If you’re a business owner, there are several benefits to using your Google My Business profile to improve your online visibility. Once you’ve finished filling in your details, you’ll need to check your listing. This can be done with a Google phone call or a postcard, which is sent to the address you provide. In either case, you’ll receive a code, which you then enter into your business listing. Only companies with a physical location that customers can visit or companies that travel to visit their customers can create a GMB account. As the name implies, Google Business Profile allows you to create a list of businesses on Google.
Google is a resource that most people rely on to provide accurate and up-to-date information. Because the information provided about your business in Google My Business comes from Google, it adds a sense of credibility in the eyes of many consumers. If you update your ad regularly and stay active, your information will seem more reliable to customers and potential customers. As the founder of two digital topnotchseo marketing agencies, I’ve spent over a decade helping clients improve their company’s online visibility. And now I’d like to share some of my best suggestions for perfecting your Google My Business profile, at a time when it’s more important than ever to do so. According to a study of local pack clicks conducted by Nifty, an average of 24% of consumers click on the Local Pack when looking for services.
You can add photos with GMB and also gather information about where and how people are looking for you, and more. According to a survey of local consumers, 88% of consumers trust online reviews and believe they have the same weight as a personal recommendation. Reviews are also a ranking factor used by Google to determine where your business should be placed in search results. According to a moz study on local search ranking factors, online reviews account for 10% of how search engines determine their rankings.
Make sure that all the basic information is correct before moving on to other optimization activities. It’s a good idea at this stage to review your listing and add features and services, such as parking options, payment types, and a subcategory, if applicable. With so many local businesses competing to get customers’ attention, it’s important to stay ahead of the local SEO game and optimizing your gmb profile is one way to do that. We are all familiar with Google maps, which not only allows people to discover locations, but also local businesses. One thing I found interesting is that it actually helps you promote your business on Google Maps! When you turn this feature on, people who visit your Google My Business profile will see a clickable message icon.
Here comes Google’s messaging feature that allows you to chat directly with potential customers who find your profile on the search results page. The feature allows you to quickly answer questions in real time and help your current and potential customers. It’s critical to keep your Google My Business up to date so that the ad is useful to customers.
However, to rank in the local package of 3, you need a regular commitment and need to continue to optimize your GBP listing. Regular updates to your GBP token will make your page rank higher in Google search results. With SocialPilot, you can schedule Google Business Profile posts directly from your dashboard to keep customers informed. So you can post offers, announcements, news and new products without having to go to your GBP page.
Both impressive figures highlight the importance of local businesses developing a strong online presence. Google My Business is a free tool that allows your business listing to appear alongside other related local businesses every time someone searches for your business name or related term. Your business information, such as your phone number, website, address, review ratings, schedules, and more, is available on a simple screen for potential customers. Google My Business is a great tool to help you start the path to improving your company’s search engine optimization efforts. Having an accurate business listing will go a long way toward supporting local search rankings, but this should only be a small part of a larger SEO strategy on and off site.