Google My Business allows you to manage your business listing by adding and updating your contact information, hours, photos, and even content, as well as gather and manage reviews from previous clients.
Whether you’ve already claimed your business on Google or are just getting started, there are numerous ways you can use Google My Business to help improve your local SEO.
Provide as much info as possible
The more information you can provide about your company on Google My Business, the better your chances of improving your local ranking. Make sure all the information you enter is complete, correct, and matches the info on your website. You also want to take time to update this information as your business changes. Anytime you change something on your website, like your phone number or address, be sure to change it on your Google My Business profile too.
Keep your hours accurate
Providing opening and closing times for your business lets potential customers know when you’re available and allows Google to provide a quick answer to anyone wanting to know when your business opens. You also want to include special hours or closings for holidays and update your hours if they change.
Be consistent with your NAPS
No, we’re not taking about the nap you would love to take during your busy day. NAPS stands for Name, Address, Phone Number, and Site. NAPS is critical for organic ranking, as it causes you to appear in geo-targeted searches. Geo-targeted search, also known as local search, refers to users searching for specific businesses or products in their area. For example, a user might search for “newborn photographers near me” or “newborn photographers Houston.”
Take advantage of GMB Insights
Google My Business Insights can help you see how people find your business listing by focusing on how customers use Search and Maps. Search queries allow you to see the queries people use to find your business on Google. You can even track common terms and search trends for your business. A search queries report shows you the most popular queries for your business by unique users within a timeframe.
Add posts regularly
Google Posts are like mini-social media posts that show up beneath your business listing. You can add images to posts or a call-to-action that links to a specific page on your website. Posts are a great way to promote special events or sales or even new blog posts. Think about what kind of posts you create on your social media pages and create similar ones on your Google My Business listing to stand out from competitors. Linking back to your website is a great way to help with SEO, as well as drive more traffic to your site.
Encourage reviews from previous customers
Google Reviews not only serve as testimonials for potential customers to read—they also prove to Google that you are a real business. When more people review your business, Google views your listing as more relevant in your area. Reviews also generate more content and potentially even keywords, letting Google know more about who you are and what you do, which can help boost your rankings. And don’t forget to respond to reviews as well. Replying to reviews shows that you care enough about your customers to engage with them, as well as thank them for their compliments and address their concerns.
Use the different types of posts
Google My Business allows you to directly communicate with local customers, improve the customer experience with timely information, and even engage with customers through videos and photos. You can also promote sales, specials, events, news, and offers through posts on your Google My Business listing.
There are several types of posts you can use to promote your business:
What’s New posts provide general information about your business and can include photos or videos, a description, and a call-to-action.
Events allow you to promote a specific event taking place at your business with detailed time and date information.
Offers give you the opportunity to promote sales or special offers. You can even add on a coupon code or link to a specific landing page for the promotion.
Products are posts that emphasize a specific product your business offers. You can include information such as the price range and a call-to-action button.
Answer questions
The Google Q&A feature allows users to ask and answer questions about your business. Just like Google Reviews, the Q&A can improve your SEO if handled correctly. As the owner of your business, it’s essential for you to answer questions quickly and helpfully. Remember that these questions and answers may be one of the first things users reference when determining whether to work with your company. Make sure that your answers are written in your brand voice and reflect your company well. Both your SEO and your profits could benefit from strong answers to common questions.
Need help getting your Google My Business listing in fighting shape? We can help you get your website locally ranked by optimizing your Google My Business listing to make it easier for potential clients to find your company. Click here to learn more.
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