Did you realize that half of consumers visit a physical store within a day of conducting a local search?Attracting more local customers to your business requires an investment in Google Business Profile (GBP) SEO. By claiming and optimizing your GBP listing, you can start generating new local leads.This article will guide you through setting up and optimizing your GBP listing.Let’s begin!Claiming your Google Business Profile listing is completely free if you haven’t already done so.These listings are visible on Google Search and Google Maps, making them an excellent way to connect with local visitors.
Start by claiming your Google Business Profile listing (formerly known as Google My Business).
Once claimed, fill out all the necessary information on the page.
Include your contact details, business name, and address.
Verify your information for accuracy.
Head to Google to verify your listing. Without verification, your information won’t be displayed, and you won’t have access to analytics.
Your information will be published once your listing is verified.
After verification, you can optimize your GBP listing.
Once your listing is verified, it’s time to implement search engine optimization (SEO) for your Google Business Profile. Here’s how to optimize it:1. Complete your informationFirstly, ensure all details for your listing are entered. Local search favors the most relevant results.Completing your profile in full will help you appear in more relevant search results. Google considers three factors when ranking local listings:
Relevance: How well does your ad match the search results?
Distance: How far is your business from the searcher’s location?
Prominence: How well-known is your business offline and online?
More detailed and accurate information makes it easier for your business to appear in search results. This provides Google with more content to assess your listing’s relevance.Completing your location information also helps you appear in search results relevant to the searcher’s distance.In summary: By filling out your profile completely, you provide your audience with more information, increasing their likelihood of engaging with your content.2. Incorporate keywordsJust like with website SEO, use keywords for GBP SEO.This helps improve your local ranking on Google. By integrating keywords into your listing, you signal to Google that your listing is in the right place.Google scans your information to ensure it ranks your listing in relevant results. Adding keywords helps Google better understand your listing and its relevance to local shoppers.The keywords you use in your GBP listing should also be present on your website.Integrating these keywords with the intent of ranking for those search queries creates double exposure for your business, making it more likely for people to choose you.In summary: Incorporate keywords into your GBP listing and website to appear in front of more relevant leads.3. Maintain updated business hoursKeeping your operating hours up to date is crucial for driving customers to your local business. While it doesn’t directly impact Google’s ranking of your GBP listing, it affects how users interact with it.Shoppers are discouraged and frustrated when your GBP hours differ from your physical store hours.Imagine someone arrives at your store expecting it to be open until 10 p.m. only to find out it closes at 9 p.m.Accurate and up-to-date listings are essential, so revise your hours as they change. Include holiday or seasonal adjustments.Update your hours if you plan to close for renovations, too! 
In summary: Keeping your hours up to date will drive more leads to your business. It will also prevent potential customers from being discouraged.4. Include photosAdding photos to your listing is key for your GBP SEO campaign to drive shoppers to your location.Photos can significantly improve your listing’s performance, as many prefer visual elements over text.Photos allow your audience to gain a visual insight into your store, whether it’s your staff, products, or location.For example, if you own a pizzeria, you could include photos of:
The interior of your business
Photos of chefs preparing dishes
Photos of popular menu items
This gives potential customers a better understanding of your business if they find your listing for the first time.In summary: Uploading photos to your listing will drive more traffic to your local business. It’s a crucial element of successful GBP SEO.5. Manage reviewsReviews are a critical component of your GBP SEO strategy. Many consumers leave reviews about companies on GBP profiles.New visitors are highly likely to read reviews before deciding if your business is a good fit.Review management is essential for your GMB SEO plan. Ensure you’re monitoring reviews to prevent negative reviews from deterring business.Not everyone will have a satisfactory experience with your business, and that’s fine!The key is to address their concerns. People expect to see negative reviews, but they also expect you to address the issues raised. 
When managing reviews, thank customers for positive feedback. For negative reviews, address the reviewer’s concerns and offer a better experience.Some may even update their review to be more favorable!In summary: Managing your reviews gives you more control over how your audience perceives your business. It also enhances the effectiveness of your GBP SEO strategy.6. Add postsAdding posts is a recent feature Google has added to GBP listings. It triggers when people search for your brand.This is a box that appears below the rest of your Google listing. You can post up to 300 words and include a photo.Use this feature to post about events or sales at your business. These posts are active for a week.For example, if you own a bowling alley and have an event offering two hours of bowling for $10, this could attract customers searching for a bowling alley.Adding posts is an excellent way to draw more attention to your listing and encourage engagement with your content. In summary: By adding posts to your GBP listing, you’ll capture your audience’s attention and encourage them to engage with your content.Investing in GBP SEO will drive more local traffic to your business. It’s an excellent way to grow your business and attract new leads.For GBP SEO services, contact us online to see how our team of over 500+ digital marketing experts can optimize your listing and attract ready-to-buy customers to your store.
