In the early days, having a recognizable sign for your story was important to bring in customers. In the modern-day, the internet has quickly become the customer’s thoroughfare, and your businesses’ online presence is the new shopfront.
With easy internet accessibility in the hands of almost every customer, it’s no surprise that a missing Google My Business profile is as devastating as an empty salesfloor or a peeling sign. But trying to get started on Google My Business can be intimidating, especially when faced with the sometimes complicated nature of SEO (search engine optimization). Let’s break down some of the basics to help you bring your business’s online presence to new heights.
First, you need to set up your own Google My Business profile and get it verified as soon as possible. Not only does this give your customers a reliable platform to learn more about your business, but it can also help prevent other people from pretending to represent you and your business.
When making your profile, make sure to use the correct title for your business, as well as any streets, positions available, and of course, hours for brick-and-mortar storefronts. Nothing drives away potential customers like missing website links or unclear addresses, and a title typo can cause your SEO values to tank, making maintaining your online presence that much harder.
Every business owner on Google My Business dreams of getting into the Google 3-Pack. While this sounds like a slightly disappointing beverage option, it references the number of search options Google automatically shows customers when they search for a specific business in your area. Getting into the 3-Pack not only increases your reliability in the eyes of your clients but also helps drive more traffic to your business. Keeping your information up-to-date, providing relevant information on your websites and profiles, and increasing your website’s (and social media profiles’) SEO score can all help you get on the fabled Google 3-Pack.
One thing to keep in mind is that Google My Business removes most business posts after 7 days, meaning you should keep a weekly (or even twice-a-week) post schedule to interact with potential customers, post ongoing deals, and prove to the various algorithms that your business is worth directing customers toward. While this may seem overwhelming, setting aside just 15 minutes toward building your business’s online reputation a couple of times a week can help bring in fantastic results.
To find out more about how Google My Business can benefit your business’s SEO presence, or for more tips and tricks about growing your online presence, check out some of our other helpful articles below.
Getting your business listing correctly on all search engines shouldn’t be an afterthought – the businesses that succeed will be the ones that make it integral to their strategy from the start. If you need help in ensuring your business is listed correctly then please call us on 01392 241653 or contact us through the website here for a no-obligation conversation.
Local Search Engine Optimisation