What is Google My Business Services (GMB)?

Google My Business Services (GMB) has now been rebranded as Google Business Profile. Google Business Profile is a free tool provided by Google that enables companies and organizations to manage their web presence through Google, which includes Search and Maps.

It assists local businesses in attracting new customers by providing important business details like addresses, telephone numbers, websites, operating hours, and reviews.

The idea is to make it simpler for customers who are interested in your services to locate relevant information and get in touch with you.

Why is Google My Business Services Important for Local SEO?

(GMB) Google My Business Services is crucial for local SEO since it directly influences how your business will appear within local searches. A well-optimized Google Business Profile improves visibility for searches such as “plumber near me” or “best coffee shop in [city].”

This also helps to increase your listing on Google’s Local 3-Pack, the set of three local businesses that appear on the first page of result pages when the local query is performed.

If properly managed, the Google Business Profile you have created can:

Increase the visibility of local searches and the results.
Increase the number of clicks to your site.
Get more foot traffic to your site.
Increase customer confidence through feedback and involvement.

Key Features of Google My Business Services

Business Information: Add information such as business name, address, telephone number (NAP), category, and your website URL.
Videos and Photos: Display the products, services, exterior and interior of your business, as well as team members.
Posts: Discuss updates, announcements, news, offers, and other information to keep customers updated.
Customer Reviews: Respond to and manage reviews from customers, helping to establish credibility.
Q&A Section: Respond to frequently asked questions through your profile.
Insights: Examine user behaviour to learn how users interact with your account.
Attributes: Highlight specific attributes like accessibility for wheelchairs, Free Wi-Fi, etc.

How to Use Google My Business Services for Local SEO

Set Up and Claim Your Business Profile

Go to Google Business Profile.
Log in with your Google account and input your company name.
Follow the screen-based instructions to confirm your business’s identity by phone, email, or postal mail.

Optimize Business Information

Check for NAP Consistency: Your Name, Address, Phone, and number must be consistent on your website and in other listings.
Choose the Best Categories: Choose the exact principal category to suit your company and add additional categories as required.
Include Business Hours in the Schedule: Update the hours of operation, particularly during the holiday season.
Create a compelling description: Include a powerful keyword-rich business description that informs users about your products and services.

Leverage Google Posts

Post regular updates, promotions and other events via Google Posts.
Utilize high-quality images and captivating text to entice users.

Encourage and Manage Reviews

Encourage your customers to write comments to the profile of your GMB profile.
Respond to each review, no matter how favorable or not. Thank your customers for positive feedback and address any issues raised in negative reviews.

Add Photos and Videos Regularly

Include professional images of your business’s location, employees, products, and staff.
Include videos to create virtual tours or to highlight special events.
Companies with pictures receive 42% percent more requests for directions and 35% percent more click-throughs to their websites.

Use the Q&A Section

Be proactive in adding frequently asked questions and provide thorough solutions.
Respond to customer inquiries promptly.

Monitor and Utilize Insights

Utilize GMB’s Insights feature to see how your customers are engaging with your profile.

Review metrics such as:

How do customers find your business: Direct vs. search results.
Customer Actions: It includes calls or clicks, as well as direction requests.
Views of your photo: Check out your photos’ engagement with those of your competitors.

Implement Location-Based Keywords

Include keywords that are based on location in your business’s description as well as in your blog posts and web page content.

Create a Google Maps Embed on Your Website

Integrating Google Maps on your site will further strengthen your locally-focused SEO efforts and increase the visibility of local searches.

Stay Active and Update Regularly

Make sure to regularly update your profile to reflect any new services or changes to the hours of operation.
A well-maintained profile tells Google that your company is reliable and active, which increases your chances of getting higher rankings.

Best Methods to Local SEO with Google My Business Services

Focus on Your Primary Category: Your primary business category is among the most powerful ranking indicators. Make sure that it’s correct and pertinent.
Maintain NAP Consistency: Your company’s name, address, and telephone number across all of your online listings.
Make use of high-quality images: Regularly refresh pictures that professionally portray your business.
Collect Reviews: Consistently, the Quality and quantity of reviews have a significant impact on your ranking.
Google My Business Posts: To Advertise special events, offers, and announcements with posts.

Conclusion

Google My Business Services is an effective tool for businesses looking to draw more local customers. By enhancing your profile, ensuring consistency, and being active, you will be able to significantly improve the local SEO rankings and generate more traffic offline and online.

Smartly utilizing Google My Business Services can turn local search results into actual-world visits, leading to higher revenue and growth of your business.