A Google My Business (GMB) listing is a valuable SEO tool for any business, going well beyond assisting potential consumers in locating a company’s contact information and physical location. Claiming and verifying your firm may improve your Google Maps visibility, as well as organic search results. However, the majority of companies neglect their GMB presence and fail to appreciate it. In reality, taking advantage of Google’s many features may help your website rank higher in search results for relevant terms related to your company. According to a ReviewTrackers study, the Google local three-pack captures up to 44% of all clicks on search engine results pages. Follow these three easy steps to improve your Google My Business ranking.
1. Make sure your profile is complete.
Many GMB listings, however, lack crucial information that Google demands when the ad was first published. This data includes phone numbers, hours, and a well-written description. It’s also crucial to include a picture of your company’s actual place and logo. According to Google, businesses with images on their listings receive 42% more driving directions requests on Google Maps and 35% more website click-throughs than those without photos.
2. Utilise the Posts on Google feature.
Think of Google Posts as similar to a social media post. Any post you make will show up in your Google My Business listing. Creating a post can be especially useful when you want to announce an event, offer a discount code, or promote a recent blog post. Attaching videos and photos to your Google posts is a great way to engage your audience as well. A great example of a business that has taken full advantage of the Google Posts feature is PatientPop, which is a healthcare practise growth platform. After fine-tuning its posting approach, the firm experienced an 11% boost in appointments booked.
3. Get reviews, and respond to all of them.
The importance of good Google My Business ratings cannot be overstated. In fact, nearly 64% of customers are likely to check Google reviews before visiting a business. Reach out to your previous clients and offer them a discount or other reward for a review, particularly if they have had an outstanding experience with you. Keep in mind that it’s crucial to respond. According to a ReviewTrackers survey, 45 percent of customers are more likely to visit a company that responds to bad online reviews.
Optimising your Google My Business listing can help you grow your business locally online. Approximately 53 percent of customers search for a company within 48 hours of performing a local search on Google, and 21% of consumers pay attention to the position of the search result when making a purchase decision. It’s crucial to complete your profile, use the Google Posts feature to add additional information and respond to each of your reviews.
