In 2023, it’s not a stretch to assume that many—if not most—of your customers are finding you via Google Search. And one of the first touchpoints is likely your Google My Business listing. You can invest in all the search engine optimization services you want, but if your GMB listing isn’t updated, you could be letting customers slip through the cracks. Below, you’ll find a breakdown of the five most important considerations for optimizing your Google My Business listing.
- Keep Your Business Info Up-to-Date
First and foremost, ensure that all the information in your GMB listing is accurate and up-to-date. Include your business name exactly as it appears on your signage, and check that your address, phone number, website, and hours of operation stay updated. If you have an active social media presence, link your social profiles so your customers can follow you.
Depending on your business, you may also choose to include information such as products and pricing, services offered, or menus. Providing as much info as possible can help influence potential customers to engage with your business. As a rule of thumb, your GMB listing should answer as many questions as possible. So if you often receive a number of similar inquiries each day or week, consider adding the answers to your listing.
- Take Advantage of Your “From the Business” Section
The “From the Business” section on your listing is a valuable opportunity to share information about your business and engage with potential customers. Here are some tips for making the most of this section:
- Provide a brief overview of your business: What do you offer customers? How long have you been in business? Give potential customers the 10,000 foot view.
- Highlight your unique selling points: What sets you apart from your competitors? Think about why a customer should choose to patronize your business.
- Include a call to action: How should customers engage with you? This could mean reserving a table, booking an appointment, or visiting your website.
- Use keywords: Your “From the Business” section is a local SEO powerhouse. This is a great place to sneak in some keywords to help users find you.
- Keep it updated: Revisit your GMB listing every quarter or so and incorporate any new information about your products or services.
- Assign Specific Categories
Make sure your business category is accurate and specific. When people search for businesses, they generally have some idea of what exactly they want. For example, a user who searches “restaurants” probably knows whether they’re in the mood for a taco truck or fine dining experience.
Choose the most appropriate category for your business, and avoid selecting overly broad or generic categories. For example, a restaurant may opt for “American restaurant” or “Japanese restaurant” over “restaurant.” Using narrower categories can help improve your visibility in Google search results and ensure your customers understand what your business offers.
- Use High-Quality Photos
Quality photos can make a huge difference to customers. In one survey, 60% of customers reported that they were more likely to consider a business if their photos appeared in local search results. While user-generated photos may eventually do the marketing work for you, you can use your GMB listing to showcase your business, products, and services through well-lit, professional photographs.
If you would prefer not to hire a professional photographer, get crafty with your smartphone and spruce up your pics using an image editor. Not only can you use these shots on your GMB listing, you can also keep them on hand for social media advertising, content marketing, and more. Never underestimate the power of visual marketing!
- Encourage Positive Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are a major consideration for many customers. The best way to encourage positive reviews is simply by offering a praiseworthy experience—in addition to offering great products or services, think about how you can “wow” your customers with a personal touch or white glove experience. For example, a hair salon may offer customers a coffee or tea upon arrival to help make it a memorable experience.
If you’re confident a customer is pleased with your service, there’s no harm in asking for a customer review. Many people understand the importance of customer reviews for small businesses like yours, and they may be willing to help you out with a kind word!
Final Thoughts
Your Google My Business listing is a powerful tool for keeping customers coming through the doors. By keeping it updated with new information, quality pictures, and glowing customer reviews, you can dominate your local search results and stay ahead of the competition.
If you need help optimizing your GMB listing, a Charlotte SEO company like Wedgewood Marketing can help. Wedgewood Marketing is a data-driven digital marketing firm dedicated to helping Charlotte businesses like yours thrive. Contact us today for a free digital marketing plan!
