8 Ways To Optimize Your Google My Business Listing

You can enhance the information about your business that is displayed in search results by using a complimentary service. In addition to including a URL and description, you have the ability to include business photos, videos, phone numbers, operating hours, delivery area details, and reservation service links.

By having a cover photo and utilizing Google Maps and Google Street View excerpts, prospective customers can gain an idea of what to anticipate upon their initial visit. It is important to note that users have the capability to propose modifications to your profile, hence verifying its accuracy on a regular basis is advised.

The advantages of Google My Business

One of the most effective ways to draw in new customers, promote an existing business, or penetrate any market, including highly crowded and fierce ones, is by utilizing Google My Business. There are several notable benefits associated with leveraging Google My Business for your own business:

Once you have integrated your own business into Google My Business, you can obtain visual maps and GPS coordinates directly from Google Maps.

Utilize Google My Business to enhance SEO, which is highly effective in improving the visibility of both local and other websites.

Increase your attractiveness: When a business or brand is featured among the top search results on major search engines like Google, it becomes simpler to create a positive and professional image, leading to a higher click-through rate (CTR) on your website.

Google and Google My Business offer valuable information and observations on online users and customers. Utilize Google My Business to gain a deeper understanding of how users discover your business, whether it’s through search engines or directly on Google Maps.

By utilizing Google My Business, you can ensure that your company maintains a higher ranking instead of being overlooked. Having an active Google Business account allows you to effortlessly enhance your URL positioning in Google search engine results, steadily improving it over time.

Enhance overall engagement: If users develop trust towards your business, their likelihood to interact and engage with your links, promotions, and even your products or services will increase.

Optimizing Google My Business Tips

1. Master the basics of your listing

Before proceeding with the following steps, it is crucial to prioritize the basics. This includes successfully claiming and verifying your listing, ensuring the accuracy of your business information such as phone number, address, and website, as well as keeping your operating hours up to date.

Have you not completed those steps yet? Rest assured, we will guide you through them here.

Guide on how to establish your Google Business Profile.

1. Navigate to google.com/business. Click Manage Now.
2. Search for your business. (If it doesn’t appear, click Create a business with this name and follow the prompts.)
3. Choose your business type: Online retail, local store, service business. (You can choose more than one business type.)
4. Search for and select a business category (we’ll go into this more later).
5. Add the location(s) or service area(s) you serve customers, if applicable.
6. Enter your phone number and website URL.
7. Enter your business address. Depending on your business type, you can opt to hide this information from your listing later.
8. Choose how you want to verify your Google Business profile. If you have the option for a phone call, this will be the fastest. If you select to have your Google PIN mailed to your business address, it can take up to two weeks.

With your profile now fully set up, you can proceed to the following steps in order to enhance your Google Business listing.

2. Fill out all available fields

Despite the numerous opportunities that Google offers, many businesses fail to take advantage of the chance to provide valuable information for potential customers through their Business Profile, leaving certain fields unfilled.

Make sure to provide additional information along with the basics like your phone number, address, website URL, and hours of operation, so that customers can have a comprehensive understanding of your business prior to visiting your website.

To optimize your Google Business Profile, make sure to complete the following fields.

• Description: Add a business description (up to 750 characters) so users can learn about what you have to offer, what makes you unique, and why they should work with you.
• Products or Services: Add relevant products or services–these will show up directly on your Google Business Profile.
• Hours: Aside from your typical hours of operation, you can also add holiday hours and more hours, including online service hours, senior hours, pickup hours, and more.
• From the business: Let your potential customers know how your business identifies (women-owned, Black-owned, veteran-owned, and more). This could sway potential customers looking to support businesses like yours.
• Accessibility: Accessibility is incredibly important. Let potential customers know about your accessibility options such as wheelchair-accessible restrooms or seating.

3. Add images (and videos)

Were you aware that businesses that upload images receive 42% more requests for directions? Individuals desire to have an idea of what they can anticipate from your business, regardless of whether they plan to visit your physical location or engage in curbside pick-up or a service.

Google provides suggestions for your Google Business Profile, encompassing various elements such as your logo, both the interior and exterior visuals of your business, a cover photo, videos, and additional options.

Below are some suggestions for the types of pictures and videos you can include in your Google Business Profile listing:

• Upload at least three photos of the interior of your business. This should give customers an idea of what to expect when they visit your business.
• Add at least three pictures of the outside of your business. Google suggests taking these pictures at different times of the day as well as from each direction a customer might approach your business.
• Add photos of your products, especially items that are the most popular. This can help entice some users to visit your business.
• Include pictures of your team (with their consent). These pictures should represent the services that you offer or highlight positive customer service experiences.
• You can also take a quick video using your smartphone to include if you don’t have a professionally produced video to use. Give a quick tour of your business, show your storefront, and include anything you think consumers may be interested in seeing.

4. Choose the right business categories

Maintaining the same primary business category in your Google Business Profile throughout the year is recommended. However, it can be beneficial to consider changing your secondary categories periodically, particularly if you provide varying services during specific seasons or if you are aware that consumers visit your establishment for specific reasons at different times throughout the year.

If you primarily sell sporting goods as a retailer, you have the option to modify your categories to cater to the current events. For instance, if you have cleaning and disinfecting products available, you can make appropriate adjustments to attract customers who are specifically searching for such items.

Google advises minimizing the number of categories used, hence it is recommended to limit them to a maximum of two or three.

Instructions on how to modify or revise the category of your Google Business.

1. Go to your Google Business dashboard in Google Search.
2. Click Edit profile.
3. Scroll down to Business category and click the pencil icon to edit.
4. Search for a primary category related to your business.
5. Search for one or two secondary categories related to your business.
6. Click Save.

After submitting your Google Business categories, they will be reviewed before appearing externally.