What is Google My Business?
Google My Business is an internet-based service for business purchasers run by Google. The service was launched in June 2014 as a free tool for businesses to manage their online presence across Google and had previously been a sidecar to the Google+ service. The service has since evolved into the primary interface for business owners. With Google My Business, businesses can update their business information on their Google search and maps, which will help their customers find them. They can also manage and connect with customers using website traffic statistics, customer reviews, and photos. In June 2017, Google My Business standalone mobile app was introduced. It lets users update their business information on-the-go and take advantage of the app’s features through their mobile devices. In May 2018, Google My Business launched the ability for business owners to add services to their listings.
Importance of Local SEO Services
It has been estimated that roughly 54% of Americans have substituted phone books for internet and local searches to find detailed information concerning local businesses. This is a significant increase from previous years, and this number will likely continue to grow with new generations raised with the availability and simplicity of the internet. This can be profitable for local businesses, particularly those who have optimized their keywords/meta-tags for local search results. The new trend of Google/local searches can quickly deliver new site traffic, phone calls, and visits to the business in question. Ultimately, the objective of good SEO is to achieve increased revenue and new customer acquisition, and it has been shown that utilizing a strategy for local SEO can benefit these areas.
Local businesses can obviously choose to utilize broad SEO methods to achieve a much higher traffic, and it is possible they will achieve more visitors. Although, to avoid wasting time and resources, it is crucial for businesses to ensure they are utilizing the best marketing strategy to target their specific region. Consumers often choose to make transactions or buy products from businesses that are easier to access relative to their location. A simple example of this could be a person looking for fast food. They may choose to better locate the restaurants nearest to them by using Google or a similar search engine so that they can more easily find and get to faster food locations. This same concept applies to consumers searching for more detailed services such as a financial advisor or family counselor.
Benefits of Utilizing Google My Business
The first advantage is increase the local visibility. In this case we can take advantage of keyword has a significant influence. Generally the global keywords have a more difficult to compete compared to local keywords. And the Global keyword would be less relevant to the local site. By using the Google My Business, we can set up the local business to be more focused in certain areas. This is in accordance with the characteristics of local SEO where global site and the local site have a different way to build the popularity. So it will be easier to compete with other local businesses in the same field. Because to enable the local business information be showed up on the first page, it is very difficult to compete with the global business. If the local business information has been appearing on the first page, it will increase the chance to get the client or consumer. The next benefit to using Google My Business is to build the Brand Image. Actually it is not different with the built a brand image using Google+, but in this case we focus more on the local business. It is very related, because Google My Business is a new face of Google Places and Google+. So the features provided are not much different. With an easy use of and completeness of features, Google My Business provides a great opportunity to improve the brand image for a local business. Brand image of course very influential to the business development. This is possible because if we can optimize the local business in order to appear more primary, it will be easier to change the consumers. A good brand image will simplify the consumers to the next stage, either to use the service or buy the product.
Setting Up Google My Business
So Step 1, the organic SERPs have resulted in a industry procuring a physical GMB page. Now we must revert into every step of the movement chart between the SERPs and the GMB… but that’s for next time!
Before the focal point of Google My Business, there used to be always the hope and long-term belief that your residing would eventually ranking a Knowledge Graph panel. Info panels have consistently been very superb for a industry, required structured records to rating, and GMB is the subsequent step up from rating Annual Events or a Music Artist to acquire a Knowledge Panel. If the industry has managed to ranking this some distance, GMB is no longer elective, as an Info Panel is merely a stripped-down version of a GMB Wisdom Card!
Final month, we reported that in the US Google had started checking out the aptitude for native service providers to store virtual enterprise playing cards in search outcomes. Now we now beget seen an growth on this with the introduction of new capabilities for businesses using Google My Business, who can now indicate if they’re experiencing adjustments to their operations because of COVID-19. An update cards updates in GMB, any optimizations to the GMB environment are no longer to be overlooked!
When you occur to’re a local industry proprietor that is selling your services remotely, feasibly the vital fraction of the motion chart to ranking staunch here used to be within the Organic SERPs as a result of on-site SEO carried out to a industry residing. Nevertheless, with this update and steps that you just can beget to be a physical industry with a registered physical deal with, the sport has changed. This post is for companies that already have a physical deal with.
Google My Business (GMB) is once more a key strategy in 2020. It is now more important than ever before, and this is only a key location for small and local decision corporations. I’m taking a leer to construct a total movement chart from SERPs to GMB, questioning the quite a lot of strategies that could form a native industry SERP, and the way issues are escalating to coming to a head at GMB.
Creating a Google My Business Account
To create a Google My Business account, visit [Link] Here you can sign in with your Google account. This is where you need to input all your business information. Everything from the name of your business to the type of business you are and your location. Google will then let you know if your business is already listed and it will either allow you to claim the listing or create a new listing. If your business is not listed and you are the first person adding this business to Google, then you can create a new listing right away. If your business is already listed, it is a good idea to check the listing for any information that may be incorrect. Oftentimes, business details listed on Google are pulled from various sources and could be incorrect or inconsistent. If this happens and you know the information is wrong, you can suggest an edit. However, claiming the business will give you full control to edit and manage. Keep in mind you may have to wait for a verification code to claim an existing business listing, more on that in the next section. Once your information is all filled out, you can then manage your Google My Business account from the Google My Business dashboard.
Verifying Your Business Information
At times, verification may be unnecessary if Google is able to secure information from a business’ website. This sometimes means missing more recent details. In some cases, Google is able to pull data from a site even when there is no current method of location management. This can result in data existing without any business knowledge. It’s often best to verify a location even when these cases occur to prevent future unmanaged details and an inconsistent level of information.
Once the required details regarding the business are entered, customers are often prompted to verify the information. This is returned with the reason that it’s important to have the best quality information for the customer. At this point, various messages may be displayed including a message stating it’s the easiest method to manage this location and implying there is no existing method of managing it. A more recent feature is the ability to add a user as a manager or owner of the location without the need of a step-by-step guide to verify the location, although both can be done interchangeably. If a location is already claimed and the original email has been forgotten or lost, it’s possible to claim an existing listing using a method/email through the Google My Business help menu. This sends an automatically-generated email requesting verification of the business’ details. If the location is managed via Google Places for Business, a bulk verification method may be immediate. This allows verification of all locations in a spreadsheet format using the same method as verifying a single location.
Optimizing Your Google My Business Profile
SEO with Google My Business starts with a complete set up and verification of your business information. According to Google, businesses with complete and accurate information are considered to be twice as reputable by consumers. When people are looking to find more information about your business, many of them are going to be looking for it online. Information such as your hours, directions to your location, and a phone number to contact can be vital to a potential customer. This is why it is important to fill out all the information you can to the best of your ability. The more information you provide, the better the consumer can understand what you can offer them. After you have completed adding your information, you will have to verify your business to ensure that all the information you provided is accurate. An accurate and complete user profile will improve your search rankings and SEO efforts.
Leveraging Google My Business for Local SEO
Google My Business (GMB) is no doubt the best tool for local search engine optimization and can help your business be found. For businesses looking to make the most of search engine optimization (SEO), Google has released a new tool that is more worthwhile than most. Step forward, the Google My Business listing. Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool that Google makes available to businesses and organizations. The vast majority of searches are now done on mobile devices. Many of you are using smartphones to search, but you’re not quite mind-blowing how mobile it’s becoming. Lately, it’s possible that many businesses aren’t putting enough effort into optimizing for local, mobile search. You’re probably only thinking Organic or PPC, but local steps may have more of an impact and they should definitely be considering local SEO and GMB. You can think of GMB as one of the easiest ways to increase visibility on the search engine. If all done correctly, this could attract customers/prospects. We’re not just saying that, according to Google, businesses with good GMB listings have 2x the confidence from customers when it comes to local searches. By confidence, Google means that these consumers are more confident in the reputation and products or services offered by the business. The tool, which gives businesses a free profile that appears on the search engine and Google maps, is a good start but making sure it’s done correctly is what will maximize its effectiveness. Now, you might think a profile is good enough but there are loads of features within GMB that are capable of increasing visibility and confidence in your business. This is what will separate you from competitors, check if they know that though… Effectively set up and managed GMB has the tendency to get your business on the Google “local pack”. No, it’s not some Pokemon collection, a local pack is a displayed group of similar, in this case local businesses based on information from a user’s search, with the most ideal being within the top three. This local pack will prominently display your business’ information based on a search so that it’s easily accessible to consumers. This information will include your business’ location on Google Maps, directions, business hours, reviews, and a link to your business’s website. Yep, that’s all the good stuff, obviously a local pack appearance can very much so lead to an increase in online and offline sales. This is just dependent on successfully setting up the main profile information and most importantly verifying your business’s location. Look at it like the bulk of your GMB work, and it’s pretty easy to do. Once you’ve set your location, it’s likely you can begin to manage and further optimize it with new and existing information provided by the tool discussed below.
Optimizing Your Business Information
Next, you must input a local phone number. This should be a direct line with a local area code to the business. 800 numbers and non-local numbers can detract from your ranking ability in the local search and thus the visibility of your business.
Secondly, input a physical location. This serves as the epicenter of local search and is verified through a postcard from Google. Having a central location associated with your business can help it to appear more prominently in Google maps and gives consumers a better indication of your general area and distance that you operate from.
First and foremost, you must input a business name. In accordance with the name you have registered with the government, your business name should be the very first element of your entire business presence. As an example, if your business is a registered corporation, your business name should be identical to the corporation documentation. Discrepancies in your business name through citations and other online marks can create a negative ranking ability for your business. For example, using a Co. suffix in some places and excluding it in others can hinder your ranking for a query on the business name.
“Business Information,” the next section of your Google My Business account is equally as important as solidifying your online identity. You must ensure the following components are filled out with accurate, up-to-date information.
Managing and Responding to Customer Reviews
Step one in this process is, of course, responding to all reviews in a non-confrontational and non-defensive manner. In the case of a positive review, thank the customer, make them feel valued, and welcome their next visit. In the case of a negative review, it is critical that you make a strong effort to resolve the issue and also win back that customer. Always apologize and acknowledge the issue, and take full responsibility. If possible, try to take the conversation offline to ensure that the issue is resolved and also to ensure that there are no further negative reviews left on the matter. This can be done by suggesting a phone conversation or asking for the customer’s email address to follow up with them once the issue has been resolved. If successful in resolution, you may even request the customer to amend their review to a more positive one.
Customer reviews receive some of the highest visibility within any local search environment. They are in prime position within Google My Business results and also a significant determinant of success in local pack results. According to Moz’s Local Search Ranking Factors Survey, review signals are thought to make up 9.8% of Google’s search algorithm’s determination of ranking for local search results. And the importance of reputation in today’s business climate cannot be understated. With review and sentiment mining featuring so significantly in consumer analysis and decision making, the brands which act upon their customer feedback will be those which are seen to be listening and caring about their customers. This is a very good signal to Google that the business is active and engaging and as such should be preferred in the search results.
Posting Updates and Promotions
Google My Business has recently given businesses the ability to post updates right inside the Google My Business interface. These posts appear in the local business listing and on Google Maps, and can greatly help with attracting attention to a business’ listing. Each post can contain information about an event your company is holding with times, dates, and duration, a promotion you are pushing with a coupon (yay link building!), a product showcase, or just general company information. Posts can also contain a call to action, with the options to select Learn more, Reserve, Sign up, Buy, or Get offer. Posts are created with a 100-300 word limit and an image. This image will appear in the local listing, so making a good first impression is key. This feature has been rolled out to most businesses now, but if you are not seeing the option to create a post, you likely do not have access to the GMB listing.
Utilizing Google My Business Insights
On a side note, one thing we’ve seen here is that Google makes sure to provide small business owners with the tools necessary to do some of the work on their own, before recommending local SEO services. For the resources provided here, you can bet your left arm that a consultant would charge an arm and a leg! But who can really argue with free?
Google provides some pretty valuable insight on the way potential customers interact with your business listing. Using the Insights tab at the top of the GMB home page, you are able to see a snapshot of how customers search for your business and, more importantly, how the listing can be improved. This listing tells you what queries customers used to find your business, where they view your listing, and the actions they took after searching for it. This one is important because a lot of times the keywords and phrases that a business owner thinks are important may not actually be the same ones potential customers are using to find their business. This can have a huge impact on optimizing website content to be more relevant to viewer needs. Viewing where the listing is most viewed can help identify which areas the campaign is most successful. This can be a useful tool for local businesses trying to identify their target markets. Seeing whether customers clicked for more info or for directions can also provide some useful data regarding the type of customers using these actions and whether or not they are the type of customers the business is trying to attract. High bounce rates at info clicks may indicate that the customer may not be finding what they were looking for. Using insights, you can see what the average viewer of your listing is in terms of age, gender, and whether they are mobile or computer users. Combining all of this information, the listing is able to provide the user with an evaluation of listing activity and suggestions on how to improve the listing effectiveness. This data can be very useful and is all stuff that may not otherwise be easily accessible.
How Sotavento Medios Utilizes Google My Business for Local SEO
Sotavento Medios, a Singapore-based digital marketing agency, incorporates Google My Business (GMB) optimization into their local SEO strategy for clients. While their website (https://www.sotaventomedios.com/) doesn’t explicitly showcase their GMB expertise, we can make some educated assumptions based on industry best practices and Sotavento Medios’ focus on SEO service.
Here’s how Sotavento Medios might be wielding GMB for local SEO dominance:
Claiming and Optimizing GMB Listings:
The first step would be ensuring their clients have claimed and verified their GMB listings. Sotavento Medios likely takes care of this crucial task, establishing a strong foundation for local SEO success.
Accurate and Complete Information: They would ensure all GMB listing details are accurate, including business name, address, phone number, website URL, category selection, and business hours. Consistency across online directories is essential.
Compelling Descriptions and High-Quality Photos: Sotavento Medios might craft compelling GMB descriptions that highlight their clients’ unique selling points and value proposition. Additionally, they might utilize high-quality photos that showcase the business and its offerings.
Encouraging Positive Reviews and Engagement:
Positive reviews on GMB listings are a significant ranking factor. Sotavento Medios might encourage clients to request customer reviews through satisfaction surveys or automated GMB review prompts.
Responding to Reviews: They likely advise clients to respond to all reviews, both positive and negative, demonstrating responsiveness and professionalism.
Managing GMB Insights and Analytics:
Sotavento Medios might utilize GMB Insights to track key metrics like views, searches, and website clicks. This data could be used to analyze user behavior and optimize GMB listings for better performance.