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If you’ve ever searched for a local business, you’ve likely come across a Google Business Profile (GBP). Formerly known as Google My Business, these profiles show up on the right side of search results, prominently featuring the business’s name, location, reviews, photos, and contact information.
These profiles aren’t just generated by Google from public information; they’re actively created and monitored by the businesses themselves. If you want to remain clearly visible to potential customers when they search for your product or service, optimizing your Google Business Profile for local SEO is crucial. Here are a few key steps to get you started.
Claim Your Business
The first step in leveraging the benefits of GBP is to claim or verify your business. While some information about your business may be publicly displayed already in search results, claiming your business gives you control over the information displayed.
To claim your business, visit the Google Business Profile website, sign in with your Google account, and follow the prompts to verify that the business is yours. These verification methods may include a phone call, email, video call, or even physical mail. Once you’ve verified the code provided, you can begin optimizing your profile.
Make Sure Your Profile is Complete
Once you have access to your GBP, you’ll want to fill it out as completely as you can. The more information your GBP has, the better user experience it provides, so the more likely it is to appear in local search results.
Make sure that your profile includes basic details like your company name, address, phone number, and website. It’s also beneficial to select a relevant business category, specify your business hours, and highlight any other features like free Wi-Fi, wheelchair accessibility, pet-friendliness, etc. You can also fill out product or service menus and answer Q&As for even more insight. Providing detailed information like this not only improves your local SEO but also builds trust with potential customers and encourages their business.
Keep Your Profile Up-To-Date and Consistent
Once you’ve completely filled out your GBP, you’ll want to ensure that it remains continuously up-to-date. This includes fundamental info like phone numbers and website URLs as well as evolving information such as special business hours, new products, or limited-time promotions. You can also utilize the Posts feature to share updates with customers and engage your audience at their likely first point of contact with your business.
It’s also important to ensure that your information is consistent across all online platforms. Inconsistent details can confuse potential customers and negatively impact your search rankings. While you don’t need to update the small details, ensure that your business name, address, and phone number are the same across your website, social media profiles, Yelp, GBP, and any other online directories.
Upload High-Quality Photos
Visual content plays a significant role in attracting and engaging potential customers. High-quality photos of your storefront, interior, products, and services provide customers with insight into your business and what it offers, influencing their decision-making.
According to Google, businesses with photos receive more requests for directions and clicks to their websites. Regularly updating your photo gallery with new and relevant images will make your profile more appealing and encourage more interaction.
Encourage and Respond to Reviews
Once your GBP is optimized and you have the hang of how to properly maintain it, you should shift your focus to encouraging reviews from customers. Online reviews are a powerful component of GBP and impact local SEO rankings.
Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on your profile, even offering a discount or special promotion if they prove they’ve done so. A greater number of positive reviews not only enhances your company’s credibility in the eyes of consumers, it also increases its visibility in local search results.
Equally important is responding to reviews — both positive and negative. Engaging with all feedback shows a commitment to customer service and professionalism that will convert more customers and encourage existing ones to share their experiences.
Your Google Business Profile is one of the most prominent aspects of your online presence, so it’s important to utilize it to the fullest for enhanced local SEO performance. If you don’t have the time or know-how to create and optimize your GBP yourself, you can leave it to the experts at IDG Advertising. We’re experts in local SEO services, helping you become more visible on every corner of the internet. As part of our SEO marketing services, we’ll continually optimize and publish posts to your GBP, helping you gain and convert users in your area. To find out more about our SEO marketing services, give us a call today at 714-221-4377 or contact us online.
