How to Set Up and Optimize a Google Business Profile for Local SEO

Creating a Google Business profile, will increase your business's visibility and increase the chances of it appearing in Google Search, Google Maps, and other Google services. It gives you a competitive advantage to manage your online presence and attract customers searching for your business.

It is a free tool to display your business information, hours, and contact information across local search results. Here's an example of a Google Business Profile appearing in a search for "Brasserie Blanc Leeds."

It is easy to set up! If you want to know more, this article will guide you on how to set up and optimize Google Business Profile for your local SEO.

How to Set Up a Google My Business Account

1. The first step is creating a Google Business Account by visiting the Homepage, which is where you can manage your business listing.

2. You can start by signing in to your Gmail account. Using a professional email address that includes your business name is better.

3. Once signed in, you'll have the option to add your business to Google.

4. To avoid duplicate listings, type your business name on Google. If one already exists, you can claim the business by requesting ownership.

5. Add a business Name and Category that represent your business and make sure to keep it consistent across all platforms.

6. Add Location and Service Areas, ensure the address is the same on every platform, such as on the Contact page of the business website.

However, if your business doesn't have a physical store, it will be considered a Service Area Business (SAB). In that case, specify your service areas that will appear on the listing based on the city, postal code, or region.

7. Add Contact Details to help customers reach you quickly, include your business phone number.

8. Add Business Hours to shows the regular opening hours on the Google My Business listing and to inform potential customers when you are available to contact.

9. Add a Business Description to attract potential customers. Don't include URLs or HTML code, and avoid exceeding 750 characters.

10. Last, add Photos of Your Business to make the listing eye-catching. For example, the storefront, products, and street view. Moreover, it helps people to easily recognize your business and build customer trust

How to Optimize Business Google Account

Once you are done setting up the account, you need to take the next steps to optimize your Google Business to rank higher in local searches and show up in the local pack. Here are the tips!

1. Stay Up To Date

Ensuring the information stays accurate and up to date is essential. That's why you need to regularly look at your business information to see if anything has changed.

For instance, check your business name, address, phone number, description, and opening hours. Ensure that everything is consistent with the information on local web directories and your local business website.

2. Pick the Most Relevant Categories

When picking a category, you can choose one primary and nine secondary ones. Make sure the categories that you select are relevant as considered ranking factors for Google's local pack.

There are 4,000 categories available for every industry. Understand the options and be strategic to find the right categories for your business. Remember to consider the search volume and local competitors as the most important factors.

3. Add Your Products and Services

Adding products and services will help improve visibility. So, your potential customers will know what you're offering, and the listing will stand out from competitors.

Note that Google doesn't allow users to add regulated products or services to a listing. This includes tobacco, gambling services, health or medical devices, financial services, alcohol, and unapproved supplements.

4. Use The Product Catalog

Show your product catalog directly on your profile to attract prospective customers' attention. Google provides a products tab where customers can:

• Select product categories.
• Expand on product cards for more details.
• Call the business owner.
• Click a button or link to order online.

5. Use Special Attributes

Special attributes such as takeout, dine-in, outside food allowed, or delivery, help to increase your company's chance to rank for queries related to these attributes. Depending on your chosen business category, you can add various special attributes to help the profile stand out. You can even highlight women-owned businesses in newer updates of Google Business.

6. Answer Client Questions

Sometimes, potential customers want to find accurate information. That's why we suggest you to adding the Q&A section in your listing, where anyone can post answers to available questions.

Often, Google will provide auto-generated answers for recurring questions based on past responses or content from customer reviews. Questions and answers that get the most likes will appear higher. This way will enhance the customer experience.

7. Respond to Reviews

Monitoring and responding to your Google Reviews are crucial. Positive reviews are important social proof to establish credibility and convince potential customers of the quality of your business.

Furthermore, by responding to reviews, you show customers that you value their input and care about their experience. It's good to respond in a clear, helpful, and friendly way.

If you get a bad review, make sure to keep responding to it carefully and think that it is an excellent opportunity to offer compensation and get the customer to revise their testimonial.

Conclusion

A well-optimized Google Business Profile can significantly improve your local SEO, helping you attract more customers and stand out in your community. So, setting up your profile properly to get a better chance of ranking higher in search results.

Also, remember, that local SEO is an ongoing effort, and keep optimizing to track your performance and ensure continuous growth.