How Optimizing Google My Business Can Improve Your Local SEO

A lot of businesses today are now seeing the value of SEO and how it improves their visibility on the internet. This allows them to get leads that would be interested in their products and services, some of which would be converted into sales. A business with a solid SEO and linkbuilding strategy greatly benefits from this system.

For local business, it is important that you will be able to track your local SEO, as it would help more people near your area know about your business. One of the best ways to do so is by using Google My Business, as it can help you get spotted on Google Maps, and allow people to give their reviews as well. This is an effective tool that would give your businesses visibility and customer input, which is why optimizing it would be beneficial. Here are some ways to do it effectively:

Keep Things Up to Date

One thing that people usually encounter in some businesses that use Google My Business is that some of them are not updated properly. Some of the information, like address, contact details, opening and closing hours, and images are out of date. This is not good for business, as potential customers are not getting the right information.

To keep this from happening, make it a routine to update the information as regularly as possible. This means updating every important piece of information about your business. This includes your address and telephone number (If you have moved), business hours, and your images. Doing this would ensure that people would see that your business is still running and active.

Make use of the “Virtual Tour”

Nowadays, some people would like to have a first-hand impression of what your business would look like by looking at your images. While having images is always a must (as mentioned earlier), you can make it even more interactive by using the virtual tour option. This allows potential customers to be able to take a look what is inside your business by “going around” virtually.

This is helpful for business in a way that they already have an idea of where they are going. More and more businesses have been using this option, and have seen positive results from it. Alternatively, you can also use the Street View on Maps, which can help people find your business.

Google+

One handy feature that Google My Business has is that you can link it up with Google+. You can use Google+ to constantly update your customers on your business, like product promos, company announcements, events, inquiries, and other relevant news. This allows your business to be able to interact with your customers, which helps improve customer trust and reliability if done right.

Listen to your reviews

Reviews are always a subject of a good amount of scrutiny, whether it be positive or negative. With Google My Business, it can come from anyone, from field experts, regular customers, and anyone else in between. Reviews are one way that helps your customers get their concerns straight to you, which is why it is important to respond back.

Customers and experts alike would be appreciative of business responding to their concerns, as it means that they are making an effort to improve or refine themselves, and show that they have good customer service. Always keep in mind to always respond to reviews in a calm and rational manner, whether it be a 5-star review, or a 1-star review. You can also use customer survey results, which is very effective in getting the most information out of your customers. Constructive criticism should always be welcome to ensure growth.

Study your insights

Google My Business shows important customer data through their insights. By using insights, you would be able to see how people came across your business, and how they are looking for it. You can also see how many customers access your business website, and how many times they have viewed your images and virtual tour. This is important data for your SEO strategy, as you can instantly see how well you are doing, and see what new strategies and techniques you can use as well.

Key Takeaway

Having a business in today’s world is a challenge, as you would be always facing a lot of competitors. It is always a great thing to find ways to stand out, and optimizing your Google My Business account would do just that. Through this tool, you would be able give your business the visibility it needs, and help potential customers find you.

If you have questions and inquiries about Local SEO and other SEO-related topics, leave a comment below and let’s talk.