Having a business card on Google My Business is one of Google’s most important ranking factors because it is often the first point of contact between potential customers and your company. We will explain what is important for creating the Google My Business profile in this post.
People are turning to their cell phones when searching for products and services more and more. Map apps are a good way to find companies in your immediate vicinity. But that’s not the only thing that matters to potential customers; services, prices, and ratings play just as important of a role. For this reason, it is particularly important to have a well-maintained Google My Business profile. This not only makes you “findable”, but also allows you to interact freely with customers. In addition, this point of contact is of course also there to possibly attract new customers.
If you have created a profile at Google My Business, it can be found via Google Search and Google Maps. Info such as business hours, phone number, location(s), and services are shown here. With videos, news, and photos the profile can be further embellished, making it possible for the customer to get an even better impression of your company. The plus side is: this entry is free of charge.
Of course, it is important to ensure that all information is up-to-date and that your media always gives customers an up-to-date impression of your company. If possible, the Google My Business profile should have all of your company’s important information so that searchers can find the business. Your business category should also be indicated.
Business categories tell searchers about the nature and services of a business. Make sure that you specify a maximum of three business categories, otherwise the clarity of your business’ competency will be compromised.
Next, you can enter the attributes or keywords of the company. They do not belong in the company name or in the description.
The company description should be kept short and succinct, but be precise. What do you offer? What are your core competencies? What is your main keyword? Based on these questions, formulate a good description that stands out from generic descriptions.
It is important to include the location(s) of your business, as this is the only way to show customers whether your business is nearby, or where you offer your services and products in general. You should also include the most important information on your landing page for customers to see as well.
Photos and videos usually lead to businesses being clicked on or visited more than others. Upload pictures of your business from both the inside and outside, of you and your employees, as well as of your services/products.
For Google My Business profile ranking, relevance increases significantly due to reviews and comments from customers. The more positive reviews your profile receives, the higher it rises in the ranking. Positive feedback signals to Google that your business is popular with customers. However, Google will ban fake reviews. The best way to get feedback is to kindly ask your customers for it, because not everyone automatically rates their visit to the store after they leave.
You should also activate the news function in your profile. This gives customers the chance to send you private messages. You can now communicate directly with your customers, answer questions, etc. Of course, this also strengthens the bond with the brand and is extremely important for a company.
Google also works with local citations. You should also be listed in important business directories.
