In this episode, Alioune Faye, Founder of AFDV Marketing, shares a candid account of how his Google Business Profile (GBP) was suspended due to the use of a virtual office. This experience, a "wake-up call" from a potential client, exposed a critical "trust gap" in AFDV Marketing's public narrative, which stemmed from focusing on work rather than actively building public credibility.• Alioune details AFDV Marketing's journey from a Halifax university dorm room to a full-service digital marketing agency, grown primarily through word-of-mouth and referrals. Despite his diverse background in areas like analytical mechanical engineering and frontline sales, which contributed to delivering results, the business had not actively solicited reviews, published case studies, or openly shared its story.• The suspension occurred when Alioune updated his GBP with a virtual office address in Toronto for Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) compliance, unaware that Google's guidelines require a staffed physical location where clients can be received, not just a mail-forwarding service. He immediately corrected the error by reverting the GBP to a "service-area business" and submitted an honest reinstatement appeal.• Join Alioune as he outlines four key lessons learned from this humbling experience on building an honest brand online: 1. Transparency is Non-Negotiable: Proactively share your story, successes, and even mistakes, as "silence breeds suspicion". 2. Compliance is Your Responsibility: Understand and adhere to platform policies and federal laws like CASL; "ignorance is not a defense". 3. Visible Proof Builds Credibility: Actively gather testimonials, reviews, and case studies, as these are "the currency of trust in a digital world". 4. Focus Creates Deeper Trust: Niching down and becoming an expert, particularly for industries like Registered Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs), language schools, and nonprofits, builds stronger partnerships and trust.• This episode serves as a real-time look at what it takes to build—and rebuild—trust online and encourages past clients who had a positive impact from AFDV Marketing to share their experiences

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