How To Optimize Your GMB
Google My Business optimization is critically important. It provides prospects with an initial sense of your business, including what you offer, reviews, photographs, and more. Taking action to complete your Google My Business optimization is one of the best digital strategies to help people find your website and brick-and-mortar business and support company growth.
Our Google My Business optimization checklist will answer the question, “What is Google My Business optimization?” We will also explain why it’s so important — and the immediate steps you can take to make your Google My Business more targeted and effective.
Google My Business: Do I Need It?
The short answer is “Yes!” The longer answer is, with more than 5 billion active users, Google My Business, also known as Google Business Profile, is one of the best social media platforms for business.
Benefits of a GMB Listing
Here are the top benefits of Google My Business listing optimization.
1. It allows you to establish the best possible presentation and guide first impressions.
You can directly differentiate your company and highlight key information through your Google Business listing. Give customers the right expectations. Let them know when you are open, your primary phone number, and your health practices.
You can better establish your identity with online users by including integrated “attributes,” such as Veteran-Owned, Women-Owned, etc.
Make your business more appealing to customers by updating your logo, cover image, and other photos — better conveying your brand’s personality. Like meeting new people, making an excellent first impression with your business presence is golden.
2. Google My Business optimization boosts your local SEO.
Your Google My Business SEO can go a long way to helping locals find you. By filling out every piece of information within Google My Business, you gain online authority and provide another signal to Google that you offer services/products within a specified area.
3. You get great social proof and credibility, with your overall star rating and customer reviews visible.
Gaining continued positive reviews may lead prospects to purchase/use your services as it will build your credibility with them.
4. You can receive emails and phone calls through your Google My Business profile.
Generally, it is important to have your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) consistent across the web. Nonetheless, you can set up call tracking for your Google My Business number without hurting your SEO.
You will enter the tracking number within the Info tab of the dashboard. The tracking number should be your primary number. Click the “Calls” button.
For that secondary phone number, add the main number on your website. On your website, you can use Dynamic Number Insertion (DNI) so that people call a different listed number that is routed to your correct one — while search engines always see your local number.
5. People often search for services on Google Maps.
Since Google Maps is integrated with GMB, Google My Business optimization will automatically improve your presence and presentation there as well. Third-party platforms that use Google Maps API also show Google Business Profiles, including all types of devices.
6. It’s easy to make appointments and bookings in Google My Business.
The Bookings feature is convenient and gives customers of businesses who sell services an easy way to “get on the books” immediately. A fantastic feature for spas, beauty salons, dental offices, and more to grow their business. Work with a scheduling provider to help make this happen.
7. Get More Reviews to Gain More Business
Knowing how to optimize Google My Business allows you to carefully manage and curate your GMB profile, allowing people to check your reviews and form an opinion before reaching your site. If you’re not actively seeking reviews from your customers or clients, make an effort and direct them to GMB to let others know about their great experiences.
8. GMB is a critical component of a strong content distribution strategy.
As Sarah Allworth noted in her Google My Business tips piece in the Search Engine Journal, GMB is a fundamental tool of a solid content distribution plan. You must get your content to the desired audience if you want it to turn into sales and a better search presence. To get more people to read your content, consider Google My Business as a channel for exposure — and update it weekly.
GMB Listings Basics: Getting Started
Winning customers online with a 24/7 marketing and lead generation tool with Google My Business optimization starts with creating an account.
Creating Your Page
First, search and make sure your business does not have one. If you have been in business for a few years, one will likely exist; if so, you can claim it. If not, go to Google.com/business and sign in with the Google account you use for your business.
Verification
After you claim or create your GMB, it needs to be verified. Standard verification methods include phone or text, email, video recording, live video call, or postcard, which can take some time. For thorough instructions, you can visit Google Business Profile Help.
Google My Business Optimization Checklist
Once your GMB is verified, you need to be as comprehensive as possible in filling out all of the information possible. Here is our Google My Business optimization checklist:
✔ Ensure your contact information and open hours are consistently accurate.
Your contact information should include your NAP (name, address, phone number). The information you provide here should be accurate and listed the same way across platforms. And don’t forget to include holiday hours. (You can quickly get a bad review if you forget).
✔ Complete every section.
Be sure to update your profile, including Products, Services, From the business, and Q&A (owner generated). These are not only important to ensure your prospects have clarity about your business but also serve to uplift your Google My Business SEO. Your “From the business” entry appears just below the reviews, so be strategic, thoughtful, and comprehensive.
✔ Provide photos of your team, products, physical locations, and customers.
Upload as many photos as possible. Photos are one of the most important ways to add content to Google My Business. You will likely get a better click-through rate from your GMB page if you have 100 or more photos, as indicated by the BrightLocal 2019 Google My Business Insights Study. Your cover image should be your business or office and highlight products, and anything that has received significant praise should be featured in the photos.
Tip: Consider geotagging your images to ensure your location is found on your photos before posting them in the event they are being uploaded from a different facility. Doing so creates a stronger signal for your Local SEO efforts.
Managing Your Listing
Once you have completed your Google My Business optimization, your listing needs to be managed. Rapidly reply when customers leave reviews. Positive or negative, since a quick response also improves your SEO!
Additionally, respond to questions quickly too. One of the most important pieces of GMB is the Q & A section: Customers can click “Ask a Question,” and they can ask you anything publicly. Improve the perception and experience of customers through a speedy response that gets them the answers they’re looking for and peace of mind.
Think of your GMB in a similar way that you do to your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or other social media sites. Responsiveness and timeliness are crucial components of customer service and business success. GMB can’t be ignored. Consider a Google My Business optimization service if you’d like help.
Google My Business Optimization Service
While this list of Google My Business tips for why and how to optimize your profile has not been exhaustive, we hope it has helped. The more you understand the value of Google My Business optimization, the more you will appreciate the value of a GMB optimization service.
At Oyova, we offer a variety of SEO-related services to help boost your visibility and ranks, including Google My Business optimization. Contact us today to discuss how our Google My Business optimization service can transform your business.
