10 tips to optimize Google Business Profile to get high ranks in search results
Google Business Profile (GBP), formerly known as Google My Business, plays a key role in enhancing the appearance of a business website in search engines. Many online businesses focus only on SEO to improve their website rankings with high success rates. However, they should follow some strategies to optimize their Google Business Profile effectively that help experience better results. This, in turn, allows potential customers to discover and engage with a business in the SERP. Another thing about optimizing GBP is that it shows methods to increase the online presence and reputation without having to pay for the ads.
How to optimize the Google Business Profile?
- Filling out the business information properly
A business should consider filling out the details properly to get approved by Google, and having a complete profile provides ways to rank higher in local search results. It should fill in the details on key sections in the place of a customer to get the desired outcomes. While filling out details, a business should make sure that it provides the correct and accurate information to customers while promoting a brand or service.
- Crafting an engaging and keyword-friendly business description
Most customers view the description of a business when it pops up on Google search. Hence, businesses should create a compelling and accurate GBP description that is relevant to their target audience. It is wise to mention key information in the first 250 characters and include keywords people would use to find a business. Including specific keywords for a business and industry can help rank higher on search engines. A business should search for the right phrases that will boost the profile visibility.
- Selecting the right category for a business
A majority of customers search for the business profile when they want to know more about the details. Therefore, a business should locate itself in the correct category that will help reach more customers. Choosing the most appropriate option for a business provides ways to get the desired outcomes.
If a business has more than one category, then it can add additional ones, but selecting the general one as the primary category will result in optimal results. Google makes a profile more attractive and effective by highlighting category-specific features. For instance, a hair salon can confirm that it has enough experience with thin or curly hair services.
- Adding high-quality photos
Pictures or photos speak more than words, and a business should add high-quality photos to create the best impressions on customers. High-quality photos add more value to a business, thereby showing methods to build reputation in the market. Apart from that, they help a business to rank well in search engine algorithms that will enhance the online presence.
A company should add at least one or two photos in a week to increase engagement. The photos or images should best represent the brand of a company to increase sales. Posting high-quality images that have clear depictions enables a business to ensure more advantages.
- Displaying the most important attributes
GBP allows business owners to find specific features, services, and other things while searching for a product. Adding or displaying the most important attributes lets a business get high visibility in specific searches. Some common attributes include amenities, accessibility, payments, activities, payments, etc.
- Asking customers to submit reviews
A business should ask its customers to leave reviews because they provide a means to increase sales. It should make the review process simple by including a link in the post-appointment follow-up or a URL in the receipts. The next step is that a business should respond to reviews posted by customers immediately. Thanking customers for positive reviews will enhance trust and build a reputation in the market. However, it is wise to handle negative or bad reviews with professionalism.
- Enabling Google Q&A list
The most underrated feature in GBP is the Questions & Answers section, and a business should turn on it to get the desired results. Creating a Q&A section with the right keywords can help improve the business profile’s ranking. The FAQs section on a profile provides methods to ensure high visibility in searches.
- Setting up a messaging feature via GBP
A business should consider setting up a messaging feature in GBP that allows customers to send a text directly to a sales team. Since 80% of customers use smartphones for local searches, having a messaging feature gives ways to connect with them easily. At the same time, a business should enable alerts for receiving customer messages in the GBP dashboard.
- Adding products and services
Adding products and services allows a business to rank highly in Google searches, which gives ways to impress customers effectively. An online business should include the name, address, costs, and description while adding products and services. A description should mention the features to users with the right keywords and not more than 1,000 characters. Including a link to a product page on a website and an image will also help increase visibility in Google searches.
- Maintaining a Google Business Profile with solid strategies
GBP is the best local marketing tool that requires ongoing actions to enhance the online presence. Updating the details, uploading photos, and publishing posts will do major wonders for a business. Like any Google strategy, a Google business strategy should cover as much as quality information to customers. An active profile including social media accounts allows a business to get high visibility in local search results. A business can post updates that appear below the reviews in the “business section,” which helps keep a profile current.
Conclusion
Optimizing Google Business Profile provides methods to get a better visibility in search engines. A business should ensure that its profile is complete and accurate to reach more customers quickly. At the same time, it should know how to optimize GBP in several ways that will help achieve goals with high success rates. Aside from that, it makes a business reach great heights in Google searches to stay ahead in the market.
