Optimizing Your Google Business Profile to Maximize Local Reach
Optimizing your Google business profile to maximize local reach can be a complicated task. The reality of the situation is that there are lots of variables that tie into the geographical reach of your Google Business Profile (GBP). Let’s start with the basics.
As a small or medium-sized business (SMB), it’s important to optimize your Google Business Profile for better discoverability online. There are a few key things you can do to optimize your profile for the future.
First, make sure all your information is accurate and up-to-date. This includes your hours, address, phone number, website, and description. Google uses this information to determine your relevancy for searchers, so it’s important to be as accurate as possible.
Next, add photos and videos to your profile. People are visual creatures, and adding photos and videos will help them understand what your business is all about. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to show off your products or services in action.
Finally, take advantage of Google My Business Posts. These are short updates that appear in users’ search results and on your profile. They’re a great way to keep people up-to-date on what’s going on with your business, whether you have a new product or service to promote or you’re holding a special event.
By taking these simple steps, you can optimize your Google Business Profile for better discoverability in 2022 and beyond.
What is a Google Business Profile?
A Google business profile is a free listing on Google. It lets you give information about your business at a local level including your location, services, product description, and pictures. The free profile will allow users to gain visibility to your business in search engines. Information about you can be found on Google Search, Google Maps and Google Shopping.com. Those companies may have a physical location (such as a restaurant or retail store) or provide their services by contacting clients at another location ( such as consulting firms or plumbers).
Google Business Profiles: The Basics
Google Business Profiles provides a list of businesses nearby and other useful information required to identify your business. When a new profile can be created, a Google Map will be created for the user’s location. This is compatible with a regular Google search to provide easier searching. Obviously, it makes sense that 80% of all search engine queries originate from Google – around 80% of search engines worldwide.
Have an accurate business name and basic information
For the business names, business addresses and telephone numbers, Google requires that business owners provide the actual data. Avoid using tags or locations when you mention a product in your name. Many SEO experts say that keywords can improve the rankings of your website but it’s important to note that the listing of keywords in Google Business Profile (GBP) names will be ignored unless there are other criteria for the ranking.
Create an impressive and compelling business description
Google allows 850 words in its business description, while the short version only shows 250 characters if there is limited display. Be sure you write an impressive and compelling statement in 250 words that stands out. Use all the space available for longer descriptions if necessary. As you may already know, you description must be free of offensive or unsuitable language or offensive content. Avoid mentioning your current promotional offer.
Verification of your Google Business Profile
As a small business owner, you know the importance of having an online presence. Optimizing your Google Business Profile is a great way to ensure that your business is visible to potential customers but Google won’t display your information until you verify that you own the listing. This process can be daunting especially if the listing was previously managed by someone else.
In order to verify your profile, you will need to provide some basic information about your business, such as your business name, address, and phone number. Once your profile is verified, you’ll be able to use Google My Business to update your business hours, add photos and videos, and respond to customer reviews. Taking the time to verify your Google Business Profile can help you attract new customers and grow your business.
If you are unable to verify via your phone number or email address, there is a mail-in-postage process which usually takes between 4-5 working days. Be patient! Google will send you a postcard with a code that you’ll need to enter on your profile in order to verify it. In the meantime, you can continue working on filling out your profile and adding photos, etc. Once your profile is verified, it will be ready for customers to find!
Complete every section
85% of potential buyers look to the Internet before choosing any local company. Another good reason you should complete your details is for mobile searching. 76% of people who conduct searches online via mobile device visit an online location within just 4 – 6 hours and 28% of searches resulted in purchases. Local search engines prefer relevant results in searching and businesses with the most accurate, current and relevant information are generally better suited to this task.
Get reviews from happy customers
Potential customers read reviews about your products. Reviews can be viewed by local searchers. Reviews not only help potential customers learn more about your business, but they also improve your visibility in search results.
There are a few different ways to get google reviews. The most effective method is to simply ask your satisfied customers to leave a review on your Google Business Profile. You can also include a link to your profile in email signatures or on your website. Additionally, you can actively engage with customers who have left negative reviews and attempt to turn their experience around. By encouraging customers to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile, you can improve your visibility and attract more business.
The advantages of Google Business Profiles (formerly Google My Business)
As a local business, it is essential to have a strong online presence. One way to do this is to create a Google Business Profile. This profile allows you to list your business on Google My Business, which helps potential customers find you when they search for relevant keywords. In addition, optimizing your profile can help you to appear higher in search results. By including key information about your business, such as your hours of operation and contact details, you can make it easy for customers to find the information they need. Furthermore, adding photos and videos can give potential customers a better sense of what your business has to offer. By taking advantage of Google Business Profiles, you can give your business a boost and reach new customers.
What’s the biggest mistake business owners make with Google My Business?
Google dominates searches. Currently nearly 80% of search queries are done by Google which equates to about 3.5 billion a day in search volume. The biggest mistake business owners make with Google My Business is not taking the time to set up and optimize their profile. A google business profile is an essential tool for any local business, but too many owners fail to take advantage of it. By not optimizing their profile, they’re missing out on a valuable opportunity to attract new customers and grow their business.
To optimize your google my business profile, be sure to complete all the fields and add photos, videos, and other relevant information. You should also keep your information up to date and take advantage of all the features google offers, such as reviews and Insights. By following these tips, you can make sure your google my business profile is working hard for you and helping you attract new customers.
What’s the take away?
As a general rule, focus on educating Google as many different ways as possible where you operate and the services that you offer within your specific geography. While this may seem overly simplistic this is the general the main idea behind optimizing a Google My Business Profile, now Google Business Profile, for maximum geographic reach. We hope this information helps you in your local search marketing efforts!
Looking for help with organic SEO or PPC ads? Our digital marketing partner and SEO/PPC guru, Local Blitz understands this concept like the back of their hand. If you’re looking for help with your local search engine optimization or want to dabble in Google Ads (or social media ads for that matter), Nick Bennett at Local Blitz is one of the co-founders and happens to be one of our fav people. Give Nick a shout and tell him we sent you.
