Part of the SEO service we do is to optimise Google My Business (GMB) page. Some businesses don’t even have a Google My Business verified. Some other businesses have the GMB optimised but not optimised. There are also some businesses that have multiple GMB verified but none of them verified. Star Bucks, McDonald’s or Buger Kings are a good example of bigger chains that do not have their Google My Businesses optimised.

This does not mean your business should do the same.  Take your opportunity and make your business stand out where others are lacking.

Google My Business SEO Breakdown

  • GMB Verification
  • Business Name
  • Categories
  • Address
  • Service Area
  • Opening / Closing Times
  • Branded Shortnames
  • Contact URL
  • Website URL
  • Services
  • Business Description
  • Opening Date
  • Photos
  • Posts
  • Reviews
  • Messaging
  • User Management
  • Insights
  • Ads

Google My Business Listing

Did you know that 46% of all Google searches are local? That is, the majority of people are trying to find information within their local regions. And one of the best ways of getting noticed by these Google users is to get your business listed on Google My Business. Yet, only 56% of local retailers have claimed their GMB listing!

What is a Google My Business account, and how you can claim yours, and as a result, improve your local SEO and reach? Let’s find out.

What is Google My Business?

Google My Business is the cornerstone of Local SEO, but what exactly is it? GMB is a free tool developed by Google that helps you maintain an online presence in your local search results. As a result, claiming your GMB listing is the first step in local search success as it offers the highest impact on your local SEO strategy.

It shows the search engine that you are willing to go the extra mile to connect with your customers and, in doing so, helps your audience find your services easily. Thus, Google My Business is the most effective way to rank your brand higher in local SEO and even Google Maps.

GMB business profile offers your target audience all the relevant details about your business, including your contact details, location, photographs, reviews, operating times, and a lot more. Google Reviews plays a key role in improving the search for your business.

Why Do You Need a Google My Business Account?

On average, a local business in Melbourne receives around 1000 searches and 400 Maps views each month. This number shows a terrific opportunity for you to get more clicks, views, and leads for your business in your local area itself and for local results.

In essence, the Google My Business account helps you get more views on your business and its content without having to wait a few months for the search engine to rank your website on the first page of the search results.

However, the benefits go further than just views and clicks on your latest content.

By optimising your GMB profile and posting regular content there, you can earn the coveted spot in the local three-pack—the top three businesses on the search engine.

Additionally, according to the BrightLocal study, a typical business with an optimised GMB profile receives up to 59 actions a month, including website clicks, phone calls, direction requests, and a lot more.

Plus, regular content on your Google My Business profile also indicates to the search engine that your brand is ideal to be displayed on the local search results page.

GMB profiles also include reviews from your customers, another critical component that helps build your brand image. It provides social proof to your brand by representing your customers’ confirmation of your services.

Lastly, regular GMB content posts show your audience the latest updates about your business, whether it is a new service offering or something as small as updated working hours—at the right time in the right place on the search engine. This benefit alone is perhaps the most important one.

Why is Google My Business Important for SEO?

While Google My Business is terrific for your business, it is also excellent for your search engine optimisation, especially local SEO. GMB can help your SEO in a few ways.

One of the first ways GMB helps your SEO, as mentioned earlier, is that it gives you a better chance of being in the local three-pack of your area, which will put your brand’s online presence on top of the search results.

Second, it provides Google with various social signals that further boost your SEO and SERP rankings. Some of the social signals include diverted traffic to your website, more clicks on the links on your GMB profile, reviews, etc.

Is Google Business Listing Free?

Yes, the Google My Business app and tool are entirely free to use for local businesses, and it helps you manage your online presence across Google, Search, and Maps. All you need to do is register your business, verify it, and optimise the content and information.

How do I Get My Business Profile Listed on Google?

Here’s how you can create a GMB profile for your audience:

  1. Visit google.com/business
  2. Log in using your business Google account
  3. Enter your business name
  4. Enter your business address
  5. Select whether your business is a storefront or a service provider
  6. Choose the primary business category
  7. Add your phone number and website address
  8. Verify the local listing with a postcard
  9. Start optimising your GMB profile with posts, updates, and reviews.

Just having a business profile on Google is not enough. One vital step you can’t miss is to verify your business.

Now, you can be a part of the few businesses in your area that have claimed their GMB profiles and using their local search pages to their advantage. And what do you know, you can even become the top three businesses on your local search engine!

This is easy, but if you want to spend your time on the more important aspects of running your business, we can take care of this for you. We are a digital marketing company that can help you build your local business listing, among other SEO-related services, and help your website grow and become top-ranking.

If you think Google My Business optimisation is important but don’t find yourself to have enough time to maintain your GMB. Get in touch with us and find out how we are able to manage and improve all our client GMB listings in Melbourne, Sydney and throughout Australia.

References:

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/local-seo-stats

https://google.com/business