We are living in a digital-first world where every business is striving for more local visibility. If you are running your own business, you cannot simply ignore GMB (Google My Business.) And when you have to work on GMB, you need to pay attention to SEO for Google My Business as well.
But what is really SEO for GMB, now known as GBP (Google Business Profile) officially? And how is it different from traditional SEO? Let’s talk more about this subject in this read.
What is SEO for Google My Business?
SEO for Google My Business or Google Business Profile refers to using SEO strategies primarily customized for GBP. These tactics help your business profile climb up the rankings in the search engine’s local search results. Additionally, your brand’s profile also ranks better in Google Maps pack which is also referred to as the ‘Local Pack.’
Typically, SEO for GMB (GBP) optimizes every little to big element of your business profile. It makes sure all your business information is authentic, and helps foster customer engagement.
Key Areas of Google My Business SEO
SEO for Google Business Profile emphasizes on certain key areas. These include:
- Accurate Business Information: It is critical to add correct and authentic business information in your profile. Your NAP (name, address and phone number) must be accurate, and updated timely in case it changes. Plus, these details must be consistent through all your digital platforms including your website and social channels.
- Local Keywords: Location-based keywords are crucial for the success of local SEO. Local SEO refers to optimizing your profile in a way that it appears higher in search results when locals search for it. This means you need to add in location-centric keywords your target audience is searching for such as ‘digital marketing agencies in Tampa East’ or ‘real estate professionals in Orlando.’
- Updates and Photos: Regular posts and quality pictures make your GBP seem more credible and engaging. SEO for Google Business Profile involves the addition of top-notch and immersive images along with timely updates to your GBP so your visitors connect better with it.
- Customer Engagement: Customers engage better with your brand’s profile when they hear good things about it, and deem it reliable. SEO for GMB when done right ensures to get positive customer reviews to build your brand’s credibility.
- Category Optimization: Your business needs to be clearly defined. An important aspect of SEO for Google My Business is to choose relevant and meaningful categories for it.
With these tactics, your business slowly gains more online traction. Nearby customers start to easily discover your business, particularly those searching for it using mobile devices. Over time, your leads and sales start rising.
The Difference Between Traditional SEO and SEO for Google My Business
Conventional SEO and SEO done primarily for Google My Business are similar in the sense that both of them aim to increase more visibility for a brand.
Having said that, the two differ when it comes to their scope, the kind of content that needs to be optimized, and the audience targeting.
Scope
SEO in general stresses on completely optimizing a website so it gains visibility in the national or global search results. It focuses on reaching a broader audience while increasing rankings across different search engines.
On the contrary, SEO for GMB or GBP mainly focuses on elevating visibility in local searches and Google Maps. it targets specific localities so that business connects effectively with its local customers.
Audience
General SEO takes care of a broader audience which isn’t really location-specific. It is ideal for online businesses serving clients across the globe.
In contrast to this, SEO for Google My Business is specifically tailored as such that nearby customers in a geographic location can easily find and access it. Retail stores, restaurants, cafes and local service providers benefit greatly from SEO for GMB.
Platform
SEO is applicable on numerous search engines such as Bing and Google. It helps optimize all types of websites for optimal performance across diverse platforms.
Inversely, GMB SEO is exclusively done for Google Business Profiles. It means that it applies only to GBP that improves that business’s overall performance primarily for local searches in Google’s ecosphere.
Areas of Focus
Traditional SEO mainly focuses on on-page SEO elements, builds quality backlinks and also pays attention to crafting optimized and immersive content.
SEO for Google My Business, however, prioritizes the use of localized keywords, receiving positive testimonials, and NAP consistency to increase relevance for the local search results.
Type of Outcomes
The main goal of SEO is to escalate the organic search rankings. SEO efforts focus on making websites rank better in the general SERPs (search engine result pages.)
On the other hand, GMB SEO addresses the visibility factor in the Local Pack. That’s the section in the search results displaying the business maps and profiles. It is quite an important feature for brands that wish to stand out better in the local searches.
Now that you know the basic differences between seo and Google business, let’s move on to discussing the importance of optimizing your GMB.
Why is GMB Optimization Important?
If yours is a local business, it is paramount to optimize your GBP. It does quite a good job in bridging the gap between your customers’ actions and the local search queries.
- 76% of all the people who look up for something local online do visit a business related to it in the next 24 hours. This means if you create and Optimize your GBP, more of your target audience will search for you, and visit your store or business place as well.
- A well-structured and wholesome business profile backed by stellar customer reviews makes your business come off as credible and trustworthy.
- Business listings that have routine updates and attractive photos receive 35% more clicks via websites, and 42% more requests and prompts for directions.
- Google provides you with valuable data on user interaction, how users find you, and the actions they take on seeing your profile. You can strategically use this data to further optimize your GBP and website to drive more traffic and conversions.
- More than 60% of all the searches stem from mobile phones. Local searches showcase the GBP business profiles more prominently in the local search results. When you have an optimized GBP, your business appears more frequently in the search results and brings in more business visitors.
For all these reasons, it is now more important than ever to have your Google My Business Profile, and work on its SEO.
Combining Traditional SEO and GMB Optimization
Are you solely relying on just one strategy to increase your online visibility?
If yes, it’s time to revamp your strategy and combine the powers of SEO and GMB. You need to integrate the two if you want your business to enjoy exponential growth.
Here’s why it is a wise move to combine GMB optimization with conventional SEO.
Widens Your Customer Base
Traditional SEO targets national and global customers so you get more worldwide traction.
GMB optimization, on the other hand, turns local searchers into real-time paying customers.
By integrating the two, you target a wider customer base which automatically increases your leads and sales.
Increases Your Authority and Credibility
GMB optimization works well in building your trust amongst the local audience. Traditional SEO makes sure your website has credible information across diverse search results.
When combined, the two significantly increase your business’s credibility.
Raises the Click-Through Rates (CTRs)
An optimized website coupled with a nicely structured Google Business Profile encourages more users to click on the relevant links to get more information.
The CTRs increase with time which brings in more warm leads that you can convert into paying customers.
Improves the Search Performance
Local search engine optimization efforts done through your Google My Business profile along with the on-page SEO on your website create unmatched synergy.
Your business’s search engine rankings thrive, and it starts turning more heads around.
Focus on Creating the Ideal SEO Blend
By now you must be well-aware of the importance of using SEO and combining it with SEO for Google My Business. You can get the perfect, strategic blend with these two strategies that can bring in unprecedented growth for your business.
The trick lies in choosing the right digital marketing agency for this task. It is certainly a task that requires excellent skill and expertise. At ITechSole, we have extensive experience in local SEO as well as GMB for clients who are now benefiting greatly from their optimized profiles.
Get in touch with us to get a FREE SEO audit, and we can then devise a solid SEO strategy for you focused on GMB according to your business’s needs.
FAQs
- Can I perform SEO on Google My Business?
Yes, you can do SEO on your Google My Business (GMB) profile. It can be quite challenging to rank your business for the local search results. However, with GMB, you can get more local traction. If you do SEO for Google My Business, the results become even better.
- What is the best SEO for Google My Business?
The best tips to do SEO for Google My Business profile is to first verify your business. Next, your business and contact information must be up-to-date. You must select the relevant business categories, and add quality videos and photos. There must be positive customer reviews on your GMB profile, and ensure to respond to them.
- How to get 100% on my Google My Business profile?
To get 100% on your GMB profile, use 750 characters and add in the essential information in the 250 characters that appear in the start. Add in content from the ‘about us’ page, and use keywords for local searches.
- How to check my Google ranking?
You can check your site’s Google ranking with Google Search Console. It is a holistic rank checker. You can track your site’s complete ranking performance with it. Click on the ‘search results’ tab right under the ‘performance’ tab on Google Search Console. Opt for ‘queries’, and you’ll see all the different search terms your site currently ranks for.
