Most of us don’t even know what Google My Business is; realizing its potential is far away from the context. The local business listing is incomplete without the Google My Business (GMB) listing and its optimization. Referring to stats, targeting visitors for location-based searches improved the conversion rate to 100% as when visitors look for service providers “near me”; they may have a clear intent to make purchases. Using local SEO to improve search visibility can get quality, ready-to-convert leads. No matter what your business is about - a dental clinic, plumber, house cleaner, electrician, lawyer or home renovation - local SEO can boost traffic for all. Believe it or not, Google My Business can enhance your searchability and visibility by 100%, i.e., it lets your potential customers discover you easily. The best part is it’s easiest to use, and you can do it on your own.

Steps to Help You Set Up Your Google My Business Account

Step 1- Claim your Business Got a business idea? Claim it before anybody else. Conduct a Google Search to ensure that you don’t have one. If it has been around for some time, your business is more likely to have a Google My Business listing. But you have to claim it. If someone else claims your business, they will notify you. Find a category that goes with your business. Don’t confuse between multifarious options. Choose the one that summarizes your business accurately. If you have a brick-mortar building, add it to your profile to bring customers to your location. Add the website URL and contact details to it. Step 2- Set up an Attractive GMB Profile Whenever your business is searched, GMB is the first thing that comes under the notice of visitors, and they are more likely to analyze it even before visiting your website. Update your profile for all essential details. Add the name of the business, contact number, address, photos, working hours, short and informative description, website link, business category etc. Fill in all that is asked. Give detailed information to Google to increase your ranking prospects. Add images or related photos to make it further attractive. Be clear, and don’t leave space for assumptions or guesses.

1. Start off by heading to Google.com/business
2. Sign in with the regular Google/Gmail account you use for your business
3. Fill in the details asked in the section – Name>Address>Phone>Website>Hours
4. Add details about Category and Attributes, Products and services, From the business and Questions and answers
5. Info, review, messaging, photos and insights - explore it all to see if anything can be filled.

Step 3- Create a Detailed Profile The process is pretty simple. Keep these points in mind when creating a detailed profile.

• Choosing a Category GMB already has a list of businesses to categorize your business. Pick your business category from the assorted list that goes best with your business. It’s mandatory to choose at least one category, and remember you can’t create it on your own; select the most relevant to present your business. For marketing-related business, you can choose advertising and marketing.
• Create Relevant Content Encourage customer engagement directly through SERP and Google Maps. Post anything about promotions, sales, or other events to keep your readers up-to-date. Ask your marketing professionals to manage it all.
• Post-High-Quality Pictures Business with pictures gets more attention than a business without pictures. Give your visitors a clue of what you do through your pictures. Ensure that the pictures are of good resolution and high quality to leave a positive impression. Once done, you can submit your profile and wait for its approval from Google.

Step 4- Publish Your GMB Listing After filling in all the details that are asked for, you can publish your Google My Business. Some information is yet to be filled in. Let’s also optimize the profile a bit.

• Add Relevant Keywords Just like ever, Google still looks for signals that might enhance the credibility of your profile. Incorporate keywords and search phrases into your listing. Now that you have selected your keywords, use them every time you create a business description for your post.
• Business Hours Have you added your business operation hours? Even if you have added them already, edit them whenever needed, especially during special events or festivals. Set your regular hours as per your availability.
• Add photos Google says that businesses with photos on their listings receive 40% more requests and 35% more click-through to their websites than listings without photos. Photos make profiles more attractive and engaging. Cover photos should reflect your office from the front, and the rest of the interior images can convey the company culture, etc. You can add videos to it as well
• Respond to Reviews and Ratings Google takes customers’ reviews and ratings seriously from a rank point of view, and so should you. Replying to those comments and reviews, irrespective of positive or negative, would help you manage the ORM part. You can also approach professionals to get ORM done.

Step- 5- Get Your Google My Business Listing Verified Verifying your Google My Business listing is essential for your business growth. Oh, no; Don’t hesitate. It’s pretty simple. All you need to do is to send a Postcard by mail. It validates the fact for Google that you manage the business from a physical location. It enhances the visibility and performance of your listing. Google won’t show your listing until it is verified; put it under a priority task. Setting up a GMB profile may take up to 5 business days. Google will send you a postcard with a verification code, and this will be done live. Step- 6- Final Optimization More than 90% of your website is optimized; it’s time to add your products and services to your profile. Use relevant keywords to define your business and improve its visibility. Add two to three posts a week, and that’s too relevant for your business. Bottom Line 45% of searches on Google are seeking local information and results for their searches. Such wide exposure can’t be neglected. Moreover, visitors can look for reviews and ratings of local businesses and locations through Google Maps to proceed further. It gives local businesses the exposure they strive for, thus mounting a competitive edge. Google My Business Optimization can help you increase your search engine visibility and credibility as well. We are a result-oriented marketing company, which focuses on improving the online presence of businesses to drive sales. Get connected to know more about our services.