If you own a local business, you probably already know how important it is to have a strong presence on Google. Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool that allows you to manage your business’s online presence across Google, including search results and Google Maps. But simply having a GMB listing isn’t enough – you need to optimize it to ensure that potential customers can find you easily. In this blog, we’ll cover the best strategies to help your GMB listing stand out.

1. Claim and verify your listing.  The first step to optimizing your GMB listing is to claim and verify it. If you haven’t done so already, go to Google My Business and claim your listing. Once you’ve claimed it, you’ll need to verify it by phone, email, or postcard. Verification is important because it proves to Google that you’re the owner of the business and allows you to edit your listing.
2. Fill out your profile completely. Make sure you fill out every section of your GMB profile completely. This includes your business name, address, phone number, website, hours of operation, and category. The more information you provide, the easier it will be for potential customers to find you. Don’t forget to add photos and videos too – this can make your listing more attractive and increase engagement.
3. Use relevant keywords. Optimize your listing by using relevant keywords in your business name, description, and other fields. This will help your listing appear higher in search results when people search for businesses like yours. But be careful not to overdo it – stuffing your listing with too many keywords can actually hurt your rankings.
4. Get reviews. Encourage your customers to leave reviews on your GMB listing. Reviews are important because they not only help your ranking but also provide social proof that your business is trustworthy and reputable. Respond to all reviews, both positive and negative, to show that you care about your customers’ feedback. GMB now notifies the consumer when you respond to their review which is great for customer loyalty!
5. Post updates regularly. Posting updates on your GMB listing can help you engage with customers and keep your business top of mind. You can post updates about promotions, events, new products or services, and other news related to your business. This will help your listing stay fresh and up to date. Depending on the industry, we recommend at least 2 monthly updates to your listing.
6. Monitor your insights. Google My Business provides valuable insights about how customers interact with your listing. This includes information about how many people view your listing, how many click through to your website, and how many people call your business. Use this information to track your progress and make changes to your listing as needed.
7. Analyze your website traffic using Google Analytics. It’s a great start to ‘get’ the traffic, but it’s crucial to know how those website visitors interacted with your website. How many of those website visitors turn into clients, customers or leads? If you see a high ‘bounce rate’ – meaning that visitors quickly abandoned your website with no action taken, then maybe the traffic isn’t valuable after all. Utilize your Google Analytics to better position your GMB listing using appropriate information and keywords.

By following these strategies, you can optimize your GMB listing and increase your visibility on Google. Remember, your GMB listing is often the first impression potential customers will have of your business, so make it count!

Author: Joseph Poirier

Joe built his first website in 2003. Way back then, he moved his Real Estate company into email marketing and then social media marketing on MySpace – yes, you read that right – MySpace. Since then, he’s stayed immersed with all digital marketing channels and is a guru at ‘all things Google.’ Analytics, SEO and simplifying/optimizing complex sales funnels are his passions in the digital world, while his daughter, fishing, and various non-profits rule his free time.

Facebook