Effective Ways to Optimising Google My Business to Rank Better in Search Engines
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Effective Ways to Optimising Google My Business to Rank Better in Search Engines
As a start-up business, always remember that you are the one who will be investing a lot of effort to connect and engage with your audiences. Not the other way around. Compared to big-name brands, you need to build your loyal following by starting from the bottom. Getting potential customers requires hard work on your end.
But if you choose to work smarter, you can actually find several avenues on how to connect with your audiences more effectively. One of them is through your Google Business Profiles. Through this avenue, you can build your brand’s authority locally, reach out to more customers near your area and improved in your local SEO.
Read further to understand how your Google Business Profile plays a big role in getting noticed by more people and dominating local search results in your area.
Introduction
The competition for online businesses is quite high. Unfortunately, unlike big companies that have the resources to pay for ads and marketing, small businesses do not enjoy the same luxury.
If you’re a small or mid-scale business trying to make it big online, it’s important to make sure that you’re taking advantage of all the tools that are available to you online. Doing so gives you free opportunities to expose your business to more audiences without having to break the bank. One of the most significant free tools for online businesses is Google My Business.
If you’re not familiar with Google My Business, it’s a free tool from Google that allows businesses to create a business profile and manage their online presence. With an optimised business profile, you can improve your visibility in search engines and reach more consumers.
What is Google My Business or Google Business Profile
Google My Business is a platform that allows businesses to manage their online presence across the Google ecosystem. This includes Google Search, and Google Maps. With GBP formerly known as GMB, businesses can easily add or update their business information, such as their operating hours, contact details, and products or services offered.
Many businesses establish a Google business listing, often known as a Business Profile, to increase exposure on Google. You may not know that creating a Business Profile does not give you control over it. If you want your Business Profile to function as an efficient SEO and lead-generating device, you’ll need those management and editing capabilities.
So, how can you manage your Google Business Profile if you don’t already have it? The solution is that in addition to creating a free Business Profile, you must also set up a separate Google My Business account for it. Once you have both, you can use your account to make changes and update your Profile as needed.
Importance of Google My Business for Your Brand
With nearly everyone carrying a smartphone, you could score big just by optimising your website for organic search and using Google My Business.
Using the Google My Business account’s function to its greatest extent is critical, since it gives you the chance to create, verify, and properly optimise your business profile.
What else can GMB offer you? Here are a few of the additional advantages of Google My Business.
GMB Allows You to Appear in Google Maps and Google Local Pack Listings
The Google My Business listing includes your business name, address, phone number, website URL, and opening hours. It also shows user-generated photos, videos, reviews, and ratings.
All of this information makes it easy for potential customers to find your business when they’re searching for products or services that you offer. And since GMB listings appear in both Google Maps and the Local Pack (a map-based search engine results page), optimising your listing can help improve your visibility in local search results.
GMB Enables Customers to Leave Reviews and Ratings
Google My Business allows customers to leave reviews and ratings for your business. These reviews are public, so they can impact how potential customers perceive your business.
That’s why it’s important to encourage happy customers to leave positive reviews, and to respond to negative reviews in a constructive way.
GMB Gives You Insights Into How Customers Are Interacting With Your Business
Google My Business provides valuable insights into how customers are interacting with your business listing. The GMB Dashboard shows you how many people have viewed and clicked on your listing, as well as the number of views and clicks your website has received from your GMB listing.
This data can help you understand what’s working well and what needs improvement. It can also help you track your progress over time.
It is a Free Tool to Use
One of the best things about Google My Business is that it’s free to use. So, there’s no excuse not to create and optimize your listing.
By taking the time to set up and optimise your Google My Business listing, you can improve your visibility in local search results, connect with customers, and get valuable insights into how your business is performing.
It Makes You Highly Visible in Local Searches
When potential customers in your area search for businesses like yours, you want to make sure your business pops up in the search results. Google My Business can help with that.
GMB listings appear in both Google Maps and the Local Pack (a map-based search engine results page), so optimising your listing can help improve your visibility in local search results.
It Provides Customers the Information They Need
Google My Business listings include your business name, address, phone number, website URL, and opening hours. It also shows user-generated photos, videos, reviews, and ratings.
All of this information makes it easy for potential customers to find your business when they’re searching for products or services that you offer.
It Helps You Connect With Customers
Google My Business allows customers to leave reviews and ratings for your business. These reviews are public, so they can impact how potential customers perceive your business.
That’s why it’s important to encourage happy customers to leave positive reviews, and to respond to negative reviews in a constructive way.
Benefits of Optimising Your Google My Business Account
In essence, Google My Business is a modernised phone book. Not only does it make your business more discoverable on Google, but online directories such as GMB help you connect with potential customers who otherwise would not be able to find you.
Google My Business platform allows your company listing to appear alongside other associated local companies when someone searches for your firm name or a related term. For potential consumers, all of your business information, such as phone numbers, websites, addresses, review ratings, hours, and more will be accessible on one simple screen.
Helps Boost Sales
When it comes to narrowing down choices, a quick Google search is ideal for customers on a mobile device—86 percent of people use Google Maps to discover local businesses. When consumers can locate your business if you’re nearby, you’ll have a higher chance of making that sale.
Customers who discover a business via their Google My Business listing are up to 50% more likely to buy. Your store’s address and phone number will appear in Maps, which helps local searches rank higher.
Become a Part of Google’s Local 3-Pack
When potential customers do a local search on Google, the top three business listings that appear are called the “local 3-pack.” These are generally the most relevant and authoritative businesses in relation to the customer’s search query. So, if you’re not appearing in the local 3-pack, you could be missing out on valuable traffic and customers
To increase your chances of appearing in the coveted Google local 3-pack, make sure to optimise your GMB profile—and keep it up to date. Your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) should be consistent across all platforms, including your website, social media profiles, and directories. This helps Google confirm your business’ identity and location, which can improve your chances of ranking in the 3-pack.
You should also add as much information as possible to your GMB profile, such as business hours, services, products, photos, and videos. The more details you include, the better chance you have of appearing in the local 3-pack.
Generate More Positive Review
Google My Business reviews are one of the many factors that can influence your ranking in the local 3-pack. When potential customers see that other people have had a positive experience with your business, they’re more likely to consider using your services or buying your products.
To encourage customers to leave reviews, you can send follow-up emails after they make a purchase or use your services. You can also add a link to your GMB profile on your website or in your email signature.
Make sure to respond to all reviews—both positive and negative. This shows potential customers that you’re engaged with your customers and care about their experience.
Builds Trust with Customers
The greatest challenge that customers face today is gaining enough confidence in a company to make a purchase without fear of being deceived. As a business owner, one of the simplest things you can do to assist with this is share your Google My Business address.
In fact, according to consumers, brands that show up on Google are almost 3 times more reputable
Because it is well-known that the Google My Business verification process is legitimate, this has a lot to do with it. Because Google is a trustworthy environment that users can rely on, it helps to transfer that level of trust over to your business.
By sharing this information, you are also increasing transparency, which is another key factor in building trust with potential customers. In other words, you’re making it easier for them to find out more about your company and what you do—which can help convert them into paying customers.
GMB Ratings Boost Your Brand Appeal
According to a poll conducted by the Google My Business team, over 80% of individuals read reviews before making a purchasing decision. Customers will be able to review your company and leave comments for others to see with a Google My Business listing.
This is especially beneficial when you need to develop a competitive advantage. You’ll begin collecting more evaluations and a higher overall rating (which responds to reviews helps with this). This is particularly beneficial when it comes time to out-compete others.
Increase Engagement for Your Brand
Google My Business profiles are a great way to connect with potential customers. They can easily access your website or call you with one tap or click, and they can even book appointments or reserve tables directly through your listing.
Customers can also post photos and videos, write reviews, and ask questions—all of which gives you an opportunity to engage with them. The more engaged you are, the more likely they are to use your services or buy your products.
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Make sure to check your GMB listing regularly for new posts, reviews, and questions. Responding quickly shows that you’re attentive and care about your customers’ experience.
Get Insights on How Customers Find You
Google My Business provides valuable insights into how customers find your business. This information can help you understand what’s working and what needs to be improved.
To access these insights, log into your GMB account and click “Insights” in the menu. From there, you can see how customers are finding your listing, what actions they’re taking, and how your ranking compares to other businesses in your area.
This information can help you decide where to focus your marketing efforts so that you can attract more customers and grow your business.
Google My Business is an incredibly powerful tool that every business should be using. By optimising your GMB listing and taking advantage of all the features it has to offer, you can improve your ranking in the local search results, build trust with potential customers, and increase engagement with your brand.
Step-by-Step Process in Optimising Your GMB
When you claim and optimise your Google My Business listing, you will get more exposure when people search for you on their computers or mobile phones using Google Search or Google Maps. Repeat customers can also use Google local optimisation to discover and engage with you again.
Unfortunately, only 44% of local businesses have claimed their GMB listing. Furthermore, because Google My Business is updated frequently, it’s difficult to figure out what the most appropriate optimisation techniques are.
Do not become one of those company owners who claim a Google My Business listing, provide minimal information, and then abandon it. You will never be able to fully take advantage of GMB to improve your local search visibility unless you optimise your listing.
Trying to optimise your Google Business listing on your own can be time-consuming and difficult. Our checklist will help you figure out what changes need to be made and how best to go about making those changes so that your business is listed correctly, with all the relevant information included. This way, you can avoid investing in a service or resources that you may not even need.
Use our checklist as a guide while you’re working on your Google My Business listing. By following these instructions, you can ensure that potential customers will be able to find accurate information about your business when they search online.
1. Claim your Google My Business listing
The first step is to make sure that you have claimed your Google My Business listing. If you haven’t done so already, you can follow these instructions:
Google will send a verification code to your mailing address or phone number. Enter this code to verify your listing.
Once you have verified your listing, you can begin optimising your GMB profile.
2. Optimise your GMB profile with keyword-rich content
Your GMB profile should be optimised with keyword-rich content so that it appears higher in search results. Include relevant keywords in your business name, category, and description. You can also add keyword-rich photos and videos to your listing.
3. Use the correct categories for your business
It’s important to use the correct categories for your business so that potential customers can find you more easily. You can choose up to 10 categories, but don’t stuff your listing with irrelevant keywords just for the sake of ranking higher in search results.
4. Add photos and videos
Make sure to add photos and videos to your listing so that potential customers can get a better sense of what your business is all about. You can add up to 10 photos and 5 videos.
5. Manage and respond to reviews
Finally, it’s critical to monitor and respond to reviews, both positive and negative. This shows potential customers that you are attentive and care about customer service. You can also use negative reviews as an opportunity to improve your business.
By following these tips, you can optimise your Google My Business listing for better local search visibility. Optimising your GMB listing is a key part of any local SEO strategy, so it’s worth taking the time to do it right.
If you need help optimising your GMB listing, our team of experts can help. We’ll make sure that your listing is complete and accurate, with all the relevant information included. Contact us today to get started.
Can You Optimise GMB for SEO?
If you own a local business, it’s important to make sure you appear in searches for local services.
To optimise your Google My Business listing, you must take the proper steps. Google My Business is a free Google feature that allows companies to increase their visibility by having all relevant information appear in search engines for locals in the area.
If you wonder how to improve your chances of ranking in local searches or appearing in the “local pack” on Google, here are 8 tips:
Verify Your Business on Google My Business
Before anything else, you’ll need to verify your business on Google My Business. This can be done by visiting the website and following the instructions. You will either need to receive a postcard with a code or get a phone call from Google to verify your business. Once you have verified your business, you can move on to optimising your listing.
Completely Fill Out Your Profile
One of the most important aspects of optimisation is making sure that all information about your business is accurate and up-to-date. This includes things like your hours of operation, address, phone number, website, and service areas. Customers are far more likely to use a business if they can easily find all the relevant information about it.
Use Keywords in Your Listing
Another great way to optimise your Google My Business listing is by using relevant keywords throughout. Make sure to include them in your business name, description, and services offered. This will help customers find your business more easily when they are searching for something specific.
Choose the Right Categories
When you are creating your listing, make sure to choose the most relevant categories for your business. Google offers a wide range of options, so take some time to look through them all and find the ones that best describe what you do. The more accurate your categories are, the easier it will be for customers to find you.
Add Photos and Videos
People love visuals, so make sure to add some high-quality photos and videos to your listing. Google allows you to add up to 10 photos, so take advantage of this and showcase your business in the best light possible. Customers will appreciate being able to see what your business looks like before they even visit it.
Encourage Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are essential for any business, but they are especially important for those with a local presence. Make sure to encourage customers to leave reviews on your Google My Business listing. The more positive reviews you have, the higher you will rank in local searches.
Respond to All Reviews
It’s not enough just to have customer reviews; you also need to respond to them. This shows that you are active on your listing and that you care about what customers have to say. Thank customers for their positive reviews and address any negative ones professionally.
Keep Your Listing Up-to-Date
Finally, make sure to keep your Google My Business listing up-to-date at all times. This includes things like changing your hours if they fluctuate and adding new photos or videos regularly. Customers will appreciate seeing complete and accurate information as well as fresh content. This will help you rank higher in local searches.
By following these tips, you can optimise your Google My Business listing and improve your chances of ranking higher in local searches. Make sure to take the time to complete your profile, use relevant keywords, add photos and videos, and encourage customer reviews. Keeping your listing up-to-date is also essential for maintaining a high ranking.
Monitoring the Effectivity of Your Optimised Google My Business Account
Google My Business offers users an insight into how their business is doing in the online space. This involves getting to see the number of people who have viewed your listing, the number of actions taken, and even the average rating that your business has gotten from customers. All this information is available for free and can be accessed by simply logging into your Google My Business account.
This data is important as it helps you determine whether the steps you’re taking to optimise your GMB listing are actually effective or not. If you notice a sudden drop in views or actions, then it could be an indication that something isn’t quite right. In such cases, you need to take a closer look at your listing and see what might be causing the problem.
There are several ways to effectively monitor your GMB account. The first is to use the Google My Business Insights tool. This tool allows you to see how your business is performing in terms of views, actions, and ratings. You can also use it to track the progress of your campaigns and see whether they are having any impact on your business.
Another way to monitor your GMB account is to use Google Analytics. This tool allows you to see how people are finding your website and how they are interacting with it. You can also use it to see how your GMB listing is performing in terms of website visits and conversions.
Finally, you can use Google Search Console to see how your website is performing in search engines. This tool will show you the impressions, clicks, and positions of your website in search results. It will also show you the specific keywords that are driving traffic to your website.
Tips When Optimising Your GMB Account
Google My Business is one of the most powerful tools that small businesses can use to improve their visibility online. When used correctly, GMB can help you rank better in search engine results pages (SERPs), attract more customers, and boost your bottom line.
If you need help in setting up and optimising your Google Business Profile, we at Sydney Website Design Agency can help. Contact us today to book an appointment or to learn more about our services.