How to Optimize Your Google Business Profile

How to Optimize Google My Business A Small Guide for Small Business – McBreen Marketing – Fort Collins, CO

Please note that since writing this post, Google has changed the name of Google My Business to Google Business Profile.

Google My Business isn’t just another business directory. It’s another opportunity to develop your digital presence and brand.

If you’ve used Google tools to support your business in the past, it’s very likely you already have a Google My Business (GMB) listing. It’s free! While GMB doesn’t replace your website, it does provide another way for you to reach potential customers. Why not embrace it?

Maximize the potential SEO and website traffic benefits to gain an advantage over your competition. This powerful tool can increase your revenue and give you new insights into your customers’ interests.

Here are five key ways that you can optimize your Google My Business listing.

How To Leverage Google My Business

#1. Verify your free GMB listing.

First things first, make sure to verify your GMB listing. If you don’t have an account, create one to start developing your online presence.

88% of searches for local businesses on a mobile device lead to calls or visits within 24 hours. (Source: Nectafy)

By simply creating an account, you can start capitalizing on new search trends. Google is, without a doubt, the dominant search engine and captures about 85% of mobile traffic. (Source: Hubspot)

#2. Don’t leave information out. Complete your GMB listing.

Peace, Love and Little Donuts of Fort Collins | McBreen Marketing – How to Improve Local SEO

Once you verify your listing, make sure to fill out all of the details and don’t leave anything out. Most importantly, make sure that your information is complete and accurate.

Also, don’t forget to update your information as it changes. For example, keep business hours up to date for regular operations, special holidays, and specific business events.

If you adopted your listing and did not manually create it, double-check the physical address, phone number, category, and tags.

88% of searches for local businesses on a mobile device lead to calls or visits within 24 hours.
—Nectafy

You’ll also want to verify the location of your business outside of GMB. Check Google Maps and Search to ensure that your information is accurate across all of Google’s services. Inaccurate data will cause Google to question your listing.

#3. Make a strong visual first impression.

Add photos to GMB – This sample highlights Pie Junkie's GMB page — This sample highlights Pie Junkie’s GMB page

Adding photos and videos to your GMB is your opportunity to make a good impression with potential customers and to portray your company the way you want.

Add a business profile photo. The photo should encompass your brand but not be your company’s logo. Other photos or videos to include in your GMB listing include:

Logo image
Cover photo
Photos of your products and/or services
Capture the location, interior and exterior views
Show how staff assists customers

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Potential customers like to have a preview of what they can expect should they decide to interact with your company. Make sure that all your photos follow Google’s image guidelines and are good quality, non-altered photos.

#4. Encourage reviews and respond to them!

This sample shows GMB reviews for Peace, Love and Little Donuts of Fort Collins – Why GMB reviews are key – McBreen Marketing — This sample shows GMB reviews for Peace, Love and Little Donuts of Fort Collins

Ask your current customers to leave reviews after purchasing a product or service. Nothing provides a better insight into your company’s products or services like feedback from another customer.

Potential customers are greatly influenced by customer reviews, in fact, a survey by Fan and Fuel showed that 97% of consumers factored customer reviews into their buying decisions and 92% hesitated to purchase if there were no reviews.

But don’t let reviews just sit on your GMB profile, take the opportunity to engage directly with your customers. Simple “thank you” replies show that your company values your consumers.

Frequent reviews and engagement improve your business’s visibility on Google.

A survey by Fan and Fuel showed that 97% of consumers factored customer reviews into their buying decisions and 92% hesitated to purchase if there were no reviews.

#5. Bring your brand to life with GMB’s Google Posts.

Google Posts in GMB are like social media posts; without having to jump to another platform. You can engage your consumers with updates, new product launches, sales, revealing a new video, or making a general post directed at your potential customers wishing them a happy holiday.

While Google Posts are not a replacement for other communication outlets, these brief posts are a great way to maximize that first impression, get an edge over your competitors, and have fun with it.

Most business directories are limited to basic details — location, hours, services or products offered, and a photo. GMB takes it to a whole new level. You can present your brand, tone, and personality. Posts that are 7 days or older do stay on your GMB listing, so to keep your profile fresh and up to date try to post regularly.

Do you want to bring your brand to life?

Taking a few minutes to complete our brand audit will help you think about your current marketing efforts and what might need to change. It will also help me suggest several ways to improve your branding and marketing now: Brand audit.

After you complete the form, we’ll contact you to schedule a time to go over the results and see how we can help.

We can also scan your website with our Free Local SEO Report Card Score. The report will show you how you stack up in Google Search results.