If you manage a local business, then the chances are that at some point, you’ve come across Google My Business (GMB). GMB is the search giant’s local SEO tool for managing your presence on Google. With GMB, users can discover where you are in location, connect with you online, and interact with your content.
It is basically a free resource offered by Google which allows users to create and manage business listings in Search and Maps where potential clients can find them easily and contact them directly if desired. This article will help explain how to use the tools that are available in Google My Business. We’ll also explore Google My Business best practices to make sure you get the most out of this powerful platform.
Why is optimizing your Business for GMB Important?
For starters, when people search for something or when they want to make a purchase, or when they need a specific type of service, they turn to a search engine. They type in a word or a string of words and the search engines return results based on how relevant the content is to what’s being searched.
Google My Business allows you to claim your business listing by using your Google account, meaning that if you have an existing GMB account, then all of your information will be imported into it. What makes GMB so great is that once you claim your business listing, you can use all kinds of cool tools which let users do things like:
- Get directions to your location
- Search for nearby businesses similar to yours
- Read reviews from other customers who visited
- Update profile information, photos, and more
This means that there’s a good chance that a customer will visit your business simply because they found it on Google.
Google My Business (GMB) best practices for Digital Marketing Strategies and SEO
While GMB offers so many great tools for customers, it is also a place where businesses can come together to network and share ideas. However, if you want your business to be found on Google, then it is important that you have a proper Google My Business listing.
With that being said, there are some things that you need to keep in mind when creating or updating your GMB profile. These best practices will help you create an account that attracts potential customers while allowing them to find out more information about what your company does with ease. Here are the top GMB best practices.
1. Use multiple categories
When people search for something specific, they may type in certain words which are relevant to what they’re searching for. For example, say that a user is searching for wedding venues in New York City. According to the latest reports of the best writing services, the search engine will display results with the most relevant information first. In this case, it may show results featuring companies that have been categorized as “Wedding Venue” and “New York City.”
If your company only has categories such as “Bakery” or “Catering,” then chances are not many people will find you through a Google search because those words don’t match what people are looking for.
2. Claim your GMB listing
If you own a local business, chances are pretty good that someone has used Google Maps to try to locate it. Therefore, you should definitely claim your listing on Google My Business so that if a customer tries to find your business by its address, Google will redirect them from the Maps app or website directly to your listing.
You need to submit a request to Google for verification. Based on it, you will receive a physical post couriered to your address. It will have a 5 digit code. You need to sign into your Google My Business account and enter this code to get verified. Make sure, you give a complete address with required milestone areas. You get three try to get this code delivered to your business address.
3. Optimize photos
You’ve probably noticed that when you Google a place, it shows images of what’s inside and outside the building. Well, this is because many businesses choose to use photos as part of their GMB profile. If your business doesn’t have any photos, this can certainly hurt your chances of being discovered on the search engine. Therefore, make sure that you upload high-quality photos which showcase who you are and what you do.
This way, a potential customer will know if they’re in the right place before even stepping foot into your establishment! It also enhances a trust factor, for Google and your customers both. Please upload high resolution and clear photos. It should contain long shot of your office, your staff, the things you sell and other related.
4. Make navigation easy for customers
Customers don’t have a lot of time to spend looking for information. Therefore, your Google My Business profile must provide a clear path to all the important information that a user might need. For example, if you’re a restaurant, then you should list your location, hours of operation, and contact information. Furthermore, if your business is located in multiple locations, you should list all of them so customers searching from outside of your hometown will know where else they can find your company.
You should also test the map from any random location, get stick to it and come to your office. Such practice will give you better ideas if you need to edit any description or other required details. Your GPS coordinates must be perfect, so you can attract non native people also very easily.
5. Ensure the data for your listing is complete
One of the frustrating things for a user is when they come across an incomplete listing. In other words, if you want to attract more customers through your GMB profile, then you need to make sure that all of the information within it is complete and up-to-date. If Google finds out that specific details about your business are continually changing, then the chances are good that they’ll display a warning next to your information which will warn people not to trust what’s there because it may not be accurate anymore.
That being said, this should be one of the first areas you check once you create a new listing to fix any errors as soon as possible. Give your contact number with country code.
6. Use optimized titles and meta descriptions
If you want to see your business rank higher on Google, optimizing your title and descriptions should top the to-do lists. Now, when someone searches for a local business, they’ll see a map with some listings within it most of the time. Once you create your GMB listing, Google will ask you to provide two bits of information: A title and a description.
The title is just what it sounds like and should be something that concisely describes what your company does. For example, if you’re a law firm named “Jones, Smith & Best Best Law Firm,” then the best option would probably be to simply call this “Best Best Law Firm.” Furthermore, since Google tends to display titles in the bold text next to listings on its maps, it’s vital that yours is easy for customers to read.
That way, people know exactly which establishment they can find searching that term. It is natural to not have enough time to create the descriptions especially if you also have piled assignments. Nonetheless, you understand your business best. Therefore, it’s imperative that you write the descriptions and titles alone. If you struggle to find time due to the piled assignments, why not find an essay writer for the assignments. If you find this appealing, be sure to look for.
7. Ensure the business operating hours are accurate
If your business is closed during certain hours, then you need to let Google know. This is important because, if a user searches for you and finds that the hours of operation on your listing don’t match what they’re looking for then chances are good that they’ll choose another establishment over yours.
Furthermore, listings tend to rank higher in search results when their GMB pages contain accurate open/close times. Therefore, make sure you check these as soon as possible so that users can find out whether or not your business will be open when they come across it online. The good thing is that Google will mail you regularly for such business hours updating process.
9. Increase Google reviews
Most people use social proof to determine which website they want to visit first. In other words, most consumers trust businesses with positive reviews more than they do those without any. Google My Business allows you to add a review section where both previous and current customers can write a comment about their experience using your company.
Furthermore, these reviews come in a variety of formats, from regular text to video, so you can always find one that fits with the image of your business while also highlighting the kinds of experiences you want people to have when visiting. For example, if you run a diner, then an online review showing pictures of delicious food would be perfect for your GMB page, while words praising excellent customer service would most likely give people the best impression of how they’re treated when eating at your establishment.
Final Thoughts
By following these Google My Business best practices, you’ll improve the likelihood of being discovered among the millions of searches conducted every day. While there’s no guarantee that your business will be found if you use these tips, you’ll make it much easier for Google to find and list your company if they decide to do so.
About the author:
Tiffany Harper is a training guru who’s been working in the corporate sector as a technology expert for several years now. She is a management graduate and loves to share her experience through blogs and expert articles with dissertation writing help. For her love of writing, she provided online consultations for essay writing service UK while working with Do My Assignment. Please do not hesitate to contact her on LinkedIn.