How to Optimise Google My Business.
Grow your Google My Business listing
A Google My Business account lets you show up in local search results when people are looking for businesses like yours online. It can help you become discovered in your area, can help keep your customers informed about your business and changes, and boost your online presence.
What is Google My Business?
Google My Business is a free tool from Google. It allows businesses to manage the digital existence on Google, including Google Search and Maps. This helps your customers to find your business online and gives you a chance to tell customers about your business and what you have to offer.
Why You Need a Google My Business Listing
According to Google, businesses with photos receive 42% more requests for directions, and 35% more clicks through to their websites. A Google My Business page allows you to list your business location, story and images across Google maps, and local search results. You can use this page to display information such as opening and closing hours, phone numbers and your website. This will allow you to drive more local traffic to your website.
Your questions answered:
1. How to set up Google My Business
Firstly, create a Google My Business Listing. Google has made this easy and simple to get your business found online, as Google’s algorithm has developed search queries to become more location-specific. Simply sign up to Google My Business, enter your business details and choose how you want your business to be displayed.
2. How to optimise your Google My Business Page for Success
To kickstart your local SEO strategy, you need to focus on optimising your Google My Business Page. Start with inputting content, fill in the important information first. Optimising your page is fairly straightforward. You should aim to give as much information about your business as possible. Take advantage of how people are searching online, people usually search their query, see a business in the results and then click onto the business to find out information. Connect with your audience.
Take the time to write a good description of your company to add to your listing. Make it as local as possible, as this will make it more relevant to the searcher. Use keywords related to your business and describe what your company does. Descriptions can be a maximum of 750 characters. Try and put your main information in the first few sentences. Use 3 keywords that describe your business to become relevant to the search.
3. What to do next
Your next steps are adding more to your business page gradually. Keep your page updated. You can add up to 10 photos or videos to GMB posts – make sure you utilise this feature to showcase your products, services and business. In addition, you can also add posts to your page, these can be up to 300 words. You can also add a call to action button, this allows customers to ‘learn more’ or ‘sign up’ for example. The posting area also gives you a place to showcase your events. The post option gives you a way to promote and share content with your customers. The post will last 7 days, then you will need to replace it with another.
If you want to rank higher in search you need to collect good reviews. Reviews also act as proof to potential customers that you are good at what you do. Once you have collected reviews, you need to keep them updated, reach out to customers and ask them to write a review on Google. Once this is done we would suggest responding to all reviews as quickly as possible, this shows your customers you are serious about the business and increase a level of engagement.
If you need help with setting up or optimising your Google My Business listing and any other digital services. We have offices based in Welshpool and Chester and will be happy to help.