Boosting the online visibility of your business will work wonders for future success. One way to put your business on the local radar is through a Google My Business profile. In case you are unfamiliar, Google My Business (GMB) is a platform created by Google to help boost marketing prospects for local businesses. It is through this platform that you can create a Google Business Profile (GBP) and boost your company’s visibility. But once you set it up, how do you go about optimizing your Google My Business listing? Keep reading to learn why having an optimized GMB listing matters as well as some useful optimization strategies.
Why Optimize A Google My Business Listing?
Before diving into optimization tips and tricks, it’s important to explain why you should optimize your Google My Business listing. According to experts, an optimized GMB listing allows potential customers to find your location thanks to Google Maps integrations. Optimization also boosts your business’s online visibility in Google search results, leading to higher engagement and more leads turned into customers.
How To Optimize Your Google My Business Listing: 9 Tips
Now that you know why optimization matters, here are the most effective methods to give your Google My Business listing that much-needed boost.
1. Claim and Thoroughly Complete Your Profile
First things first, you need to claim and thoroughly complete your GMB profile. This means completing every single section and leaving nothing blank. The more information you are able to provide, the more you can assert your business as one that is valid and operational. You should also ensure that all the contact information is valid and up-to-date so that customers can reach you easily. Remember to go through all the steps to have your location verified.
2. Post Weekly
The best way to drive engagement is to consistently post compelling content from your GMB profile. These posts can talk about products and/or services your business offers or even relevant photos promoting new products or upcoming deals.
3. Engage with Questions
Whenever a customer asks a question on your GMB, you can boost interest by answering them directly and making those answers available for everyone to see. You can even go the extra mile by creating an FAQ section for your business.
4. Curate and Respond to Reviews
Whenever you close out a job or client interaction, encourage that client to leave a review. The more reviews you collect, the more you will optimize your GMB. You also thank the reviewers by responding to them, showing that you are an attentive business owner.
5. Include Compelling Descriptions
When filling out the “from the business” section, you can write about your business in a compelling and interesting way that is sure to draw future clients and customers. If your website has a mission statement and/or About Us section, you can repurpose that content in different words. Make sure you include all the essential information in the first 250 out of 750 characters.
6. Use Relevant Keywords
When putting together your GMB profile, you want to utilize SEO best practices and incorporate keywords that are relevant to your business and will rank well.
7. Upload High-Resolution Photos
Posting photos of your location and your products will allow you to gain credibility on Google. Of course, you want to ensure your photos are high-resolution and of excellent quality. In fact, statistics show that people are more likely to patronize a business they find on Google if images are included.
8. Keep Information Up-to-date
Finally, you want to keep your GMB listing information up-to-date, whether there’s an upcoming sale or a new location is about to open. Doing this will show that your business is active and engaged with the local community.
We Will Optimize Your GMB Listing!
Now that you know how to optimize your Google My Business listing, you’re probably excited to get started. Of course, you need an optimization strategy that will bring teh best results possible. Consulting our team at ASAP Marketing Solutions is an excellent way to start devising your GMB listing and optimization strategy, so contact us today.