Create your from the business description
The first thing to consider is that the summary description displayed underneath your business name in the Google Business profile is managed and created by the search engine itself. This is the editorial description that Google’s algorithm makes to maintain consistency throughout the platform.
Now, this may seem like a spanner in the works for your SEO efforts but don’t fret. Google does an accurate job of creating business descriptions.
However, you do have access to and editorial rights to the from the business section in the Google My Business account dashboard. The from the business section appears further down in the profile, usually below the reviews area.
How do I optimize the from the business section of my Google Business account? Ben Givon suggests that you:
- Make use of all 750 characters, with the most critical information and main keywords present in the first half of the description.
- Reuse information from the About Us section.
- Ensure that you use relevant and engaging keywords that are related to both your niche and business offering; that way, your site will show up when your target audience is browsing with keyword search terms matching your business.
- Avoid repeating unnecessary information that may already be present in other areas of your Google My Business account. Use the from the business section to inform your target audience what separates you from your competition. And why consumers can find value in your business offering.
- Avoid adding links and other HTML code.
Pick a category
Get found from discovery searches. An incredible 84% of views of Business Profiles on Google start from discovery searches. (which means the shopper searched for an item, product, or service and that business’ profile showed up.) Versus just 16% originating from direct search terms (the buyer actively searched for the business address or name). This is particularly true for companies whose name doesn’t represent their service or business offering.
Emphasize category-specific factors. When you pick a category, Google gives you a choice of category-specific factors that can help make your Google My Business profile more engaging and relevant for users that search for related keyword search terms. For instance, cafeterias can incorporate a menu or order online button; These category-specific features can help your My Business profile stand out against the vast pool of competitors.
Google only offers a limited number of categories, so you must pick the most relevant ones. Let us have a quick look at how you could optimize your Google My Business profile.
Get straight to the point.
If your business is a coffee shop, pick ‘Coffeeshop’ instead of just ‘coffee’ or ‘shop’. A drop-down list of options usually presents itself as soon as you begin typing. For a more comprehensive list, you could take a look at an exhaustive list by pixelcutlabs.com. Research which category would be best suited for your business offering and brand offering both value and relevance to your target audience.
Pick supporting categories.
Most organizations fall into various categories. Set your main category to your main offering (for instance, “Coffee Shop”). Afterward pick different categories that are relevant, for example, “Coffee Delivery Service.”
Avoid overstepping the mark. For Google to link your business with relevant customers, pick categories suitable to your niche. For instance, a car repair shop, should choose “Car Repair” not “Car parts supplier”. The categories section is different from the products and features section, do not mix them up.
At times, Google can request you to confirm your business when you update or revise your category list. This is Google’s way of maintaining relevance across its platform.
Include images
Adding images to your Google My Business Profile via your Google My Business account dashboard is crucial for the following reasons:
- By uploading your own images, you can make sure that your Business Profile looks as professional as possible.
- By regularly uploading images to your Business Profile, you let Google’s algorithms know that you are continually updating your account with relevant content.
- Google suggests that: “Your listing is a great place to showcase the photos that capture your business. Businesses with photos are more likely to receive requests for driving directions to their location and clicks through to their websites, than businesses that don’t have photos.”
Google reviews
Google understands that social proof and reviews have a significant impact on the buyer’s journey. This is why it is such an essential criterion when it comes to its ranking on its SERPs. For most Google searches, the top three local results presented have the most positive reviews with high star ratings. Otherwise called the Local three-pack, .
Similarly, Google can also rank and show a Business Profile in SERPs if it has reviews that include relevant keywords.
How do I use reviews to boost my Google My Business Profile?
- Begin with your existing clients to get the ball rolling.
- Reach out to your audience through email, SMS, social media platforms, asking them to fill out short reviews or surveys. These could be about how they would describe their experiences with your brand.
- Add a section on your site where both potential and existing consumers can easily add reviews.
- Reply to reviews; By responding to customers’ feedback, not only do you boost your local search engine optimization, but also build brand awareness.
Upload content to your Google Business Profile
In the same way that you can post content on social media platforms, you can also upload content to your Google Business Profile in the form of essential updates, events, special offers and promotions, new products and services. Posts can be made in the dashboard section of the Google Business Profile and will display on the Updates area. Furthermore, each post could become more visible depending on its popularity and on the keyword search terms.
How do posts support Google Business Profiles?
- By regularly posting on your Google Business Profile, consumers are more likely to engage with your business than a Business Profile that occasionally posts now and then.
- Regular posting is also a key metric used by Google’s algorithms when ranking sites for placements on its SERPs.
- Generally speaking, consumers have more intent when browsing on Google than social media platforms, which means that potential customers are more likely to interact with your posts on Google.
- Users can follow your Google Business Profile and receive notifications every time you upload a new post or update your information.
Questions and answers section
The questions and answers section can greatly influence the buyer’s journey and help consumers choose your business over other competitors. Keep keywords in mind when responding to content on the questions and answers section so that you can maintain both relevance and accurate information that will benefit both the consumers and Google’s algorithms.
Bottom line
Optimizing your Google My Business Profile needs to be based on offer as much relevant information about what your business has to offer. It is impossible to know all of the metrics that Google’s algorithms use to rank a site on its results pages, but we understand Google’s main aim: to display users with the most relevant content that matches their keyword search terms.
Follow these simple yet useful tips from Ben Givon to optimize your Google My Business Profile to represent your business offering and brand as accurately and effectively. And then, watch your engagement and conversion rates, ROI, and Quality Score all increase.
