Improve your local SEO with Google Business Profile! Google continues to be the biggest driver of local SEO success.

Google My Business changed its brand name to Google Business Profile in November 2021 and it’s one of my favorite social platforms to use. Why? After nearly 10 years in this business, I find that my clients receive more exposure via Google search than they do on any other platform. Google loves Google so use Google Business Profile.

There is no magic way to get noticed online or to rank with search engines. But, an “easy” way exists to get more online exposure. By using GBP you can keep customers up-to-date on your hours of service, your location, special events and offers, and the products you sell, and you can even receive and share Google reviews.

As an example, let’s say that someone types “social media manager near me” in the Google search bar. Because my company uses Google, there’s a good chance that my Google Business Profile listing will appear. Try searching for “jules marine social media manager” and see if I pop up in a Google search. And then, search for yourself!

Here’s a link for how to get started with Google Business Profile.

https://support.google.com/business/answer/6337413?hl=en

When you begin the process, Google will want to “verify” you. You might need to send a video, a business document, or receive a phone call with a code.

Once you claim your page and verify your business listing, you’ll have access to a dashboard that allows you to maintain accurate information in your profile. Once you’ve optimized your profile you’re ready to begin posting. Writing posts on GBP is similar to how you write posts on Facebook. You can include text, photos, graphics, URLs, offers, and events, and it provides you with six calls-to-action to include with your posts—CTA’s like “book now, call now, sign-up”, “learn more”, etc.

Improve your Local SEO with Free Insights

GBP provides free insights to help you determine how your listing is doing. One of my clients (an affordable housing provider in Colorado) receives thousands of impressions on Google every month. Their stats are impressive! Have you ever received 548 visits to your website from a Facebook post? Or have 189 ever called you from an Instagram post? No! Google gets results!

Though I sing the praises of GBP, it is not the only action to take to improve your SEO. Your website content and blog posts should be 100% optimized for search engines. Optimization on your site means using an SEO plugin (I use YOAST SEO) that allows you to include factors that improve your search engine ranking such as keywords or keyword phrases, meta-descriptions, photos, featured images, sub-headings, inbound links, outbound links and so much more!

Improve your local SEO Further!

The three most important ranking factors are relevance, proximity, and prominence

• Relevance—Does your website contain words that someone searching for your product or service is likely to use in their search?
  • I’m currently working with a client that has a home page that doesn’t even remotely suggest what it is he sells—this can be fixed by adding keywords to the homepage and site that users are searching for and for writing clear, concise content on the home page. Cute and clever doesn’t always work–but clear and concise does.
• Proximity—People tend to search for a product or service by locality. Think about how you search—don’t you often add the words “near me” to your search? Be sure to include words on your site that indicate where you are. Also, be sure to include your business address on your website.
• Prominence—What type of activity has your site experienced? Do you include events, offers, local content, community connections, and recent photos? To be prominently featured by a search engine, your site must contain fresh, relevant, compelling content.

Optimize and Improve your Google Business Profile listing

• Once you begin posting to Google, consider how you can optimize your listing further.
• Does your listing include your exact business name?
• Does your category reflect the business you are actually in? (You can use more than one category.)
• Is your profile complete? Each time you sign in, Google will remind you what you need to complete.
• What are your hours? I love using Google to verify the hours of a business so keep your hours accurate.
• Is your phone number listed? There’s no reason to hide it!
• How many photos have you added? You can add up to ten photos to each post; however, you can also use the media upload function to upload dozens at a time. You’ll rank above your competitors if you have more photos than they do—but the photos must speak to what your business is about.
• Ask for Google Reviews and be sure to respond to the ones you receive.

I’d be glad to help optimize your Google Business Profile. Just call 303-478-7863 to schedule an appointment with me.