Dominate Your Local Market with Google My Business

Feb 28, 2022

by Josh E.

Nowadays, more than 46% of Google searches are for local businesses. People rely on Google to tell them where the most reputable local companies are.

Google My Business is a free tool that Google provides to help you create and manage your local listing. And it’s just as important (maybe more so) than your social media profiles as it provides additional opportunities for you to interact with potential customers who are looking for what you do.

Use Google My Business to Increase SEO

Google My Business uses different ranking factors to determine whether your listing should be shown in search results or not. The main ranking factors include relevance, distance, and prominence.

Relevance refers to how much you fit into the search intent of the customer.
Distance is an essential factor for ranking as you need to be in the given area of the search.
Prominence is about the activity surrounding your profile. This can include things like reviews, events, content, photos, and quality links to your site.

Why You Need a Google My Business Listing

Even though GMB has been around for a while, recently it has made a much greater impact on your SEO when you manage it correctly.

Search Results. Over 75% of listings are found through organic search, and the average business is found in 1,009 searches every month.

Google My Business is all about local search. This could be searches made near your business location as well as Google searches with the area added. If you want to improve your chances of ranking in local search, then Google My Business is essential.

How to Optimize Your GMB Listing

Even if you already have a GMB listing, it’s important to optimize your business page in order to maximize the results.

Fill out your profile completely. Once you create an account (if you

haven’t already) and verify your information (Google will require you to do this) you need to make sure to complete your entire profile.

Ensure that your info section includes business hours, website address, services you offer, and the date you first opened.

Fill out your business description where you can add up to 750 characters. This text should be engaging and tell local search users precisely who you are and why they should visit you. Pick one or two keywords to appear in the description section. Place your search phrase early on in the text. You should also include a location keyword as part of this process.

Keep your profile up-to-date. The information on your Google My Business page must be consistent with other local directories. Your business name, business address, and phone number should be consistent across the web. Check that all the information is correct and consistent across your website, social media, and any other online directories. If your information is incorrect on your Google My Business page, you’re not doing your local SEO strategy any favors.

Ask for reviews, and respond! Reviews have always been essential in gaining trust from potential new members. Reviews also reassure Google that your business is legitimate and can be trusted, which helps you rank higher in search results. Positive reviews can be highly influential and have a direct impact on purchasing decisions.

Review signals such as quantity, quality, and diversity are a top-ranking factor when it comes to search results. Some customers will naturally leave reviews; however, for others, you will need to ask for reviews. Implement a consistent process where you ask for online reviews as part of your greater marketing strategy.

Once your reviews start coming in, monitor and respond to them regularly, a simple thank you will work in some cases, while others may need a more detailed response. Be sure to have a process in place for dealing with negative reviews too.

Post high-quality photos and make posts weekly. Once you have everything set up, and the information is complete and up-to-date, you need to keep it updated weekly. Post photos of your gym, your members, your staff, and anything else that highlights who you are and what you do.

Make at least 1 new post on your GMB listing each week. This is one thing that can make a massive impact on the results you get from your marketing efforts. Posts also allow you to add a Call to Action (CTA) so you can control what step you want your visitor to take in order to contact you or purchase your services.

In Summary

Optimizing your Google My Business profile has many benefits for local businesses. By making the most of Google’s search tools, you can increase local visibility, get more reviews, provide additional information to potential customers, and attract new members.

Dominate Your Local Market with Google My Business

Feb 28, 2022

by Josh E.

How many times have you gone to Google (or Google Maps) to find a coffee shop, or hair salon?

Nowadays, more than 46% of Google searches are for local businesses. People rely on Google to tell them where the most reputable local companies are.

Google My Business is a free tool that Google provides to help you create and manage your local listing. And it’s just as important (maybe more so) than your social media profiles as it provides additional opportunities for you to interact with potential customers who are looking for what you do.

Use Google My Business to Increase SEO

Google My Business uses different ranking factors to determine whether your listing should be shown in search results or not. The main ranking factors include relevance, distance, and prominence.

Relevance refers to how much you fit into the search intent of the customer.

Distance is an essential factor for ranking as you need to be in the given area of the search.

Prominence is about the activity surrounding your profile. This can include things like reviews, events, content, photos, and quality links to your site.

Why You Need a Google My Business Listing

Even though GMB has been around for a while, recently it has made a much greater impact on your SEO when you manage it correctly.

Search Results. Over 75% of listings are found through organic search, and the average business is found in 1,009 searches every month.

Google My Business is all about local search. This could be searches made near your business location as well as Google searches with the area added. If you want to improve your chances of ranking in local search, then Google My Business is essential.

How to Optimize Your GMB Listing

Even if you already have a GMB listing, it’s important to optimize your business page in order to maximize the results.

Fill out your profile completely. Once you create an account (if you

haven’t already) and verify your information (Google will require you to do this) you need to make sure to complete your entire profile.

Ensure that your info section includes business hours, website address, services you offer, and the date you first opened.

Once your reviews start coming in, monitor and respond to them regularly, a simple thank you will work in some cases, while others may need a more detailed response. Be sure to have a process in place for dealing with negative reviews too.

Post high-quality photos and make posts weekly. Once you have everything set up, and the information is complete and up-to-date, you need to keep it updated weekly. Post photos of your gym, your members, your staff, and anything else that highlights who you are and what you do.

In Summary

Optimizing your Google My Business profile has many benefits for local businesses. By making the most of Google’s search tools, you can increase local visibility, get more reviews, provide additional information to potential customers, and attract new members.