{"id":760,"date":"2021-06-14T19:44:27","date_gmt":"2021-06-14T17:44:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.webdesign-inspiration.com\/article\/?p=760"},"modified":"2021-06-14T19:44:27","modified_gmt":"2021-06-14T17:44:27","slug":"small-business-guide-to-setting-up-an-optimized-gmb-profile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.webdesign-inspiration.com\/article\/small-business-guide-to-setting-up-an-optimized-gmb-profile\/","title":{"rendered":"Small Business Guide To Setting Up An Optimized GMB Profile"},"content":{"rendered":"

Google My Business is perhaps one of the best small business products launched by Google. My Business listings not only appear for every single location based search, these results are usually placed on top of organic search results.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Seasoned SEOs and even <\/span>reseller SEO<\/span><\/a> pros are using Google My Business to deliver location based SEO benefits to their clients.<\/span><\/p>\n

For local businesses, GMB listings have given them a chance to become as visible as the big players in their industry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Be that as it may, taking advantage of this free product by Google is only possible when your GMB profile is completely optimized, which is what we will be discussing in this article.<\/span><\/p>\n

Optimizing your GMB profile is a task that can be divided into two parts. Let\u2019s see what they are and what tasks they entail:<\/span><\/p>\n

While Creating Profile<\/b><\/h2>\n

The first half of this article is dedicated to creating your GMB profiles. Thanks to Google\u2019s love for intuitive user interface and simplicity, the process is quite straightforward.<\/span><\/p>\n

All you have to do is go to the Google My Business website, click on the \u201cManage Now\u201d button, enter your business\u2019 name, and follow the steps.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If your business has been operating for a while, chances are that it already has a listing. In this case, you will be offered to claim the listing. Simply click on claim the listing and follow the outlined steps.<\/span><\/p>\n

If, however, you do not find an option to claim the listing dedicated to your business, chances are that it has already been claimed by someone. If this is the case, you can refer to this <\/span>guide to requesting ownership of a business profile<\/span><\/a> by Google.<\/span><\/p>\n

If your business profile doesn\u2019t exist, Google will prompt you to create one with clearly outlined steps.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Whether you are creating a new profile or optimizing an existing one, make sure that you implement the following tips:<\/span><\/p>\n

Fill Out All Business Information<\/b><\/h3>\n

One of the most basic and surprisingly common mistakes that business owners make with their GMB profile is to leave out certain aspects of it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Completing your GMB profile with all the information requested by Google is the most basic step of GMB optimization. Think about it, only when Google knows everything it needs to know about your business, will it be incentivised to rank your GMB listing higher.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Besides improving the visibility of your GMB profile itself, completing your profile information also helps your website rank higher for local SEO keywords.<\/span><\/p>\n

Add photos<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

There are a number of places within your GMB profile where you can post photos, and you should take advantage of these spaces because your customers probably love photos and videos. <\/span>According to Google<\/span><\/a>, businesses that add photos to their profile get 42% more requests for directions to their location, when compared with those businesses that don\u2019t add photos.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many advantages to adding photos to your GMB listing. For starters, they tell Google\u2019s algorithms that yours is a legitimate business, while also humanising your brand for your customers.<\/span><\/p>\n

With that said, simply adding photos to your GMB profile is not enough. Just like in the case of the images on your website, Google uses image-related information like alt text, caption, location tag to understand your GMB profile and your business better.<\/span><\/p>\n

Use Keywords<\/b><\/h3>\n

If you follow my first advice and complete all the information in your profile, you will find yourself writing a \u201cfrom the business\u201d section. This is where you are supposed to tell everyone what you do and why you are the absolute best at it. This is where you outline the unique selling points of your business and tell everyone why you are awesome.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While a lot of businesses get this section right, most forget one important detail- keywords.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s right, just like keywords are an integral part of <\/span>SEO Services<\/span><\/a>, it is an important aspect of optimizing your GMB listing for maximum visibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

Verify<\/b><\/h3>\n

Verifying your business listing is perhaps the most hassle-filled task involved in optimizing it. This is because the process is done via a postcard sent to your business address and can take up to five business days.<\/span><\/p>\n

With that said, the performance benefits are well worth the hassle involved.<\/span><\/p>\n

In fact, this is sort of compulsory if you want Google to display your GMB listing to its users.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, Google does not allow unverified businesses to access the insights and analytics of their GMB profile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Without that information, ongoing optimization of your GMB profile will not be possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ensure Consistency In NAP And Other Business Information<\/b><\/h3>\n

One obvious piece of advice- make sure that the information you enter into your GMB profile is correct.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is almost unbelievable how many businesses get their own operating hours and contact information wrong.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Inaccurate information in your GMB listing can result in bad user experience and Google <\/span>hates<\/span><\/i> it when that happens. To avoid a surprise penalty, be as meticulous as possible when entering your business operating hours and contact information<\/span><\/p>\n

It is also important to ensure NAP consistency for the entire online presence of your business. NAP stands for name, address, and phone number of your business. Make sure your NAP information is consistent across your website, your GMB listing, and your listings on other business platforms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Choose The Correct Category<\/b><\/h3>\n

Another surprisingly common mistake made by businesses making a GMB profile is to select the wrong category for their business. Choosing the correct category for your GMB listing gives you two advantages:<\/span><\/p>\n