The Importance of Google My Business In Local Search
Krystal Manrique • Feb 06, 2019
Google My Business Optimization
Technology has changed the way businesses are handling their operations in this era, and one of the creative ways is through the use of platforms such as Google My BusinessProfile, to make your business show up on google maps. It's no doubt that you have seen some of the businesses on Google maps, and you get to wonder why you can see some and not others. The secret behind this feature lies behind Google My Business, which is why using the platform is an important decision to make as a business owner.
Local searches with Google My Business
As a small business owner, your dream is to get easily located by your potential clients, while also getting a rating from your customers. The best way to achieve this is by using Google My Business, which easily connects you to your customers, whether they are looking for your business on Google Maps, Search, or Google+. The platform, which is also known as Google Places, is the easiest way for your customers to access information related to your business such as the hours of operation, direction, and even contact information. Google My Business works better for local searches, where someone adds a location to the search item. The best thing about Google My Business is that it's free to set up, and goes a long way in ensuring that your business appears in local search results for queries that are related to the services or products you sell.
How Google My Business works
When a customer searches for the products or services that you offer, what happens is that the local listings will come up first. In most cases, these dominate listings will be accompanied by markers along with addresses and phone numbers that belong to those businesses.Other than that, Google will display a map that includes all the businesses that are present in the actual list. This way, your customers will be able to locate you faster and know more about your business.
Referencing from Local Directories
One thing you need to note is that Google gets information from local directories that it trusts, and then uses such information in its search results algorithm to determine the results which will dominate. Some of these directories include Citysearch, Yelp, and even smaller sites that are of a high quality. When Google finds you in these other directory sites, then they will conclude that you are an active member of the local community, and this will be an advantage to your business. This means that creating a listing on the directories that are related to your business is an essential thing to do if you want to be more successful. When creating such listings, once strategy to take into consideration is that the business information across all these directories should be exactly similar. You need to include details of the business name, address, phone number, and other related information that will help your clients get to know more about the business. By doing so, Google can be assured of your business's consistency and stableness across all platforms.
Google My Business Optimization
The website that you use for your business activities may be well optimized, but you still need to acknowledge that the main use of Google Local Search results is to help users find the businesses that are near them more easily. Most of the time, being closer to the customers searching for your services or products means that get the most out of Google's Local Search Algorithm. Just like the way you optimize your website's content, you could also do the same for the information you use on Google My Business. Maintaining consistent information on this platform and also on third party directory listings indicates that your business is more reputable, and this is so important when it comes to search engine rankings as well as traffic. Optimizing your Google My Business page is vital at this point, and in the future, not only for raising your rankings but also for helping your clients connect with you better. By seeing your business hours, directions to your place, business contact details, reviews and ratings from customers, and other details about your business, clients will feel like they connect better with your business.
Make maximum use of Google My Business
While you may think that Google My business is not as important as it seems as far as search engine results are concerned, you don't want to ignore the importance of this platform in ensuring that local customers can easily find you. Take a moment and think of it. What does Search Engine Optimization do? Of course, it helps you rank higher in Search Engine Results so that you can get more customers. Why then, will you say that Google My Business isn't equally important? Don't listen to the self-proclaimed "marketing experts" who preach the gospel of Google+ and GMB extinction. Google My Business is the best tool that you can ever use a local business owner to ensure that your business soars to greater heights.
Whether you need help with your current Google My Business listing or need a brand new listing, DMEI can assist in the process. Our team of experts
work together with you to optimize and promote your business the way it should be. To schedule an appointment with one of our marketing consultants click here.
