You can use Google My Business or GMB to run your company’s online presence across different search engines for free. Google Maps and Search Engine Results Pages show up in many local businesses thanks to the GMB listing.
Additionally, Google My Business has additional features that local businesses can take advantage of and can raise their Google GMB listing in the local search results. Once you’ve updated your GMB listing for the year 2021, take these seven different approaches to maximising your listing.
The first step you should take is to create a complete, accurate, and up-to-date business profile. Google My Business listings are incomplete if your forms are not filled out completely.
Business name
Phone number
Address
Website
Category
Description
Working hours
Questions and Answers
Photos
There may be some additional fields depending on your industry
It will be much easier for clients to locate and contact your company after you’ve filled out all the information requested by Google. Once you complete your listing, your listing will be submitted to Google and you will rank higher in the search results.
For more information, post relevant content on your Google Posts section.
GOOGLE POSTS SECTOR IS ONE OF THE FEATURES OF GOOGLE MY BUSINESS PROFILE THAT ALLOWS YOU TO ENGAGE WITH USERS DIRECTLY IN SEARCH ENGINE RESULTS PAGES (SERP) AND ON GOOGLE MAP.
Feel free to post upcoming events, company announcements, blog articles, product promotions, and more, within this section.
Most people rely on their recent posts when they are evaluating their businesses online. Here is something you should bear in mind when using your GMB account: make sure the content you post is relevant, high quality, and useful.
For a keyword research, pick a specific and relevant category.
Selecting the right category is crucial for Google and can help them determine which local searches your listing is appropriate for. Since you can’t make your own category, you have to select from the list of available categories.
On the other hand, if you’re unable to find a suitable category, you can opt for a more general classification that precisely describes your company. Categories change all the time, so you should check back on your category options every so often to see if there are new opportunities to describe your business.
Still, if your business doesn’t fit into any of the categories below, you can select a more general classifier that describes it accurately. You should check the latest category option on a regular basis to find new business opportunities that describe your enterprise.
Upload high-resolution photos
Image optimization is by far the cheapest and most effective way to maximise the usage of your GMB listing. In Google’s study, which found that photos in business increase both requests for directions to their location (42%) and website clicks (35%), it was determined that businesses with photos get 42% more requests for directions to their location and 35% more clicks to their websites.
To entice clients, showcase your product images with high-quality pictures. When you’re thinking about using an image to display something about your business, you can include pictures of your business logo, sales team, office, and any other factors that make your business clear. The addition of a 360-degree interactive tour of your business for customers interested in learning more about your company is also a plus.
Imaging requirements
When uploading photos to your Google My Business listing, you must follow the specifications so your images will look their best. These are listed below:
JPEG or PNG format is the preferred format for your photos.
A difference of 10 KB to 5 MB between image sizes is appropriate.
Every photo should have a resolution of 720 pixels wide and tall.
Images should be of the highest possible quality, free of excessive filtering and editing.
Ask customers for a local contact number
It is also critical to use a phone number with your local area code. Thus, Google will determine that you are in your very own location.
You must also make sure that the phone number that you used to list your Google My Business is also on your homepage or in any other landing pages that link to your Google My Business listing.
Make sure you are answering your Google My Business questions on a regular basis.
One of the wonderful benefits of using Google My Business for local search is the Question and Answer section on Google. Potential customers in this section might ask a difficult question about your business, and you can provide a logical answer.
You will be able to talk directly to your customers and respond quickly with this feature. On the other hand, if you fail to monitor this section and your business is not responding, your company could lose credibility, and in the worst-case scenario, could damage your reputation.
