What is Google my business listing?

Google my business (GMB) is an online directory operated by Google. It is the same as how you had the Yellow Pages Book where millions of businesses listed their contact details so that people interested in a particular service could find them. With this service that Google provides, you can improve how you get discovered. 

According to Google's reports, 46% of searches have local intent and that location-based searches for business are typed into the search engine. What do you need to do as a business to take advantage of this free service provided by Google? What do you need to do to get the best out of your GMB listing?

Here's how you can get started with Google my business: Create or claim your Google listing. Make sure to add all the minimum information and continually maintain your listing with any new and relevant developments in your business.

The factors that will help you rank higher in local search results via the GMB listing are the following:

Category- The category helps your business show up for relevant searches in Google My Business and Google Maps giving you a big boost if you primarily target local customers.

Reviews- Google Reviews

give businesses a big credibility and reputation boost without having to spend a dime while drastically improving your local SEO Score. The quality and quantity of reviews on Google is one of the most important ranking factors for local SEO.

Business Status- Opening hours will appear in your Google My Business listing on the 1st page of google. Put simply, it allows potential customers to check if your business is open or closed.

GMB Photos- Having as many photos as possible inside Google My Business will considerably increase your chances to rank into Google Images more frequently.

GMB Posts- Sharing relevant content posts about your local business contributes to building your location authority and outrank competitors in Google.

With your Google my business set up you can now attract more local customers and grow your business online.

How we at York Designs assist with keeping your GMB listing optimized:

1) We schedule regular and relevant posts- Information valuable to your prospective customer

2) GMB Analytics- reporting on all actions taken like reviews, visits, etc. Analyzing which content drives engagement.

3) Manage your online reputation- 88% of customers believe online reviews are credible. We make sure any negative reviews are investigated and corrected if possible.

Make sure to keep your GMB updated and you are well on your way to attracting more local clients.