Here at Bruce & Eddy, we’re a knowledge sharing group. We like to share knowledge about anything really. Like, did you know lightning is five times hotter than the sun’s surface? Yeah, that’s crazy hot, even for Texas.
But what we like to share knowledge about the most is anything website related, right down to a website’s Google Business Profile. You know, the listing info that pops up if someone searches for your business, products or services in the nearby area. It’s pretty important these days in terms of search engine optimization.
Don’t get overwhelmed just yet if you’ve been totally ignoring your Google Business Profile. For now, we’ll just focus on the essentials that you definitely want to optimize.
First, Claim Your Google Business Profile Listing If You Haven’t Already
Before you can start optimizing your Google Business Profile you have to claim it. To do that you’ll need to have a Google account. Here’s what to do:
- Go to the Google Business Profile website.
- Search for your business.
- If you see the listing come up in the search results – claim it!
- Follow the steps to verify that you own the business.
That should be all it takes to claim your Google Business Profile listing and earn a verified badge! The badge means you now have control of the profile and can start optimizing what’s there.
Here’s What You Most Definitely, Always Want to Optimize on Your Google Business Profile
Sometimes advanced web solutions are needed, but you can’t overlook the simpler stuff like your Google Business Profile. Here’s the thing. Your Google Business Profile can be generated by Google using a variety of sources, or you can claim the profile and control exactly what it says. Your pick.
For those that want to improve local ranking, you’ll want to take advantage of any opportunity you have with your Google Business Profile to write a description with your targeted keywords or share details that are beneficial for customers. Let’s take a look at how to do that.
Business Name
This is arguably the most important piece of information that you want to make sure is reflective of your brand and accurate. You’d be surprised how often the business name that shows up isn’t the primary designation or it’s the formal name that isn’t part of the brand identity.
Contact Information
You want potential customers and clients to get in touch with you, right? Some of them are old fashioned and prefer to do that over the phone or in person. And some people even prefer to drop an email first. All of your contact information, including the physical address, even if it isn’t a storefront, needs to be included and up-to-date.
In addition to giving people the ability to get in touch with you, making sure your contact details are included also adds legitimacy to your business. Plus, the address verifies your location for local searches.
Service Areas
The Google Business Profile is all about optimizing for local search. So be sure to add all of the service areas you can think of for your business. You can even go as granular as the neighborhood names in bigger cities.
Business Description
The business description is a great opportunity to use local keyword phrases that you want to show up for in search. It’s also an opportunity to help your business stand out. Go ahead and give a little backstory on your business, highlight a few key achievements, and boast about what put your business on the map.
Whatever your business is known for needs to be part of the description. You’ll have up to 750 characters. It’s a good idea to use as much of that valuable content as you can.
Categories
The categories do make a difference in search because they are a clear indicator to Google about what the business does. Try to be more specific rather than broad with your categories to improve your chances of showing up in local search results.
Products
For every product you can add a keyword-friendly description up to 1,000 characters. Consider it a mini product landing page for your business. You’ll want to include the name of the product, price, and core features.
Businesses that have a number of products can use the Collections feature to organize products into groups. And if you have quality images of your products it’s highly recommended that you add them.
Services
You can also add service descriptions for the same SEO benefit. Each one can describe a service in 300 characters or less. Use it as an opportunity to point out the areas where services are available.
Q&A Section
You’re the best person to answer questions about your business. Answering questions in the Q&A section is also another opportunity for incorporating keywords and really highlighting why you’re the best in your industry and area.
Accuracy Check
If you’re a go-getter then you’ll want to give every field a quick once over for accuracy. Correct any mistakes that jump out at you or information that needs to be updated.
Consider Using the Google Posting Feature
This is a neat little trick for search optimization, engagement and driving traffic to your site. Google offers a posting feature that allows you to create short posts with info about:
Updates: Company info, new blog posts, new product, etc.
Offers: Discounts, specials and promos you’re offering.
Events: Promote virtual and in-person events.
To add posts all you have to do is:
- Go to your Google Business Profile account dashboard
- Click ‘Add Update’
- Next choose between ‘Add Update’, ‘Add Event’, or ‘Add Offer’
- Add the info, images and a call to action
- Click post and you’re done
The post will show up at the bottom of your profile. It’s just one more way to promote your business for free through Google.
Respond to Reviews
There are a few very good reasons you want to take the time to respond to the Google reviews that show up on your Google Business Profile. Responding makes you more trustworthy in the highest of Google and that translates into higher ranking. It also helps build trust with potential customers, meaning more people are likely to contact you or visit your website for more information.
If all of this makes perfect sense but you’re not sure how you’re going to fit yet another thing on your plate, Bruce & Eddy has a solution – us! Google Business Profile optimization is one of the puzzle pieces we put together in a website optimization and management strategy that is designed to help your business grow online.
Give us a shout to let us know what your site is all about!
