Google My Business is a free tool for businesses that assist business owners in maintaining an online presence. By enlisting the business with Google My Business, you can locally receive the exposure your business requires by optimizing the business profile and, thus, the search results. Furthermore, the profile on Google My Business can vastly improve local search results. Thereby, you can generate more leads and convert them into sales. On average, there are 70,000 searches each second, and you can improve the visibility of your business online effortlessly with a well-executed local SEO strategy.
However, digital marketers often ignore the potential of Google My Business. In short, the tool from Google can improve the brand’s online visibility and drive more website traffic.
Google My Business, also described as Google Business profile, is a valuable tool that enterprises can utilize to manage their online profile around Google search and maps. The tool gives potential customers a quick overview of the operation information, product or service, customer reviews and other relevant details about the business. As a result, potential customers can effortlessly locate your business, know about the company and engage. Potential customers can do all these without ever leaving the search engine, that is Google.
You can optimize Google My Business in several ways. Now let us discuss some beneficial tips to optimize Google My Business.
1. Update information to engage potential customers
The business’s Google My Business is often the primary information potential customers access on Google. Rather than representing the brand’s face online, it can massively impact potential customers’ perception of the brand online. The information listed on Google My Business shapes the perception of customers.
Therefore, you have to update the information on the profile on Google and utilize all the features, for instance, uploading photos and other essential information. That will vastly improve the customer experience. Many potential customers use Google My Business to find products or services online. If you have uploaded the contact information, the potential customers will attempt to get in touch with the business. You will be able to generate more leads and conversions as a result.
2. Improve ranking
For quite some time, experts have wondered how Google My Business has positively impacted local SEO ranking. Let us look at how it would affect SEO ranking on search engines. Google has confirmed that Google My Business does, in fact, positively impact SEO ranking. Google has explained how to improve its SEO ranking. To determine the impact, let us begin with three key parameters that Google utilizes to improve local ranking;
- Relevance- how the information about the business is relevant to the search for potential customers.
- Distance- Google determines the distance of the search from the location of the search. Then Google establishes the distance based on the location of the users.
- Prominence- this depends on how popular the business is. Google determines this based on the information, for instance, backlinks, evaluations, commentaries, etc.
Optimization of Google My Business should be the prime focus to improve the ranking locally. However, closeness and location are beyond your control. You can still do many things to improve and influence the search results.
3. Zero-click search on search engines
Over the years, customer behavior has changed, and the pandemic flued the change even more drastically. The difference in search engines dramatically influences digital and local SEO marketing. A vast majority of searches on Google these days are zero-click searches. Such search results and interactions occur at the Google search results itself. This interaction does not lead to clicking links and a website.
4. Accurate and complete information
Foremost, you have to ensure that all information on Google My Business is accurate. For instance, the company’s name, contact information, website and business hours. Once you have entered all the details correctly, that will be beneficial in improving the search results on Google. As a result, that also enhances customer interaction with the business many fold. Furthermore, that gives the customers plenty of ways to reach you. As you enter the information and the fields, you have to ensure that the data is accurate to the letter, for instance, link to social media profiles.
5. Seeing is believing
To lure more customers to the business and improve visibility, you must upload pictures of your business that appeal to potential customers. Furthermore, Google also encourages firms to do so. Occasionally updating the images indicates to Google that you are an active enterprise and the listing too. That will further improve the ranking and visibility. As a result, you can gain the confidence of potential customers and the intended targeted audience.
Furthermore, Google will consistently show your business in the search results. That will, in turn, drive more traffic to your and improve the conversion rates. You can take some cues to upload photos from the following suggestions;
- Photos of the office
- Team Photos
- Work photos
6. Choose a niche
Choosing a niche for the business is essential to improve the ranking on Google. For instance, 84 percent of views of business profiles derive from discovery searches. In other words, when a potential customer searches for a product or service or even a categorical name, your business appears to potential customers. On the other hand, a mere 16 per cent comes from direct searches, that is, for companies which included their names. Therefore, it is essential to determine a niche for the business to stand out from your competitors.
In the meantime, you can use appointment scheduling software such as Picktime to organize your customer appointment schedule. That will enhance the customer experience. The software has some exceptional features that will assist in growing the business, for instance, a 24/7 booking page, payment gateway integration, etc.
7. Business description
Writing a description for your business on Google My Business is essential so potential customers can effortlessly identify your business online. Furthermore, doing so is also beneficial for improving the local SEO of your business. An ideal description includes relevant keywords and information regarding the company. For instance, products or services offered to the customer by the company. How your business differs from the competitors. Furthermore, the description should assist potential customers in identifying the company while complying with Google guidelines.
8. Upload the logo of the business
While you set up the profile on Google My Business, you must upload your business’s logo. The logo is the face of the company that customers usually associate with. That also gives your business character.
In conclusion, optimizing your local SEO can be a great way to improve your business. By improving your visibility in search engines, you can attract new customers and grow your business.
