How To Set Up Your Google My Business (GMB) Account

Maximizing Your Brand's Visibility With Google My Business Profile

The 2024 Local SEO Ranking Factors showed that Your Google My Business (GMB) profile should be the cornerstone of your local search presence. Google uses the information in your GMB listing to determine relevance and proximity to searchers.

Optimizing your GMB listing with accurate information, relevant categories, and strategic keywords can significantly boost your visibility. Ensure your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are correct and match your website. Regularly update your GMB profile with new photos, posts, and customer Q&A

We have outlined eight steps you can take to claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business).

Enhancing Your Google My Business Presence

1. Claim and Verify Your Google Profile Listing

To get started with the Google Business Profile tool, you first need to create your account. It’s very simple, and you can do so by clicking this link. You will have the option to either claim or create your business’ listing. If your business pops up when you enter your business’ name, then select it and claim it. If you search for your business but don’t find any results, then you will need to create a new listing.

Either way, the next step is verification. This is the process by which Google ensures that you are the owner of your business. For most businesses, verification is done by mail. However, in some cases, you will have the option to verify by phone, email, or search console. Check with Google about the different verification options, and see which methods you qualify for.

Be aware that verification can take up to two weeks — so don’t delay if you want all the perks of managing your business listing on Google!

2. Select the Right Business Categories

After you’ve passed Google’s verification check, you will be prompted to select categories for your business. You can choose one primary category, and up to nine secondary categories. This may seem like a straightforward task, but really take your time choosing the best categories to describe what you do! After all, as of 2020, there are 3942 categories for you to choose from.

,The primary category for your business is given top priority in Google’s algorithm. This is the main deciding factor in whether or not your business will pop up during a user search. Be as specific as possible when selecting your primary category. The more specific you are, the fewer businesses you’ll be competing against. Plus, isn’t it refreshing when you search for something specific and Google provides exactly what you need?

As another rule of thumb, try to select as few secondary categories as possible when describing your business. This may seem counterintuitive, but it actually increases the likelihood of users finding you. You see, if you only use 3 categories to describe what you do, then Google will be dividing its user-directing resources into only 3 channels. On the other hand, if Google has to re-route users to your business based on 10 different categories, then this weakens the effectiveness of its algorithm.

3. Upload High-Quality Business Images

The third step is adding images of your business. Have you ever googled a business, and the only photo result is a vague snapshot from the Google Earth street view camera? Talk about off-putting, right? You definitely don’t want that to be a client’s first impression of your business.

The images you upload should give potential customers a mini-tour of your company. This can be a physical tour, where you showcase the outside and inside of your building, or it can be more of a conceptual tour, where you try to communicate the feel and mission of your company. If you opt for the latter, then you may choose to upload photos of your staff, or photos of the products/services that your business offers. Place yourself in the shoes of your clients, and imagine what you would like to see before deciding to hire or buy from your company.

Also, don’t just upload any old photos you have on hand of your business. These images should be high-resolution, and professional quality. They should also reflect your business in its current form. If you’ve redone the interior of your office, or if you’ve made a lot of new hires, then make sure the photos show your current setup.

If you don’t feel confident taking photos yourself, then you can even hire a local photographer to do this for you. Or, you can ask a creative member of your staff to take the photos.

4. Consistent Address and Phone Number

Next, you can add your address and phone number to your Google Business Profile listing so that potential customers can easily reach you. If your address and phone number are published in multiple places on the web (like on Facebook, Instagram, and your company site), then make sure that this contact info is the same across all of these locations. After all, you want to make certain that the people who want to buy from you can actually find you.

Here’s another tip: when adding a phone number to your business, make sure it’s local. Potential customers may be confused if they think that you’re a local company, but then find an unfamiliar area code when reaching for the phone. They might assume that your business location is inaccurate, and they might even choose to do business elsewhere.

5. Build Credibility with Reviews

When you’re about to hire or buy from a business, what do you look at to make your decision? The reviews, of course! So, now that you’ve uploaded all of your business information into your Google Business Profile listing, it’s time to consider your reviews.

According to industry research, 98% of users read online reviews for local businesses. The star rating next to business names on Google Maps (which ranges from 1-5) is a cumulation of reviews.

Reviews provide valuable feedback about your business. You can reply to reviews, which can help build trust with your customers.

Customers don’t expect 100% perfect reviews, though. According to Google, a mix of positive and negative reviews is actually more trustworthy. Responding to reviews—both good and bad—is a great way to build trust and

6. Utilize the Offers Feature

If you look at your Google Business profile, you will see that you also have the option to add posts to your listing. One of these post options is “offers.” With this option, you can let Google users know about special deals and discounts that they can receive through your business. What’s more, you can program these offers with special Call-to-Action (CTA) buttons, directing Google users to your website or order page. You have the following options for CTA buttons:

Offers are a great way to grab Google users’ attention. Plus, in your GMB profile, you have the option to track users’ engagement with your offer. These valuable insights allow you to gauge the success of your offer, and to create a plan for future offers.

7. Regularly Update Your Listing with Posts

Now that you have a solid Google My Business Profile listing, the work isn’t over. You need to stay on top of your business’ listing by adding frequent posts to your listing. These posts can be updates, events, offers, or new products. Each time you create a post, you have the option to add photos, videos, and CTA buttons to attract client attention, and to foster engagement. Think of this as the option to add additional advertising to your listing. What’s better than even more free exposure? Plus, frequently posting on your Google Business Profile listing increases the likelihood that your business will appear in user search results. By having an active profile, there is more information linked to your business on the web, and therefore more material that may match your clients’ search terms. Bear in mind that posts to your Google Business Profile listing are automatically removed after seven days. This is why you want to log into your account frequently, and add new posts to continue promoting your business!

8. Enable Messaging for Direct Customer Interaction

By setting up Google Business Profile messaging, customers can contact you directly through your Google Business Profile listing. This increases convenience for your customers, as they are far more likely to contact you if all they have to do is press a little button next to their search results. Sounds pretty good for your business, right?

Here’s how to set up messaging:

And presto — that’s it! You’ll receive a notification in the app every time a customer asks a question about your listing, and every time a customer tries to contact you through the listing.

Expanding Your Strategy Beyond Basic Listing Optimization

Integrating your Google Business Profile with Google Analytics and Google Ads is a crucial step in expanding your digital strategy. By linking these tools, you gain invaluable insights into customer behavior and the performance of your ad campaigns. This integration allows you to track user interactions more effectively, understand which aspects of your advertising are most successful, and refine your strategies based on real-time data.

Focusing on local SEO is another essential aspect of optimizing your Google Business Profile. Implementing strategies that target local search queries and encourage local reviews can significantly boost your visibility in local markets. Local SEO ensures that your business appears prominently when potential customers search for services or products in your area, driving more foot traffic and inquiries.

Regularly updating your business information is critical to maintaining reliability and trust with your audience. Make sure that any changes in services, operational hours, or contact details are promptly reflected in your Google Business Profile. Consistently accurate information helps potential customers feel confident in choosing your business, knowing that the details they see online are current.

Engaging with the Q&A feature on your Google Business Profile is a proactive way to influence customer decision-making. Actively managing this section by promptly answering queries demonstrates your commitment to customer service and can help address common questions before they become concerns. This interaction can be a deciding factor for customers comparing multiple businesses.

Utilizing Google Posts is an effective way to keep your profile fresh and relevant while engaging your audience with promotions and updates. Google Posts allow you to highlight special offers, events, and news directly on your profile, capturing the attention of potential customers as they search for related services. This feature is a powerful tool to communicate timely information and drive immediate engagement.

Monitoring and responding to reviews is vital for building trust and credibility with both current and potential customers. Develop a comprehensive strategy for managing online reviews, focusing on addressing feedback constructively and showing appreciation for positive comments. An active presence in the review section can enhance your reputation and demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction.

Finally, staying updated with Google’s latest features and updates is essential for maintaining and improving your business’s visibility. Google frequently introduces new tools and changes that can impact local search rankings and user experience. Keeping abreast of these updates ensures that your business leverages the latest opportunities to stay competitive and visible in local searches.

By integrating these advanced strategies into your Google Business Profile management, you can significantly enhance your online presence, attract more local customers, and drive sustained business growth.

In this ever-evolving digital world, Braveheart Digital Marketing is your expert guide in maximizing your Google My Business presence. We offer specialized strategies that align with the latest digital trends, focusing on enhancing your visibility and engagement on Google. From optimizing your Google Business Profile to integrating with analytics and ads, Braveheart ensures that your brand stands out and connects effectively with its target audience.