Every business owner with an online presence strives for one thing: visibility. The more visible your business is, the easier it is to reach your target customers. That’s why local SEO is so important. It increases your online search visibility so nearby searchers can find your business quickly.

However, it also requires you to use strategies that boost your ranking on the result page. One such strategy is optimizing Google Business Profile (GBP).

You’re in the right place if you’re wondering what GBP is and how to optimize it. In this article, we’ll discuss Google Business Profile and how you can use it to boost your ranking on search engines.

What Is Google Business Profile?

Google Business Profile (formerly called Google My Business) is a go-to digital tool created by Google. With this tool, Google helps you create a company profile for your business. It does this to help your business appear in Google searches and reach potential customers.

To create a Google Business Profile, you must provide vital information about your business. This includes your business name, address, customer reviews, the hours you operate, etc.

These details act as a business listing. Google uses them to increase your business’ visibility. This can, in turn, result in more traffic, leads, and sales. What’s more, it puts your business on the Google map.

This makes it easier for your customers or potential customers to find you. But beyond that, Google Business Profile optimization helps them get relevant information about your business and communicate with you.

You can show off your business’ best features using Google Business Profile. And guess what? These services are available for free!

It’s, however, important to note that you can only enjoy these benefits if your Google Business Profile listing is complete and well-optimized. You’ll only see a quick boost in your local ranking if you make the best and most effective use of GBP’s features. So, how can you do that?

How To Optimize Your Google Business Profile

There are many ways to optimize GBP for SEO. Also, because it has many aspects, the process can be complex. As such, we’ve put together some simple and practical tips to help you make the process seamless.

#1. Optimize Your Website

The first thing to do is to ensure that you optimize your website. Build a website that allows for mobile-friendliness and speed. A low-quality website will rank poorly on the search engine.

#2. Claim Your Google Business Profile

There are two ways to get a Google Business Profile. You can create a profile or claim one that Google automatically starts up for you.

#3. Complete Your Profile With Your Business Info

Once that’s done, apply your current and accurate business name. This name should match the other info you provide in sources like your website, social media profiles and storefront signage. Make sure that the info you provide is correct to avoid a misrepresentation.

While setting up your profile, be sure to include details like:

  • A description of your business
  • Your business opening hours
  • Reviews from customers
  • A Question & Answer page
  • Posts, including videos and photos
  • Bookings and appointments

Take full advantage of the features above. Also, ensure that everything is accurate and up-to-date. From time to time, you can update your services, posts and descriptions when necessary.

You can also include details like keywords and service areas to improve your local SEO rankings.

#4. Be As Specific As Possible

While setting up your Google Business Profile, ensure that you highlight all category-specific features of your business. In simple terms, make sure to choose a category for your business. Doing this increases your chances of getting found in discovery searches.

You can also highlight any area of specialization that you may have in your business. That way, your site will rank higher for users looking for your specific product or service.

#5. Add Products and Services

Adding your products and services is critical to making your business rank. Also, include your product or service in your business name.

Moreover, make your offerings clear when adding your products and services. You can include the product’s name, description, and price. That way, when users click on the product, they’ll see the full description.

#6. Engage with Customers

Another crucial aspect of optimizing your Google Business Profile is responding to reviews. Responding to reviews, good or bad, helps you connect with customers and shows you’re present.

Bottom Line

Currently, there are about 167 billion searches performed on Google monthly. Local SEO, especially Google Business Profile Optimization, is a vital business marketing strategy.