Claiming and verifying your Google My Business (GMB) for your local business is an essential part of your local SEO strategy. A GMB listing improves the likelihood that your business will show up on organic rankings, Google Maps, Google's Local Finder and Google's Local Pack.
Moreover, the listing lets you display your company’s name, address, contacts, business hours, and payment methods. Start by completing providing all the required information about your company. Thereafter, take advantage of the GMB features to optimize your listing.
Google My Business Posts
Your posts on GMB are like a cross between a social media post and an ad. When someone searches your business name, these posts appear in the Knowledge Panel of your GMB listing. They also appear on Google Maps.
To create a post, select the Posts option on the left-hand side of your GMB dashboard. You can optimize your post by adding an image, link or call-to-action (CTA).
Here are some options for what to post.
· Create an event post for events like webinars, barbeques and so on. Make sure you include the date, time and a link to a page where someone can register for the event.
· Create a post for a sale event.
· Create a post about your latest blog post. Make sure the post links to the blog posts and includes a brief description.
· Create a post about a new product. Include a picture, link and CTA.
· Create a holiday message to uplift potential customers during the holiday season.
These are just a few examples of posts. It's not an exhaustive list.
When choosing an image for a post, keep in mind that Google Maps sometimes cuts off the post image. Find out how the image renders on the mobile and desktop version of Google Maps and the Knowledge Panel.
You can further optimize your post and make it more fun by using relevant emojis. Google factors emojis into its indexing. More young people use emojis in their searches, especially on mobile devices.
For instance, if your pizza restaurant includes a pizza emoji 🍕in its GMB listing (e.g., in a post about a new pizza recipe your restaurant now uses), your pizza restaurant will be among the search results when someone searches for “nearby 🍕”. This gives you an SEO advantage over your competitors.
If you use Windows, you can add emojis by holding down the Windows key and pressing the period (.). One emoji should be enough. Avoid overdoing the emojis because it may seem unprofessional. Remember to create posts often as they may improve your visibility, especially on mobile, where posts appear prominently.
Booking button feature
The Booking button feature on GMB can set your business apart from its competitors. If you provide your services on an appointment basis using scheduling software, your GMB listing lets people directly book an appointment with your business.
This feature makes it easy to get new customers because someone viewing your GMB listing can book an appointment without leaving the page. If your GMB account uses one of the scheduling service providers that Google supports, your GMB listing automatically includes.
Messaging
GMB enables you to receive text messages from current and potential customers. This feature enables you to immediately connect with people who are interested in your products or services. You can also use the feature to effectively engage with people who view your listing. This engagement improves your SEO as Google factors it in its rankings.
To use the feature, start by clicking Messaging on your GMB dashboard. You can compose a message that people will receive in response to a message they send you.
If you prefer not to receive messages on your personal number, download the Allo app by Google. Use the same number on your GMB account to set up your Allo account. Now when customers send you a message, it goes to your inbox in Allo rather than your personal text inbox. The app effectively separates personal and business messages.
Questions & Answers
GMB’s Questions & Answers feature helps your local SEO. As the name suggests, the feature enables you to answer people’s questions that relate to your business. According to one study, 25% of Google Maps locations have unanswered questions.
When you search your business on mobile devices, the Google Maps app on Android lets you view, answer and ask questions. You can use the feature by installing the Google Maps app and using your email address to sign in to your GMB listing.
Be proactive and create a list of frequently asked questions that answer questions people might have about your business. Your customer service reps and salespeople know what your customers ask often. Include these questions and their answers in your GMB "Questions & Answers" section.
Upvote the most common and relevant questions to increase their prominence. Keep in mind that anyone can answer the question, so monitor the sections to ensure answers that other users provide are appropriate.
If a user abuses the feature, reach out to GMB support forums.
Photos and videos
Add photos of your business to your GMB listing to humanize your brand and show your brand personality. GMB also lets customers add photos to your listing. The mobile app makes it easy to post photos. Simply take a photo, open your phone’s Gallery app, select the photos you want to upload to your listing, and share them to the app to complete the upload. You can also grab customers’ attention with a 30-second clip of your business.
Get more out of your GMB listing
Google constantly monitors how GMB listing owners and Google searchers engage with the listing. Frequent engagement improves your local SEO, so update your listing often to optimize it. When GMB introduces a new feature, familiarize yourself with it and maximize its benefits. If you manage multiple listings, Google’s API v4.1 makes it easy to add Offer Posts and GMB descriptions.
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