How Google My Business Optimisation
Boosts Your Site Traffic, Brand, and Sales

As a business owner, you’ll want to make sure that it’s easy for customers to find you. One essential online tool to use is Google My Business (GMB). With this, you can list your contact and operational details, reviews, blog posts, and more.

Is Google My Business important?

Aside from presenting essential information, GMB can provide consistent details in Google Search, and Google Maps. If used properly, it can increase your revenue and provide a valuable insight into your customers. 

 How can GMB help people find you?

Studies have shown that 8 out of 10 searches happen on Google. So, out of the 3.5 billion searches that take place every day, 2.8 billion of them are through Google. The challenge is to put your business on the search engine results pages (SERPs). GMB can help ensure your website is listed on the first page.

GMB can help you:

• Control, index and display your essential business information
• Engage your target market and manage your online reviews
• Gather customer photos and videos of your products or services as well as other user-generated content 
• Collect insights from customers visiting your site 

However, you should remember that merely putting the bare minimum on Google My Business and then forgetting about it would be a mistake. If you want your business to make money, consider optimising your GMB.

How will you know if your GMB listing is optimised?

• It contains complete, up-to-date, and accurate information such as:
• Business name
• Address
• Contact number
• Website
• Descriptions of your products or service offers

Such information is listed by Google and this will serve as a basis for your local SEO. Make sure that the information on your GMB is precisely the same as your website. If there are any inconsistencies, this could adversely affect your search ranking.

After completing the necessary details, the next step is to personalise your listing and visualise how it will be presented.

What do customers look for in a business profile?

A photo!…

Studies have shown that GMB profiles that include photos are twice as likely to be considered as reputable and will receive 30% more clicks.

By using GMB, you can post various images including:

• Profile photo
• Cover photo
• Video
• User-generated content

Including content from customers can increase your interactions and boost your business. Besides the photos and videos, you can also incorporate their written experiences.

2. It can generate reviews and feedback (and you should consider responding)

Businesses can thrive, or perhaps die, on the basis of customer reviews. If you receive good reviews, this could increase your sales. Studies have also revealed that almost 9 out of 10 customers read the reviews of local businesses before making a purchase.

If you want to get reviews from your customers, just ask!

Unlike other sites, Google My Business actively encourages reviews. You can make it easier for customers to post their feedback by sending a request via email or text. Once they post a review, make sure you provide a response quickly.

 A Google Post has the following characteristics:

• A single post has a maximum length of 300 words. However, only 60–70 words appear on both desktop and mobile platforms if a CTA button is used
• Without a CTA button, the mobile device will display the entire text 
• Google uses a 4:3 ratio or a minimum dimension of 400×300 pixels for images
• Content that speaks directly and is almost devoid of any industry jargon is more likely to engage and convert leads
• A well-crafted post can help provide your business with reliable insights and metrics

Unfortunately, Google Posts only last for a maximum of one week before they disappear. So, it is important that your posts are timely and very specific.

5. GMB Insights can let you know how customers find you

Google My Business can also benefit your marketing efforts through its various online tools. You can learn:

• If customers found you through a direct or discovery search
• If they found you through Search or Maps
• What actions they take after visiting your site, such as clicking locations, checking photos or calling you
• Where your customers live
• How often and what particular times customers call you

There are two types of searches that customers can use to find your business.

Customers use direct searches because they already know your company name or address. Alternatively, people who are not familiar with your company can find you by using discovery searches.

By figuring out which type of search customers or prospects use, you can understand:

• If they are visiting your site
• If they are requesting directions
• Are they calling you?
• Are they looking at your photos?

Google My Business will help you track your visitors’ activities and allow you to learn more about their online behaviour.

Conclusion

Customers can find your business through various means. However, Google, through its search and listings, is a popular means of enabling people to learn about your website and business. So, it pays to have a digital presence. This is the part where you’ll need the services of qualified SEO experts to optimise your GMB.  They can also boost your local SEO efforts through reviews, posts, and customer engagement strategies.

If you need further help on how to set-up,  manage and optimise your Google my Business, please contact our team and we’ll be happy to give you expert advise.

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