How Google Business Profile Skews SEO Results in Your Favor
Successful Search Engine Optimization relies on many factors, but one of the bigger influences is Google’s Business Profile (GBP) for some obvious and not-so-obvious reasons.
Clients sometimes tell us they don’t want or need a Google Business Profile, which can really mess up their SEO strategy. Follow along and you’ll see what we mean.
Google is still the place to be.
Yes, people do use other search engines. Bing has even grown over the last year. But Google still holds 90% of the global search engine market share, and their services are very intertwined. It only makes sense to tap into that network and play nice.
All the grown-ups do it.
Users expect that legitimate businesses will be listed and featured by GBP. If your business isn’t, it makes you seem less credible. Claiming and maintaining your profile adds to your business’s trustworthiness, and we all know that people buy from those they know, like, and trust.
Local visibility gets a big boost.
Google prioritizes search results within a geographical range. Your GBP defines that range, displaying your business to the people most likely to use your service or product. GBP puts your business on the map, literally, and lists your business in what’s called the Local Pack.
Your query relevance is underscored.
The information you provide in your GBP helps Google decide if you are the right answer to a user’s search. This includes your address, business hours, keywords, and other details.
Optimizing makes it even better.
Using the right search terms in your Google Business Profile categories, content, and images improves your chances of being shown as the right answer to a user’s query. The more often you are the right answer, the more likely users will click on you, which underscores your relevance, and boosts you even higher in search results.
Better customer relations improves everything.
Your GBP has options to let your customers make appointments or ask questions. More ways to engage is a plus for both your customers and you. And engagement gives you added points in Google’s search algorithm, too.
As you can see, not claiming, maintaining, and optimizing your Google Business Profile can seriously hamper your SEO strategy. Sprocket Websites recommends GBP as a matter of course when launching any search engine optimization campaign. If you want assistance in completing your Profile, the Sprocket Websites team is ready to help. Just give us a call to get started!
Photo by Timplaru Emil
Kate Gingold
I have been writing a blog with web marketing tips and techniques every other week since 2003. In addition to blogging and client content writing, I write books and a blog on local history.
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I have been writing a blog with web marketing tips and techniques every other week since 2003. In addition to blogging and client content writing, I write books and a blog on local history.
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