As a local business, ranking highly on Google My Business (GMB) should be a top priority. Google My Business listings appear prominently in map packs and local search results on Google. This is where over 90% of mobile searches happen. Through GMB optimisation, you can drive more local traffic, calls, and sales for your business. But how exactly do you go about ranking higher on GMB?
This article will outline 9 of the most important steps you need to take to optimise your Google My Business listing. By following these best practices and putting in the work to build your GMB presence, your business can gain visibility and connect with more local customers. The higher your GMB listing ranks, the more clicks, directions, calls, and sales you can generate from Google searches.
1. Select the Proper Category
Choosing the right primary category that accurately represents your core products and services is very important for discoverability and visibility. Make sure to thoroughly research and select a category that best reflects what your business does. If your business has secondary offerings, also consider adding 1-2 additional relevant categories to cast a wider net. Selecting properly fitting categories matches your business with relevant searches.
2. Define Your Service Area
Delineate the geographic regions, cities, neighbourhoods and zip codes that you serve. Be as specific and granular as possible when specifying the locations and zones you cover. This allows Google to understand where you offer your products/services so your listing appears for related local searches. Defining hyperlocal service areas signals your business serves those particular locales.
3. Accumulate Customer Reviews
Generating customer reviews on your GMB listing lends critical social proof and credibility. Proactively prompt satisfied clients to leave detailed 4 or 5-star reviews describing their positive experiences. Aim to accumulate at least 20-30 high-quality positive reviews over time. If you happen to get any negative reviews, always respond professionally and politely. The more quality reviews your listing has, the more trusted it appears in local search.
4. Optimise Your GMB Title
Carefully craft your GMB listing title to concisely contain your brand name, location and 1-2 of your most prominent services. Keep the title under approximately 35 characters while focusing it on your most important keywords and services. An optimised title quickly communicates what your business offers.
5. Fill Out All Pertinent Profile Details
Fill out all of the profile details on your GMB listing, including complete business name, full street address, phone number, website URL, business hours, professional photos, product/service descriptions, attributes like parking/payments accepted, and any other relevant information. Thorough, robust profiles tend to perform better in local search than sparse profiles.
6. Post Regularly
Post updates showcasing news, promotions, events, offers and more to your GMB listing regularly, ideally 1-2 times per week. Regular posting boosts engagement and signals to Google that your listing is actively maintained with fresh, updated business content. Strategically craft posts to highlight your products, services, or offers.
7. Upload Eye-Catching Photos
Include high-quality photos of your business exterior, interior spaces, specific products/services, staff members, and an eye-catching cover/banner photo. Vibrant, relevant photos make your GMB listing more visually appealing and engaging. Use photos with good lighting and captions optimised with keywords.
8. Run Local Promotions and Offers
Run special promotions, deals, discounts, and limited-time offers to incentivise current and potential customers. Promote your latest offerings by posting them on your GMB profile to generate more traffic and sales. Change up offers seasonally or monthly.
9. Respond to Customers
Promptly and politely respond to all customer reviews, questions, messages, posts and any other interactions on your GMB listing. Being responsive helps cultivate positive relationships and improves your local reputation. Check notifications and engage daily.
Final words
Following these 9 comprehensive steps for optimising your Google My Business profile can help substantially improve your local SEO and ranking. Consistently monitoring your GMB analytics and refining efforts over time leads to the best results. Sustained optimisation strengthens your local visibility, authority and conversion rates.
If you’re in Queensland and seeking GMB optimisation services, consider reaching out to 4Business Group. Regardless of your industry, 4Business Group ensures an optimal Google My Business listing for your venture. Not only will it be user-friendly and engaging for your audience, but it also offers a robust platform to boost your brand’s visibility and attract a larger clientele effortlessly.
