Local search drives more clicks and calls than any other marketing channel, making it the most effective marketing technique for small business.
Customer reviews and Google are the two most common tools used by customers today when making buying decisions. We have a natural reason to think about what other customers have to say about a business, and we Google everything we don’t know.
It’s no surprise, then, that Google My Business, which combines the two, is quickly becoming one of, if not the most strong, marketing tools available. Is your company feeling equally bullish about local search?
If not, that’s understandable. Google’s rollout of “Google My Business” — a combination “master dashboard” for Google Plus, Google Maps and Google Search (and confusingly the latest iteration of Google Places) — has left plenty of small businesses confused.
Keeping up with Google’s ever-changing search algorithm can be hard enough, not to mention keeping tabs on the latest local search changes. Location proximity and industry categories play just a small role in Google map listings. In order for your business to rank highly when it comes to Google My Business local SEO, you need to master the art (and science) of local SEO, starting with Google My Business.
For example, let’s say you live in South Yarra, you’ve been craving Indian food and want to find the best restaurant in town. Google “Indian restaurant in south Yarra” and before you even see a listing of websites, you’ll see a map with the top three local results.
Here’s the kicker: these Google My Business local SEO results are often times different from the search results below the map, which could be informational pages on finding credible personal injury attorneys or a Pennsylvania attorney directory. The local listings are what your prospective clients or customers will see first; that’s why ranking highly in these listings matters so much. In this case, the top ranking is for The Yarra Indian Restaurant.
So how can your company get to the top of Google map rankings like The Yarra Indian Restaurant did with “Indian restaurant in south Yarra”? Here’s what you need to know.
What is Google My Business?
Google My Business is a master dashboard that connects your business directly with customers, whether they’re looking for you on Search, Maps or Google+. Think of it as a master information hub from which you can manage all things Google. Once you’ve verified your account, you’ll need to confirm that your account’s NAP (name, address, place) information is correct, along with your business hours. This information will be visible in search results, so it’s absolutely critical to keep up to date.
How Does Google My Business Impact Map Ranking?
A number of different factors will impact your map ranking, including complete NAP information. Reviews can impact your ranking as well, and can also give you some valuable insights into what clients think about your business.
Consider this search for “pizza in Baulkham hills”.
Golden Crust Pizza Baulkham Hills is listed in the top three search results with three reviews. Click on these reviews, online reviews matter — and that’s why you need to create and maintain a process that encourages your customers to leave reviews, monitors the reviews they leave, and improves any negative reviews you might receive. Not only will creating a review process help you receive more — and better — reviews, it will also help you run your business better.
How Do I Optimize My Listing?
Once you’ve claimed your company profile, the next step is to optimize your business information. This includes inputting the correct location, choosing the relevant business categories, adding images (with appropriate keywords), inputting correct hours of operation, create regular posts and keeping tabs on your reviews.
“Google places are one of the only platforms online that is fully free and can generate amazing business leads almost instantly if you know how to optimize your map properly, we made a very special and unique guide that sums it all up for google maps marketing and a few bonuses,” said Guy Sheetrit, Founder and CEO of Over The Top SEO
Conclusion
Once you’ve mastered your Google My Business local SEO properly, it’s time to target third-party visibility through other local search sites like Top4, Yellow Pages, and others. Create local content, strategize keywords, build quality links and capitalize on social media outreach to drive local traffic.
To find out how we can help you with your Website + Marketing, using our unique location marketing platform called Top4, get in touch today www.top4marketing.com.au
Looking to build customer loyalty through social media? Don’t forget to add your business to Top4.com.au
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Source: smallbiztrends