When you search on Google, Google Business Profile is a key asset. Your presence on GBP is crucial when people search online. What this means for your business is that you can generate more phone calls and clicks when you rank, which leads to more business.

So, you might be wondering how to optimize your GBP (formerly Google MyBusiness). Here is a list of things you want to tackle to optimize your Google Business Profile page fully. 

Enclosed is a list of items you want to be sure to fill out on your profile page.

• Your Business Name 
• Proximity and Address of your Business
• Primary Services provided 
• Secondary Service provided
• Website URL
• Reviews (and responses)
• Location
• Photos - Add as many relevant photos as you can
• Description 
• Services 
• Hours of Operation 
• Opened On Date 
• Posts - Be sure to post regularly
• Business Attributes 

First, you want to list your company name. Add three primary categories. Add four secondary categories. Request customers leave you reviews. Add a lot of photos, write a description of your company, and list the services you offer. Post your hours of operation, how long you have been in business, and what makes your business unique. Once this is all complete, you want to begin creating posts and listing services on your Google Business Profile.

Since Google has updated its algorithm to put less weight on your company name to discourage keyword stuffing, it is more beneficial to use your business name rather than using keywords describing what you do.

Categories

Listing your primary category places you within your main services offered; this helps Google optimize your business and is a highly effective method to get you ranking in your industry.

Secondary categories offer you more options. At Bird’s iSocial, we recommend combing through and selecting those that are relevant to your business. Secondary categories do help with rankings and searches and are a highly effective method to increase searches and ranking.

Tip: 

We recommend that you research your top-ranking competitors and see what they are selecting for categories; this is a simple way to tackle this step without overthinking it.

Reviews

Since 9 of 10 consumers read reviews before bringing their business to a company, reviews and your responses make the first impression and get read. When shopping for a company or services, would you choose one with a high ranking and reviews or an established company with no reviews? 

Photos

Did you know that you are twice as likely to come across as reputable with photos listed? We suggest updating your photos twice per year to keep your GBP optimized.

Description

In your business description, you should list the services you provide, what makes you unique, a bit about your history and story, and anything else customers may want to know, as long as it is within Google’s 750-character limit.

Services

Within Google’s terms of service, you must choose options that comply; however, you can input whatever you like. Keep in mind that Google scans your site and automatically adds services to your site they find relevant, so keep combing through your profile and keep it accurate and up-to-date. Filling out your services is an often overlooked and valuable part of your Google Business Profile.

Hours of Operation

As much as we think it is ideal for listing 24/7 if we have an answering service taking calls, be aware that competitors and Google staff call in and report your hours of operation. We recommend listing your accurate hours of actual operation on your GBP.

Opened On Date

This can quickly get confusing if you have moved to a new location; however, it is vital to list your Opened On date. This optimization trick is effective when it syncs with your website.

Posts

Whenever someone does a branded search, your posts populate on the first page of Google, which is a good thing!

Attributes

Attributes are unique to your company details, making customers feel comfortable and welcome before coming in or reaching out to your company. This is where you may list if your location is wheelchair accessible, if your restrooms are gender neutral, if COVID masks are required, or if you offer online appointments.

Proximity and Address

Sharing your accurate business location benefits your SEO rankings with local searches. It is essential to list your exact location if you have a brick-and-mortar.

Your Google Business Profile doesn’t take much time to set up or tend to; however, updates, posts, and changes can significantly impact your rankings. We also want to remind you that what you list on your website should be consistent with your Google Business Profile Page. If you don’t have time or feel overwhelmed with your online presence, feel free to reach out to Bird’s iSocial, and we will be happy to help!