As part of your overall SEO strategy, you may wonder whether Google Business profiles could have a positive impact. In general, they do help, but in a very specific way. In this article, we outline Google Business Profile basics, pros and cons, and how they assist with SEO.
What is Google My Business (GMB)?
Google My Business (GMB) profiles are Google’s way of letting business owners take control of their online reputation, ensuring they only appear in relevant search results. It’s becoming an increasingly important way to connect with potential customers and build relationships, but it can be time-consuming to set up and maintain if you’re unfamiliar with Google’s product suite.
How to create a GMB Profile
1. Go to www.google.com/business/.
2. Click on the “Manage Now” button at the top right-hand corner of the screen.
3. Enter your information into the fields provided. You will need to enter your business name, address, phone number, website URL, email address, hours of operation, and any other information that may help people find you.
4. Once you have entered all this information click the Save Changes button.
5. Your new GMB profile should now be live! If you want to make changes or add more information to your profile, simply go back to the same page and follow the steps above.
Challenges of Creating a GMB Profile
Time
The biggest challenge is time. It takes a lot of time to update your profile and keep it current. You must stay on top of things like managing photos, adding products, and responding to reviews. And while this may be a headache, the reward is worth it for SEO. GMB profiles can help you rank higher in the search engines and make your business more visible to customers looking for what you offer.
No Clear Address for SABs
When creating a GMB profile, you’ll likely see a field called “Street Address,” where you can enter your physical location. However, many small businesses don’t have street addresses. Instead, they use a service such as Post Office Boxes or P.O. Boxes. These services provide a mailing address for your company without requiring you to give out your actual home address. Unfortunately, these addresses aren’t recognized by Google, so they won’t show up in searches.
Logo/Cover Photo Update
You can change your logo and cover photo anytime, but there are some guidelines you must follow. First, you must ensure that the image is high-resolution. Second, you must ensure that it’s square. Finally, you must ensure that your logo and cover photo are consistent throughout your entire site. These requirements make it difficult to update your logo and cover photo.
If you have issues with this, Vectis can help.
Pros of Having a GMB Profile
Set up
Setting up a GMB profile is easy. All you need to do is fill out the Google My Business website form and wait for the confirmation email. After that, you’re good to go.
Easy to Use
Google has made setting up a GMB profile very simple. It only takes a few minutes to set everything up.
Better SEO
Having a GMB profile gives you better SEO results than having no profile at all. With a GMB profile, your business shows up in local searches.
Keep your clients up to date
Keeping your clients updated about your business is essential. A GMB profile allows you to easily share the news with them.
No setup fee
The fantastic thing about a GMB profile is that it doesn’t require any fees. There is no monthly fee, no setup fee, and no hidden costs. This means that you can start building your brand right away.
If you are a handyman with a limited budget, a GMB can still help, and won’t cost you anything.
Cons of Having a GMB Profile
Limited features
GMB doesn’t have many features. There’s no way to add multiple locations, create custom pages, or even edit your listing.
Not enough information
A GMB profile only provides basic information about your business. It doesn’t include any contact details, hours of operation, or other useful information.
Verification process
The verification process is long and tedious. It requires you to submit documents and answer questions.
Impact of GMB on SEO
GMB boosts your SEO when the customer is searching on mobile. When on mobile, Google prioritizes local searches based on the ‘map pack’ as it is called. So for customers, you are on the go, optimizing your GMB will be a great way to attract more organic visitors on a mobile device.
On desktop searches, the GMB results will still appear, just not as prominently.
We always recommend businesses set up and optimize a GMB profile, to maximize their search appearance on mobile devices and improve their SEO overall and the reviews help potential customers see what previous customers have said about you.
Summary
Though it does take some time and effort to set up and maintain a Google Business Profile, it can have a significant positive impact on your SEO, and therefore your business and should be considered essential in most situations.