Improve Local SEO with Google My Business: Top 7 Optimization Strategies

In a post-pandemic world where companies are reopening at a breakneck pace, keeping your Google My Business page up to date is critical. The importance of Google search and local SEO in a company's marketing strategy cannot be overstated. Google is the first place your consumers go for information about your company. So, it is crucial to maintain your Google My Business (GMB) page up to date with your most recent business hours and any other pertinent information your clients may require. 

As business hours have been rather unstable and unpredictable since the pandemic, you must be prepared to convey any changes in working hours or health procedures to your clients as soon as possible.

Recent market studies have found that 60% of smartphone users contacted businesses directly through the GMB interface using the “click to call” option. So, consider your GMB panel as the initial touchpoint for your customers to connect with you. If your company hours or description are not up-to-date, you risk losing customers' confidence & lifetime worth.

What is Google My Business Listing?

Google My Company (GMB) is a free Google product that assists business owners in managing their online presence across the search engine and its expanding suite of services.

It provides a list of local companies as well as a wealth of information needed to locate a specific business, such as 

• Business address.
• Hours of operation.
• Category
• Reviews

Why Is Google My Business Listing Critical?

Google My Business has always been significant. It's typically the first thing your consumers see when they search for your business. In a nutshell, Google My business is Google's one-stop solution for enhancing your company's profile on the search engine result page.

It's a must-have tool for tweaking your site's appearance in Maps, the Knowledge Graph, and organic search results. However, remember that My Business isn't a one-size-fits-all solution for local SEO. You must coordinate your on-site and off-site SEO operations.

Google My Business ranks businesses based on a variety of criteria. The three most important criteria are:

• Relevance
• Distance
• Prominence

The advantages of GMB are numerous. To give you a sense of what you may achieve by optimising your GMB account, read more:

•  A GMB listing can increase a company's local SEO ranking on its own.

• When searchers see your company's vital information shown on the right-hand side of the interface, it makes an immediate first impression.

• Google Maps integration with GMB makes it easy for customers to discover your company on the mobile map and directions app.

• Direct messaging capability – clients may use the GMB interface to send messages straight to your company's phone number or email address.

• Customer reviews will appear on your GMB profile, providing your company social reputation on par. 

Relevant Reading: 6 CRUCIAL STRATEGIES FOR BOOSTING SALES USING GOOGLE SHOPPING

Top 7 Steps to Optimize Google My Business Listing  

For local businesses, a Google My Business listing is more vital than social media, content marketing, and email marketing.

Are you ready to maximise your Google My Business page's potential? Here are seven simple techniques to increase the Google My Business listing rating.

1. Enter accurate data and keep vital information up to date regularly

To gain the full benefits of Google My Business, you must maintain your profile up to date. Make sure that all of your information is prominently shown on your business's local search results panel, and that you maintain it up to date using your Google My Business dashboard. Ensure the following information about your business is complete and updated:

• Name of the company 
• Phone number of the company 
• URL Address of the company's website 
• Business categories 
• Hours of operation

2. Make sure your Google My Business listing is visible on Google Map

Getting your business registered on Google My Business is the first step in making it simpler to discover on Google Maps. Being featured on Google Maps can help you achieve a first-page search result ranking. 

Did you know that Maps-based results account for 26% of all views in the United States?

Google Maps gets information about your company from Google My Business Listing. Your company may create a free Google Business Profile and fill out a comprehensive list of your company's vital facts. This information is then utilised to fill out Google Maps local listings data. So, potential consumers may use Google Maps to discover your business and having it listed (with the most up-to-date and correct information) might make it simpler for them to find you.

3. Check and claim your company's listing(s)

Keeping with the previous steps, you should double-check your business listing. Verification is frequently requested when a Google account is created, as well as when any crucial information is updated.

Verifying your company will make it more credible in the eyes of its rivals and will help it rank higher in search results (search engine result pages). Consider having your company Google Guaranteed as an extra step. Businesses who pass the Google screening and verification procedure through Local Services Ads or its partners can get a Google Guarantee badge.

If your clients aren't happy with the quality of your work and you're covered by the Google Guarantee, Google may, at its sole discretion, repay the consumer up to the amount paid for the first service, subject to a lifetime maximum.

4. Include high-resolution photographs in your company listing(s)

Photos demonstrate to Google that this is a reputable company. They provide the users with the behind-the-scenes glimpse of your company by contributing to the development of trust and authenticity, which is a significant aspect that Google evaluates. 

If you want to increase your rank, use semi-professional photos; the higher the quality, the better. Take images from different angles and locations to provide a lifestyle view and in-depth analysis of the product. This will help to mimic the in-store experience. Any small details can assist in increasing your Google My Business listing rating.

Business listings with photographs are viewed twice as trustworthy and can get 35% more hits than those without. You should try to include at least 11 photographs on your Google My Business Listing page. This may considerably improve the legitimacy and trustworthiness of local enterprises and home-service businesses in the eyes of local searchers.

Read More: LIFESTYLE IMAGES: THE EASIEST HACK TO BOOST YOUR E-COMMERCE SALES

5. Create a section for questions and answers

You may also invite anyone to submit inquiries regarding your company listing using the GMB feature. These questions can be answered by both company owners and the general public. Always keep an eye out for new queries and respond as quickly as possible. This also reduces the possibility of someone else providing misleading information in response to a query. Furthermore, the more actively you respond to these queries, the more powerful the ranking signal you're sending to Google.

6. Post Updates on a regular basis

You can update your consumers through your Google My Business profile, just like you can on social networking. This might be anything from a general notification to seasonal discounts, deals, blog entries, and more!

Posting on a regular basis ensures regular engagement and creates more traction. Also, make sure to use links and calls to action (CTAs) to shorten deal closure times and provide customers with the hassle-free business journey. 

7. Create feedback and reply to it.

Getting more reviews is the most critical thing you can do to improve your Google My Business profile rating. 90% of your consumers are checking reviews on the Internet before connecting with a company. There is no greater kind of advertising than favorable word-of-mouth from your own consumers. Both good and negative reviews can be displayed on your listing.

Recommended Reading: TOP 7 GOOGLE ALGORITHM RANKING FACTORS YOU MUST KNOW IN 2022

Update Your Google My Business Listing & Amplify Your SERP Value

Local and worldwide companies, particularly those with physical premises, need an online presence. If your consumers are looking for your local company on the internet, you must be prepared. 

With Google My Business, you can put vital information about your company in front of potential clients. It aids local SEO and allows you to interact with your consumers more frequently. On top of that, it's a free and useful tool for managing customer relationships and communicating important company information.

At eComIntegrate, we help our clients amplify their local business presence through a calculated Google My Business Listing marketing strategy. To know more about eCommerce marketing strategies and local business enhancement, get in touch with us. 

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