While your website pages are still a crucial ingredient to getting found online, Google is striving more and more for users to get what they’re looking for directly in search result pages, before having to click or tap on any one result. This is especially true when it comes to searches for nearby businesses. This means that in addition to optimizing your website to Getting My Business Ranked High on Google, you also need to optimize your Google business listing to rank. The higher it shows in local results and the more that potential customers can accomplish from your listing alone, the more customers you can get from Google.
How Google My Business Impacts Ranking The more complete and accurate your Google My Business listing is, the higher it will rank in Google Search and Maps. In fact, complete and accurate Google My Business listings get 7x more clicks than those missing information and are 70% more likely to attract location visits. This is evidence that Google My Business can help to improve not only your search ranking, but also your traffic and sales.
How to Get Your Google Business Listing to Rank Higher Here are some updates to make to your Google My Business listing to get your business to rank higher for relevant searches. Fill Out Every Section of Your Profile Google My Business acts in the same fashion as Yelp in that it provides the vital information consumers need in order to make a decision about your business. A complete Google My Business Listing includes: • • • • • • • •
Business name Address Phone number Category Website Hours of operation Description Photos
Our free tool will tell you exactly what you’re missing so you can gain visibility for online searches and attract more customers. In 30 seconds or less. Give it a shot! Collect and Monitor Google Reviews If you are lacking in Google reviews, don’t be afraid to ask loyal customers to put in a good word for you. Many customers will be happy to spread the word about the excellent services you offer if they are pleased with their experiences. If you have negative reviews, make sure you are responding promptly and professionally. Strengthen Your Google Description If your Google My Business description is too short, such as “electronic repairs”, you will leave customers wondering about the specific services you offer. If it is too long or wordy, it will get overlooked. Try to make it a sentence or two that sums up the majority of your offerings but highlights your greatest feature or benefits. Be Selective with Your Photos When you upload photos to your Google My Business profile, make sure they are both relevant and high-quality. Google My Business strives to give consumers a sense of what it’s like to be at your location, so include pictures from different angles within the space, pictures during peak times, photos of products and services, and events. Do not upload graphics or promotional images with text on them. Make sure to update these photos regularly to get the best local results. Use the Google Q&A Section Google’s Q&A section offers you the ability to answer customer questions directly in your business listing. The benefit of this is that you can preemptively answer questions that customers might otherwise not know the answer to which can impact their decision to use your business. For example, “Do you have parking? Yes, there is a parking lot for customers.” may be enough to turn a passive onlooker into your next customer. Use this section wisely and always respond to questions quickly. As a business owner, you can also publish frequently asked questions and answer them yourself.
Google My Business is an incredibly powerful—and free—tool for improving your local visibility and generating new customers. By keeping your listing up to date, accurate, and active, you can get your business to rank higher in local results and get a leg up on your competition.