Every business needs marketing. There are many options for marketing your business as the market changes.
A social media presence is a necessity for any business because it allows them to reach potential customers. Social media is used by 4.48 billion people.
Your marketing plan has been created and includes Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest. Your site is being optimized for SEO and your Facebook ads are bringing in new visitors every week. There’s a place you might have overlooked.
Have you visited Google Business Profile (GBP), yet?
GBP is a brand you may not have heard of. A box appears when you type in a Google search for “plumbers near my” or “dentists Maryville”. You will see the address and a photo of the company that matches your search. This is GBP!
Your listing is linked to Google Maps, and will provide a map of your business. It can be included in local searches, which can improve your ranking.
GBP is the right fit for your business?
This platform is not being fully utilized by many businesses. First, a GBP listing can be extremely important as potential customers will only find you through Google. Before you proceed, make sure your business is eligible to be listed. Take a look at which companies are eligible for the listing option:
- Locations for physical business: Customers visit these locations to purchase your products.
- Mobile businesses: These companies go to customers, but also have an office where customers can visit. Ex: AC, heating, plumber services.
- Individual practitioners: They are located in a physical location and offer a service, such as a realtor or lawyer.
- Service area businesses: These businesses are similar to mobile businesses, but they offer service and travel to customers.
This is a great free service that helps with local searches. Now is the time to finish your listing and get found by the right people.
8 Steps to Optimize Your GBP Listing
Google updates its algorithms frequently, but it also updates and adds to Google Business Profile. Local businesses can also add and optimize their listing.
This step-by-step guide will show you how to optimize your GBP listing. You can also use this social media platform to dominate local marketing.
Step 1: Fill out the Key-Information
Your Google Business Profile will reflect your business. It is not enough to create one. It must have all of the details necessary to get people to notice it.
These are the key pieces of information
- Proper business name
- Address
- Telephone number
- Email address
- Website URL
- Hours of operation
These are the first things that your audience will see. They will be skeptical about your business’ authenticity if any of these are missing in the listing. They will then move on to the next listing and take no action.
To get leads and convert, you need to be familiar with the basics.
Step 2: Get Your Listing Verified
After you have created your listing you need to verify it by asking for your verification code. Google will send you a postcard by mail with a code. This is the most common method.
Enter the code from your GBP account to edit any information.
Some businesses can get phone verification. They will be contacted by Google via their business number. Your location should be verified immediately if you have already registered on Google’s Search Console.
That’s it. You’re done!
Step 3: Add keywords
It is best to keep your listing as simple as possible. Think about keywords that people might use to find you. Use your SEO skills. These keywords should be included in your title and description.
For assistance, check the character count.
Step 4: Specify your hours of operation
How often have you seen a business not listing its hours? It can be dangerous for potential clients and more than just frustrating. A single click will take the customer to the next business that includes their hours. Take into account seasonal and holiday hours, and make any necessary updates.
Step 5: Add Photos to Your Posts
A clear and appealing image of your business is another important aspect. The file must be JPG/PNG and should have a size of between 10KB-5MB. Minimum resolution is 720 pixels by 720 pixels
Step 6: Add other visuals
You don’t have to stop at a photo. Add your company logo, additional photos, or even a short video. File size should not exceed 100 MB and the resolution must be 720p or greater. It should not exceed 30 seconds in length.
Step 7: Select the right CTA
Take a look at the many buttons Google offers. You can also add a shortcut that will allow you to send a message or book an appointment. You may also have a button called “Service”, depending on the company. You can also use these keywords to describe the services you offer. To make it easier for people to contact your business, include as many options as possible.
Step 8: Add Q&A Section
Google also has a section for Questions and Answers. Readers have the option to post questions and you can respond.
This is another way for your company’s to stand out. 25% of all locations have unanswered queries. Respond quickly to customers.
Tips to Make Your Listing a Success
Now that I’ve covered the basics of your Google Business Profile listing let’s get started on improving your online presence. Although some of these steps may seem time-consuming, the end result is worth it.
1. Review
Like other sites, you can post reviews to your listing. Begin by reaching out to satisfied customers and asking for their feedback. It may surprise you to learn how many customers agree to write reviews. 68% of customers leave reviews when asked.
Next, create a plan to get more feedback. This could include reaching out to old customers or creating an email address for new customers.
The first step is to get the reviews posted. Next is to respond to them. Thank them for their review. Here you can address any concerns. This interaction can be beneficial for your online reputation.
97% of clients read reviews about local businesses, so don’t miss this chance to connect with your customers.
Leaving customers’ queries unanswered can cost your business dearly! You want to learn how to efficiently manage multiple GBP accounts and answer customer questions?
SocialPilot’s Google Business Profile Inbox feature allows you to view all reviews and questions left by your customers or potential customers. Engage with your audience immediately to build your brand’s reputation.
Start your 14-day trial
2. Posts
One study found that only 17.5% of companies had posted a listing on social media within the past week. Social media is a vast world where 7 days seems like an eternity. GBP, while similar to a social media platform is also available but only for businesses.
Keep your posts current, just as you do on other platforms. You can schedule a time and day when you will update your listing. Post pictures, useful tips or any other information that will be of benefit to your clients.
This can be done using a Google Business Profile scheduling software such as SocialPilot. This tool allows you to create multiple posts and set them up to appear on different dates. These posts can be about Christmas specials or summer sales in June.
Save the posts, then move on to other tasks. You can easily change the dates by using your social media calendar.
SocialPilot’s browser extension allows you to use articles and pictures from customers that they have shared on social media. You can use the extension to schedule and create a post about that content.
Regular posting lets your followers know what you are doing. Your company’s brand is important and social media accounts can help you build loyalty and brand recognition. They are also a cost-effective and easy way to communicate with your clients. If you create useful content that customers love, it will increase your SEO rank.
It can take a lot of time to do this every day. You can free up valuable time by delegating the tasks to a tool which schedules and posts your work.
You can experiment with different types of images, emojis and posts to find the right combination for your customers.
3. Analytics
Although social media marketing is essential, it can be a costly and time-consuming process. You will not realize your full potential if your data isn’t analyzed properly.
This doesn’t have to be difficult. Every social media platform has its own data set, and GBP is no exception. Social media metrics tools such as SocialPilot monitor a range of measures to determine how your listing is performing.
Is your customer more likely to engage with your site than to just click the link? Are they leaving reviews about your competitors’ services? How did they find you first online?
These questions and the answers will help you to understand the customer’s journey. They also help you identify areas where improvements can be made. You can quickly adjust your posts by looking at the Google Business Profile analytics reports from SocialPilot.
Curious? Take a look at this sample Google Business Profile analytics report and see what insights you can get.
An SEO expert, Ben Fisher, analyzed Google Business Profile results from over 2,000 companies.
He summarized his findings by saying that “Google Business Profile (GBP), is one of the best ways to increase a business’s online visibility and local search engine optimization.” Claiming your Google Business Profile if you are a local business is one of the best ways to improve your company’s online visibility.
Conclusion
When used strategically, Google Business Profile can help you gain a lot more customers and clients. It is easy to add your information and then request verification. You can publish your listing once you have received the code.
Your company’s Google Business Profile listing can be improved and your local marketing efforts will succeed by adding photos, keywords, and posts. SocialPilot makes it even simpler by making the scheduling process easier.
You can optimize your GBP listing with just a few steps and spend more time interfacing with customers.
SocialPilot’s first post, How to Optimize Google Business Profile Listings appeared on SocialPilot.
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