Local Seo 101: How Google Business Profile Can Benefit Local Businesses

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Nowadays, being on the Internet is an essential part of businesses. Globally known companies, like Nike or Apple, are easily found on the web and tend to lead their industries' search engine result pages (SERPs).

But what happens when a local business wants to gain online visibility? What resources are available for business owners and marketers to make a brand seen by potential customers? Here is where Google Business Profile can be the game-changer. Join us as we explore the world of Google Business Profile and learn more about local SEO.

A Google Business Profile Introduction

This Google product, previously known as Google My Business, was launched in June 2014 and revolutionized the world of online business directories. Not only does it provide information about companies, but it also allows its customers to leave reviews and rate the establishments. Furthermore, owners and clients can add pictures and videos, helping give potential customers a preview of what they could enjoy.

The tool lets businesses inform customers about their business hours, the busiest service hours, contact numbers, exact addresses, and more. Additionally, the platform allows hospitality businesses to add appointment booking links and menus with prices and pictures.

The booking feature is not limited to the hospitality industry only, as any company that works through appointment booking can add the link to their business profile.

One of the most attractive features of the platform is that it’s free of cost, which makes it an excellent tool to gain visibility without needing a large budget.

The Benefits Of Google Business Profile

The platform offers several benefits for business owners, and most SEO experts focus on highlighting these benefits when optimizing Google Business Profiles. Take a look at the advantages of GBP:

It Helps Boost Visibility

This benefit might be the most popular one among business owners, and it makes sense, as it achieves a crucial goal: putting their companies on the potential customer’s radar.

This feature leads to an influx of clients and, consequently, a boost in the companies’ revenue, which is the ultimate objective of businesses.

It Helps You Show Up On Google Maps, Local Pack and Local Finder

Local search results are different from global search results. If a potential client is searching for coffee shops, their results could be different based on three factors:

If they search for the best coffee shops near me, Google classifies the search as a near-me type.
If they search for the best coffee shops in San Diego, the search engine categorizes it as a geo-targeted search.
Finally, if the potential customer has their location enabled on the device they search from, Google considers it a location-enabled search.

Based on the local search query, the results will vary from Google Maps, Google Local Pack, and Local Finder. The businesses must have a Google Business Profile to appear on these local search results.

It Helps You Get Reviews

Reviews are a crucial part of getting new customers. The numbers don't lie: 99.9% of customers read online reviews before purchasing a product or hiring a service. Many of those potential customers specifically search for negative reviews to make their research a quicker process. However, positive comments are the most essential part of the review world.

Google Business Profile allows you to get, manage, and reply to reviews. SEO experts state that it is essential to answer to the feedback you receive from customers, regardless of its nature.

Furthermore, the platform lets you report any malicious review based on their policies, and while you cannot report every less-than-positive comment you get, you can flag the ones that don’t follow their guidelines.

Online Visibility For Local Businesses: Local SEO

Just as global search results and local ones are different, SEO strategies have differences, too.

Some of the most popular tools in local SEO experts' arsenal are Google My Business and Google Local Service Ads.

With Google Local Service Ads, business owners and service providers can get Google Verified or Google Guaranteed, which allows potential customers to gain automatic trust in the person offering their services or products. This feature shows up on the Google LSAs, stating the professional has gained the previously mentioned Google badges.

The process for either of the badges requires you to provide specific information and documentation to Google, and they will investigate before approving the request. It’s important to note that this process can take some time due to the investigation. Google could require further documentation along the process.

Additionally, it is crucial to have an optimized Google Business Profile. To do this, one must complete tasks such as conducting local keyword research, optimizing the business’ information, reputation management, and more.

Both the Google Business Profile optimization and the process to get one of the Google LSA badges can be carried out by local SEO experts, allowing business owners to get the best results and boost their local rankings. These experts will take charge of everything you need to ensure your business shows up on local rankings.

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