Did you know Optimising your Google My Business (GMB) listing is one of the quickest and most effective ways to increase traffic and customers? A vast majority of organic searches are conducted on Google, holding approximately 90% of the global search engine market share. Business owners can manage their online presence using the Google My Business tool, especially those into local business services.
When optimizing location-based strategies, JDM’s SEO Expert turns to Google My Business listing for help.
It provides searchers with all of the detailed information they need about a business, including the address, working hours, category, reviews, and other details. When a new listing is created, the location of the listing is automatically generated on Google maps. This is synced with the traditional Google search to make it as accessible as possible.
This post will help you optimize your Google My Business listing, which will allow you to rank higher in local search results and attract more customers.
Before we get into that, first things first! You must know why you should work on and optimize your Google My Business listing.
If digital marketing is a relatively new endeavor for you, there are some fundamentals you should be aware of.
Yes, it is! However, you would need the help of a professional.
No, a Google My Business listing does not take the place of your company’s website.
Google My Business enhances a brand’s already-existing website(s) by providing it with a public identity and presence in the form of a Google My Business listing. The information about a business provided through Google My Business may appear in Google Search and Google Maps results pages.
Performing a Google search to ensure that your company does not already have a Google My Business listing is the first step in getting your listing up and running on Google. If your company has been in operation for some time (several years or longer), it is likely that it already has a Google My Business listing, and you simply need to claim it.
Once your GMB listing has been successfully claimed, you will be able to manage the information as if you had created it yourself. It will notify you if there is already a listing for your business on the site.
If your company’s listing has not yet been created, you can do so in a relatively short period. Verification takes a little longer to complete, but it can usually be completed within a week of receiving the request.
To make the listing public, click the Publish button. Finally, make sure it is live and visible by verifying it.
Verification of the GMB listing is done through a Postcard by mail, taking up to five business days. It demonstrates to Google that you can manage and that you do represent the company that you claim to represent. The verification of your company is critical for the visibility and performance of your listing on Google.
Google will not display your business until the search engine has verified the company. You will not be able to access page insights/analytical information or business reviews from the back end unless you have been verified.
Verification is usually completed in less than a week. Google will send you a postcard with a verification code, which you will need to enter to complete the verification process and make your business officially operational.
Consumers trust people more than companies. A positive rating may be the deciding factor in attracting new customers. Reviews help in Google’s ranking. After a positive experience, ask for a rating. In-store or online, ask for a review with a card or e-receipt.
As a result, Google’s algorithm prioritizes ratings as a primary ranking factor. You can also see how ratings affect rankings. The “Local 3-Pack” includes businesses with many reviews and high star ratings for most Google searches.
Also, make it a habit to respond to reviews promptly. Thank those who leave positive feedback and assist those who leave negative feedback.
You can post about products, discounts, events, and so on to your Google My Business listing. Posts encourage users to interact with your listing. Frequent posting boosts Google’s rankings. Users are more likely to interact with GMB posts on Google and other search engines than on Facebook and Instagram, browsing casually.
Not mentioning your products and services in your business name is especially helpful. You can also rank in relevant searches by adding content to your Google my business listing.
Add the product or service’s name, description, and price. When a product is clicked, the full description appears. Google may also link to your products under categories.
The logo is the most important image for a GMB listing. There is unlikely to be a more popular or impactful image. Google recommends a square-sized logo to help customers identify your business.
Cover Photo: Your cover photo should reflect your brand. If a brand has a cover photo, it will always be cropped to a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Interior Photos: A business’s in-store experience can be better understood. Make a good impression! It also gives potential customers an idea of the store’s layout and any limitations.
Video: Videos are one of the most popular web media. It’s because they’re great at telling stories and explaining complex concepts.
Set Up Messaging: This feature allows users to text your contact number directly from your Google my business listing. Eighty-two percent of smartphone shoppers conduct local searches. Thus, messaging enables users to communicate with your company.
Select the ‘Messaging’ option in your GMB dashboard and then download the GMB app from the play store or app store. Set up messaging alerts in your GMB dashboard. Check the ‘Customer messages’ checkbox in settings to receive new messages.
Google has made significant strides in making analytical data for Google My Business listings more readily available. Google Insights, now known as Google Analytics, provides businesses with a new way to understand how customers interact with business listings, including:
This section of Insights displays how potential customers found you through a “Direct” search instead of a “Discovery” search. In bulk insights reports, these sections are labeled with the following headings:
Managing multiple locations or businesses is difficult. JDM Web Technologies can help you set up, optimize and manage your business listing. While you concentrate on your trades, the experts can always look into the technicalities of keeping you visible.
The Naveen Kumar, Head of Marketing at JDM Web Technologies, is known for being the Woorank Digital Marketing Expert, Google Analytics Certified, Google Ads Certified, and Bing Ads Accredited. With his vast knowledge and 11 years of experience in delivering results, he has developed a core team that consists of professional and experienced personnel who can provide satisfactory services to all clients. As a result, today, JDM Web Technologies is known for being the best SEO Company, and one can get all kinds of Digital Marketing Services, including SEO, SMO, PPC, Local SEO, Website Design & Development, and ORM, under one roof.
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