Have you invested time lately in your Google My Business page? If you answered no, don’t feel bad. It’s actually something that is commonly neglected but, we believe there is a strong case to reverse that trend and show your GMB profile a little more attention.
Here’s why:
- It’s a crucial driver of local SEO
Google My Business is a critical component of any successful local SEO campaign. The MOZ Local Search Ranking Factors index cites Google My Business signals as one of the top 10 most important elements of local search indexing, meaning you need to ensure that you’re dedicate a proportionate amount of time to your listing’s set up and maintenance.
When deciding where to allocate your time, remember that your category selection, the use of keywords in your business description and reviews are all important.
Category is especially key so it’s well worth periodically reviewing your selection to ensure it’s still the most relevant. Your business description should also be engaging and use keywords sensibly to help with your ranking. - Elements are displayed in the local search results
When a user searches for your business on Google, the info you provide on your Google My Business listing can be used to create a knowledge box showing additional information about your business. Not only does this mean your brand takes up more of the search results page real estate, it also allows you to showcase important information such as your contact phone number, location, hours of operation and even images directly on the search results.
This type of rich detail is powered by Google My Business. If you want to benefit from this kind of additional exposure, your Google My Business profile needs to be fully filled out and up-to-date. - It can be used to build additional reviews
The importance of reviews is impossible to overstate- they are themselves a ranking factor and they also directly influence how new customers perceive you before you’re even aware of that person’s interest. Reviews also dictate whether someone uses your business or goes to a competitor, with nearly 8 in 10 consumers trusting online reviews as much as personal recommendations according to the latest research from BrightLocal.
Google Reviews are especially important, given they can influence your Google ranking specifically and they can led to the search user calling you, visiting your place of business or shopping with you online. - You can showcase your products and services
Google created Google My Business specifically to provide more information about local businesses, meaning it is packed full of features to showcase your brand and its products and services. You can upload images and videos, provide details of brands you stock and create special offers, events and share updates, all from your Google My Business listing. This is an important avenue and another opportunity to win over search users.
