Did you know the majority of your users learn about your business from online searches? As a local business owner, you would want to ensure when consumers search for specific products or services in their locality, your business appears on top of search results. This is where the importance of optimizing your Google My Business profile for SEO comes in. By optimizing your GMB profile for SEO, you will help local consumers find your business, thus expanding your customer base.
Here in this post, we will have a detailed discussion on how to optimize SEO for your GMB profile to improve local listings. Read on for further insights.
What is Google My Business?
Google My Business (GMB) is a free business listing feature that enables businesses to upload their photos, location, services/products, or any other relevant information that will guide users. By creating a GMB profile, you can increase your business’s visibility and increase the chances of appearing in places such as Google search, Google Maps, and other services offered by Google.
Remember, to have your business listed on GMB, it needs to have a physical location and should provide products and services in person. This business listing is beneficial for businesses of all sizes large and small. By optimizing SEO for your GMB profile, you will establish a powerful online presence and attract customers looking for businesses through Google search in their locality.
Why is Google My Business Important for Local SEO?
There are several reasons why Google My Business is important for local SEO.
Improve Your Website’s Visibility on Search Engine Results
By optimizing your GMB profile for local SEO, you can significantly improve your search ranking and overall online visibility. When a user searches for the kind of products or services you provide in their locality, your GMB account will be displayed on search results, bringing you organic traffic.
Offer Enhanced Customer Support
A Google My Business profile will enable you to respond to user queries and comments about your products and services more quickly. Quick response helps your users get important information faster and motivates them to turn into your loyal customers.
Consumers are more likely to work with businesses that are easier to connect, respond promptly and make it easier for them to acquire any information or place a complaint. You can ensure maximum connectivity for your users by building a detailed GMB account.
Boost Your Sales and Increase Traffic Volume
Businesses get a significant number of sales simply from local searches. Having a GMB account will significantly increase your website traffic. Usually, when users search about a product or service that you offer and your GMB profile shows on the searches, they are most likely to visit your website for further information. By creating an informative landing page with an effective CTA, you can turn these visitors into permanent customers.
Effective Ways to Optimize SEO for Your Google My Business Profile
Here is how you can optimize SEO for Google My Business to receive optimal results.
Claim and Verify Your Business
Before starting to optimize your GMB account for SEO, you need to claim and verify your account. This process will confirm you as the owner of the business and provide you access to the complete suite of GMB features. You can complete this verification process by visiting the Google My Business website, signing in with the Google account that you use for your business and following the prompts to claim your listing.
Provide Accurate Business Description
Prepare a compelling description for your business by providing accurate information. While doing this, highlight the unique selling points of your business and why it resonates with your target audience. Consider incorporating relevant keywords naturally which will increase your listing’s visibility without your having to resort to keyword stuffing.
Upload High Quality Photos and Videos
In current times, visual content makes a huge impact in getting the attention of your audience when you highlight the best features of your business. Add a variety of high quality photos and videos to your GMB account that accurately represent your business. These photos and videos may include interior and exterior shots, product images, photos of your team, etc, however, stay away from posting any stock photos. Also, regularly update your visual content to keep your listing fresh and engaging.
Gather Reviews and Respond
Customer reviews play a vital role in building credibility for your business and convincing users to trust your brand. The user reviews on your GMB profile significantly impacts the purchasing decisions of your potential customers. Reviews also help in improving your business’s visibility on local searches. Encourage your customers to leave reviews on your profile and promptly respond to both positive and negative reviews.
When you respond to these reviews, it proves your customers’ opinions are important for you and it helps to build trust with a wider potential customer base.
Utilize the Q&A Feature Effectively
The Q&A feature on GMB enables businesses to directly address common customer questions and concerns. However, this feature allows anyone to answer the questions, which may lead to the posting of inaccurate information on your profile. You can avoid this by monitoring questions on the platform regularly and providing accurate responses at appropriate times.
You can easily address common queries by posting FAQs (frequently asked questions) on your listing. This will ensure your users can get accurate information about your business.
Update Your Profile Constantly
Updating your GMB profile at regular intervals is one essential step to maintaining a successful GMB listing. Keep your profile up-to-date by regularly updating it, posting new content, and regularly engaging with your audience. When you stay active and responsive, it ensures your GMB account continues to stay visible and drives engagements for your business.
Optimizing your GMB profile and keeping it updated is one strategic investment that will bring significant returns for your business. It is also an ongoing strategy that will keep your business profile relevant and fresh.
Final Thoughts
As the majority of people discover businesses online in current times, having a detailed GMB profile is essential for businesses to attract and guide local customers. By following these above mentioned tips, you can keep your GMB account relevant and ensure your business shows when somebody searches for the products or services that you offer.
However, if you want your GMB profile to be professionally handled, you can hire a reputed SEO services company in Kolkata such as DigitalBenz. We are a team of highly qualified and experienced digital marketing professionals, dedicated to bringing the best marketing results for our valued clients. By choosing to partner with us, you can keep your GMB profile fresh, updated, and relevant and focus on your core business operations. Connect with us today to discuss further.