers and posters: the free marketing kitGoogle's free Business Profile marketing kit makes 'find us on Google' and 'review us' stickers and posters with your QR code. How to get it and where they work.
- Google Business Profile for real estate agentsCan a real estate agent have their own Google Business Profile? Yes, under Google's practitioner rules. How to set it up and what to post.
- How to find your Google Business Profile IDWhere to find your Google Business Profile ID, how it differs from a Place ID, and when support or a software tool will ask you for one.
- How to add a user to your Google Business ProfileHow to add a user to your Google Business Profile, the difference between owner and manager, and how to take access back from a former agency.
- Google Business Profile advertising: your optionsGoogle Business Profile advertising explained: location assets in Google Ads, promoted pins on Maps, and Local Services Ads, and when each makes sense.
- Google Business Profile for lawyers and law firmsGoogle Business Profile for lawyers: firm and attorney profiles, the right practice categories, and replying to reviews without breaching client confidentiality.
- How to do a Google Business Profile audit in 20 minutesRun your own Google Business Profile audit: check name, categories, hours, services, photos, reviews and who has access. A 20-minute checklist with fixes.
- Google Business Profile suspended: why it happens and how to appealWhy a Google Business Profile gets suspended, what to fix before you appeal, and which documents give the appeal a fair chance.
Websites
- Do I need a website for my small business if I have a Google Business Profile?Do I need a website for my small business if I have a Google Business Profile? What the profile covers, what it can't, and when a site pays off.
- Website design terms, explained plainlyWebsite design terms explained for business owners: domain, hosting, SSL, CMS, responsive design, redirects, schema and more, in plain language.
- How to set up a business email with your own domainHow to set up a business email address on your own domain, what free options really include, and the three DNS records that keep your mail out of spam.
- What to put in a business email signatureWhat a small business email signature should include: name, role, business, a phone number that's tappable, and your website, in text rather than one big image.
- Website contact forms that people actually fill inA website contact form that works for a small business: a few fields, a clear promise about the reply, spam protection, and messages that reliably arrive.
- Business email format: a simple structure that gets repliesA business email format that gets replies: a specific subject, the point in the first line, one clear ask, and a signature with a phone number people can tap.
- What drives small business website costSmall business website cost depends on who builds it, how many pages need writing, and what it has to do. The cost drivers, and what to ask before comparing quotes.
- Website redesign cost: where the money goesWhat drives website redesign cost: content, moving pages without losing search traffic, and new features. How to get a quote you can compare.
- How to write an RFP for website redesignHow to write an RFP for website redesign that gets comparable proposals: goals, current site facts, must-haves, budget range and how you'll choose.
- Why is my website not getting leads?When a small-business website is not getting leads, the cause is usually one of a handful of things you can check on your own phone in ten minutes.
By trade
- Med spa marketing: search, reviews and AI, within the rulesMed spa marketing that stays within the rules: treatment pages with provider credentials, careful claims, consented before-and-afters, private review replies, and AI.
- Painting contractor marketing: getting the jobs you wantPainting contractor marketing: pages for interior, exterior and cabinet work, photos from real jobs, reviews that name the job, and a site that books estimates.
- Chiropractor marketing: search, reviews and new patientsChiropractor marketing: pages for the conditions and services you treat, careful health claims, insurance and new-patient details, and private review replies.
- Cleaning business marketing: trust, booking and recurring clientsCleaning business marketing: separate pages for home, move-out and commercial cleaning, trust details people check, easy booking, and reviews that mention the team.
- Salon marketing: booking, stylists and a portfolio people can findSalon marketing for hair and beauty salons: a service menu as text, stylist pages, a booking link on Google, and a portfolio that search engines and AI can read.
- Auto repair shop marketing: getting the right cars in the baysAuto repair shop marketing: pages for each repair, the makes you work on, ASE certifications and warranty, and reviews that mention the car and the fix.
- Home care agency marketing: reaching families who are decidingHome care agency marketing: plain explanations of non-medical care, the areas you cover, how caregivers are screened, and what families need to decide.
- Garage door marketing in a trade full of fake listingsGarage door marketing when search results are crowded with fake listings and bait pricing: how a real local company proves it's real and gets the call.
- Physical therapy marketing: direct access, insurance and conditionsPhysical therapy marketing: whether patients need a referral in your state, the insurance you take, pages for the conditions you treat, and careful claims.
- Tree service marketing: insurance, arborists and storm workTree service marketing: show insurance and certified arborists, give removal, trimming and stump grinding their own pages, and be ready for storm season.
- Pressure washing marketing: before-and-afters and the right methodPressure washing marketing: pages for houses, roofs, driveways and commercial work, before-and-after photos, and explaining soft washing vs pressure washing.
- Gym marketing: schedules, trials and clear membershipsGym marketing for independent gyms and fitness studios: class schedules people can find, a real trial offer, reviews, and membership terms that are easy to understand.
- Flooring marketing: showroom, install, and the photos that sellFlooring marketing for stores and installers: pages by floor type, brands you carry, install-only versus supply-and-install, and finished-room photos.
- Solar company marketing: trust, proof and careful claimsSolar company marketing for local installers: installs customers can see, licenses and warranties shown, and savings and incentive claims you can back up.
- Restaurant marketing ideas that fill tables on slow nightsRestaurant marketing ideas and promotions that work for independent restaurants: fixing slow nights, local partnerships, posts people share, and keeping Google right.
- Dental marketing strategies beyond SEODental marketing strategies for independent practices: recall and reactivation, insurance clarity, referrals, reviews, and the HIPAA rules on testimonials and marketing.
- Contractor marketing that works offline and onlineContractor marketing ideas that bring remodeling and repair jobs: job-site signs, truck lettering, referrals, a Google profile full of real projects, and follow-ups.
- HVAC marketing strategies that fit the seasonsHVAC marketing strategies built around the calendar: be easy to find when systems fail, fill the quiet months with tune-ups, and turn repairs into agreements.
- Marketing for roofing contractors: what gets the callMarketing for roofing contractors: win on trust before price. Local reviews, photos of real roofs, storm inspections, and what to ask a marketing company.
- Restaurant email marketing that people openRestaurant email marketing that gets opened: how to collect emails without annoying guests, what to send, how often, and the consent rules to follow.
- Dental social media marketing: what to post and what to avoidDental social media marketing that suits a practice: introduce the team, show the office, answer common questions, and get written consent before any patient appears.
- Salon social media marketing that books chairsSalon social media marketing that fills the book: post finished work with the stylist tagged, put booking one tap away, and ask clients before posting them.
- Remodeling contractor marketing: win the bigger jobsRemodeling contractor marketing for kitchens, baths and additions: project pages with real photos, a clear process, and reviews that name the job and the town.
- Digital marketing for plumbers: what brings the callsDigital marketing for plumbers: Google Business Profile, Local Services Ads, emergency pages and reviews, plus what to ask a plumber marketing company.
- HVAC PPC marketing: running Google Ads that payHVAC PPC marketing that pays: target repair and replacement searches, block DIY and job-seeker clicks, track calls, and turn ads up with the weather.
- Restaurant SMS marketing: texts people don't mind gettingRestaurant SMS marketing that guests welcome: last-minute tables, pickup specials, event reminders. The consent rules, how often to text, and what to say.
- Nail salon marketing that fills the appointment bookNail salon marketing that works: photos of every set, a Google profile with booking, and regulars kept on a rebooking schedule. Ideas for walk-in and appointment salons.
- Marketing for landscaping companies, season by seasonMarketing for landscaping companies: sell maintenance contracts in late winter, show finished yards, use yard signs and Nextdoor, and keep Google current all year.
Local search
- Local SEO tools a small business actually needsThe local SEO tools a small business actually needs: the free ones from Google, Bing and Apple first, then the few paid tools worth adding once you're ready.
- Facebook business page basics: name, admins, and closing a pageFacebook business page basics: changing the page name, giving someone access without handing over the page, and unpublishing versus deleting.
AI for small-business marketing
- Email marketing for small business: a simple way to startEmail marketing for small business: build a list from real customers, send something useful on a steady schedule, and follow the CAN-SPAM basics.
- Small business marketing ideas that don't need a big budgetSmall business marketing ideas that cost more time than money: your Google profile, reviews, before-and-afters, local partners, email and fixing what AI says.
- Small business branding: what actually mattersSmall business branding that matters: one name used identically everywhere, a logo that works small, a consistent look, and a reputation customers repeat.
- Business email templates for everyday small-business jobsFive business email templates a small business can adapt: a quote follow-up, an appointment reminder, a thank-you, a review request and an overdue invoice note.
- ChatGPT for customer service: what a small business can hand itChatGPT for customer service in a small business: drafting replies, building an FAQ, summarizing complaints. What to keep human, and what not to paste in.
- How to use AI to generate leads for a small businessHow to use AI and ChatGPT to generate leads for a small business: find the leads you're already losing, answer faster, follow up, and write better outreach.
- AI for sales in a small businessAI for sales in a small business: call notes, proposals, follow-ups and keeping track of who's waiting on what. Where it saves time, and where to stay hands-on.