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Ever wondered how you could secure the number one spot on Google My Business (or Google Business Profile) when potential customers in your vicinity search for a service or product you offer? Well, that’s a secret that could take your business to the next level and drastically impact your bottom line, and even your personal life. Since 2009, I’ve been assisting businesses to do just that.
Today, I will walk you through the top eight ranking factors for Google My Business in 2023. These techniques were gathered from my experience and substantiated during a recent, major local SEO conference. Ready to learn and implement these strategies? Let’s dive right in.
1. Websites: Your Business’ Digital Billboard
You might think that your website doesn’t have much to do with your Google Business Profile ranking. On the contrary, your website plays a significant role. It’s crucial to ensure consistency between your website and your Google Business account. The business name and the categories should match exactly, and your business address should also be clearly displayed on the website, ideally on the Contact Us page or in the footer. This synergy between your website and your Google Business Profile is critical for boosting your ranking.
2. Categories: The Essential Categorization
When setting up your Google Business Profile, selecting the correct category for your business is a key step. This category should align with your primary offering – the service or product that generates the most revenue. Make sure that your chosen category is boldly displayed on your website as well.
3. Google Reviews: The Customer’s Voice
Google Reviews can significantly influence your rankings, and they don’t all need to be five-star reviews. In fact, businesses with an average of 4.5 stars often outperform those with 5.0 stars in terms of rankings. To leverage this, ensure that you respond to all reviews, both positive and negative. Remember, Google nudges you to reply to unresponded reviews. Engaging with your customers in this way can significantly enhance your ranking.
4. Keywords: Your Business in Words
Keywords play a pivotal role in SEO. Using the Google Keyword Planner (accessible through Google Ads account), identify keywords that potential customers might use to find your services or products. Then, strategically integrate these keywords into your website and your Google Business Profile description. Aligning these keywords with the services or products you select in your Google Business Profile can significantly improve your ranking.
5. Optimizing Your Google Business Profile: The Art of Completion
To achieve a high ranking, it’s crucial to fully optimize your Google Business Profile. This means filling in as much information as possible, such as business name, phone numbers, operating hours, services, products, and even the year you started. Continually updating your profile with photos also improves your visibility.
6. The Power of Physical Address
In the world of local SEO, the physical location of your business matters significantly. A centrally located business within a city often ranks higher. Though changing your business location purely for rankings is not feasible for everyone, understanding the role your address plays in local SEO can help inform strategic decisions.
7. Citations and Links: The Authority Builders
Citations and links, also known as backlinks, are digital pointers from other websites to yours. Important sources for these backlinks are platforms like Yelp, Facebook Business, and the Better Business Bureau. Other ways to generate backlinks include joining local business associations and partnering with non-competitive businesses in your area. Backlinks and citations essentially act as turbo boosters to propel your ranking on Google My Business.
8. Power of Photos: The Visual Ranking Factor
The photos you use on your website and your Google Business Profile play an integral role in your ranking. Photos of your products or services, images of people using or providing these services, and your business logo visible in every image create a powerful connection that Google picks up. Regularly adding new photos can keep your business in the spotlight.
Implement these eight strategies to optimize your Google Business Profile and maximize your local SEO. To further guide your journey, I have prepared a one-page cheat sheet that includes all these factors and provides links to in-depth tutorial videos. This cheat sheet, tailored for the 2023 landscape, can help ensure you implement these strategies effectively and without risk of penalties.
Remember, this is just the beginning of your journey towards mastering local SEO. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, engage with the content, and share it with others who may find it useful. Stay tuned for more in-depth information, and remember to subscribe for continuous updates. See you in the next post!
