8 Steps to Completely Optimize Your Google My Business Listing to Rank Higher in Local Search 

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Are you in the process of optimizing your Google My Business listing? If not, you should be. Many things can happen to a business when they don't optimize their listings on Google. For instance, if the account isn't set up correctly then it will never appear in local search results for potential customers who are looking for your services.  

Local SEO has always been one of the most powerful ways to reach potential customers, and by optimizing your listing on Google, you can make sure that it will be as visible as possible. In this blog post, we're going to go over 8 steps that will help optimize your listing so you have a better chance at being found on Google Maps. 

What is Google My Business Listing? 

Google My Business (GMB) is a service provided by Google that allows local businesses to manage their online presence with the search engine giant. The platform offers tools and resources for you to optimize your business listings on both desktop and mobile devices, which will help increase traffic from potential customers looking specifically for your services. Get your business listed on Google and turn users who find you on search into paying customers. 

Why should local businesses optimize their listings on Google My Business?   

Some of the benefits of optimizing a local business on Google My Business include:  

• Improved local rankings 
• Increased traffic and visibility on Google Maps  
• Attracting new customers through your listing's call-to-action (CTA) buttons 

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How to Optimize Your Google My Business Listing 

Step 1:  Claim your business profile on Google 

If you don't have a business listed on Google Maps, or your listing is incomplete, then it's time to optimize. To get started with claiming your local profile for your business, all you need to do is search www.google.com/business and you will be directed to Google MyBusiness will open, login to your Google account (you can use the email you used to create your Gmail account) and you will get access to GMB.

Step 2: Add your business information to optimize your listing 

Before you can optimize your local profile, there are a few pieces of information that you'll need to add first.This includes name, address and phone number (NAP) for both your business location as well as your headquarter. You also need to include work hours and if you have a website link, then include that too. 

Step 3: Optimize Your Business Photos 

In addition to adding information on how to contact your business, it's also important to optimize the photos that appear on your Google My Business listing so they stand out from those of other businesses listed nearby. To do this on your Android phone or tablet, open the Google My Business app, in the bottom right, tap Post then tap Add photo or video, choose the photo or video you want to add then tap Upload and you are done.

Step 4: Add a few images of your business location so it's easier for customers to find you on Google Maps  

You can optimize your Google MyBusiness listing even further by adding a few images of your business location so it's easier for customers to find you on Google Maps. 

Step 5: Select primary and secondarycategories 

When optimizing your primary and secondary categories for the Google My Business listing, make sure that they are as specific as possible (Stone, 2021). Think of what types of services or products your business provides and use these keywords when selecting a category. It's important not to optimize for too many categories, because Google won't accept this and will remove the extra ones. Google allows you to select up to 10 categories.  

Step 6: Create the "from the business” description 

One good thing about descriptions on the Business Profile is that Google helps with creating the description that appears below your business name. Google helps create this description to ensure consistency with other listings. 

The description you need to create from your end is the “from the business” section in your Google My Business account dashboard. The description is shown under the below section. It is used to optimize your local ranking. Ensure to use keywords that are specific to the services and products you offer, as well as target long-tail keywords using these tips.  

Step 7: Set up messaging for your business 

The messaging feature on your profile allows possible clients to contact you via a text message to your phone. Messaging on Google My Business is a great way to interact with customers, attract new ones and optimize local search ranking. Be sure to set up alerts for messages. 

Step 8: Get reviews 

The number of reviews your business has on Google My Business is also an important factor when it comes to local search ranking. When people want to optimize their listing, they need the help of other customers by asking for feedback and encouraging others to leave a review. The more positive reviews you have, the higher the chance that your local profile will rank higher in local search results. 

To make your business more visible to customers, Google My Business is a powerful and free tool. Claim or create it today and use the tips we’ve provided in order to get the most out of this listing for your company.

We offer Google My Business optimization services that can help you improve on what's already been done with SEO practices. For Google My Business Optimization services see pricing here. 

Sources

Stone. (2021, August 18). How toset up & optimize Google my Business. Square. https://squareup.com/us/en/townsquare/google-my-business-set-up-optimization

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