Optimizing your Google My Business categories has become essential to any local SEO plan as local search’s prominence continues to rise. A well-optimized Google My Business category makes you stand out in search results and may also give potential clients searching for your business information. We’ll walk you through the process of optimizing your Google My Business categories for 2023 and beyond in this blog post.
Why You Should Optimize Your Google My Business categories
Let’s first discuss the significance of optimizing your Google My Business categories. When someone searches for a local business, Google places a “Local Pack” box at the top of the search results. A map and three lists of nearby companies that match the search term are included in this Pack. These listings are determined by many variables, including how near the business is to the searcher, how relevant it is to the search query, and how well-known it is in the neighborhood.
Your company’s exposure in local search results and inclusion in the Local Pack can be boosted by optimized Google My Business categories. It can also give prospective clients crucial company details, like opening and closing times, contact information, and website address. Given the development of mobile search, having this information available when a potential customer needs it can make the difference between choosing your company over a competitor’s.
How to Set Up and Verify Your Google My Business categories
Setting up and validating your Google My Business categories, if you still need to do so, is the first step towards optimizing it. This is how:
Enter your Google account information to sign in at google.com/business.
Click the “Manage now” option in the upper right corner.
Add your company’s name and address, then select the category that best describes your operation.
Your company’s phone number and website address.
Choose a method of verification. You can verify your listing by phone, mail, or email. Observe the directions provided for the verification method you have selected.
You can begin tweaking your listing for greater visibility in local search results as soon as it has been confirmed.
Guidelines for Improving Your Google My Business categories for Local SEO
Now that your Google My Business categories are set up and verified, it’s time to optimize them for local SEO. Here are some tips:
Complete Your Business Information
Verify that all the information fields in your Google My Business categories are filled. Your company name, phone number, website address, operating hours, and a brief enterprise description are included. The more details you include, the simpler it will be for potential clients to identify and contact your company.
Choose the Right Categories
You will request a primary category for your business when you create your Google My Business categories. This category represents the goods and services you provide. To aid Google in better understanding your company, you may optionally select more categories. Ensure the categories you select are appropriate for your company and well-liked by your intended audience.
Upload High-Quality Photos
Potential clients can be significantly affected by visuals. Add high-resolution images of your company, goods, and services to your Google My Business categories. Ensure that they are well-lit and present your company in the best possible way. You can add videos to your listing to provide even more details about your company.
Encourage Reviews
Reviews play a significant role in how local search results are ranked. You can persuade people to submit reviews on your Google My Business categories by offering outstanding customer service and requesting feedback. You may also respond to reviews to demonstrate that you value customer opinions and are dedicated to giving customers a wonderful experience.
Monitor Your Listing
Keep an eye on the accuracy of your Google My Business categories and be prepared to address any queries or issues that customers may have. Update your listing if your company’s contact information changes, such as a new phone number or address. By watching your listing, you can find any problems hurting your ranking in local search results.
Use Google My Business Posts
Posts on Google My Business are fantastic for communicating changes, promotions, and news about your company. These postings are visible in your Google My Business categories and can aid in bringing in new clients for your company. Include a call to action in your piece to entice readers to act.
Use Google My Business Messaging
Google My Business messaging allows potential customers to send messages directly to your business through your Google My Business categories. Customers may find this a simple approach to inquire about or obtain information. To provide a satisfying client experience, reply to messages immediately.
Use Google My Business Insights
Insights from Google My Business are an excellent resource for learning more about how people interact with your listing. The number of people that visited your listing, how they found it, and the activities they took may all be shown in the statistics (such as visiting your website or requesting directions). Use this information to make educated choices about optimizing your listing for the best performance.
Google My Business ranking factors
Increase your exposure in local search results by optimizing your Google My Business categories. Still, it’s also critical to comprehend the ranking elements Google considers when deciding which businesses to display in the Local Pack. Some of the most crucial elements are listed below:
Relevance: How well does your business listing match the user’s search query?
Distance: How far is your business from the user’s location?
Popularity: How well-known is your company in the neighborhood? It includes factors such as your business’s number of reviews, links, and citations.
Making the appropriate category selections for your Google My Business categories is essential for Google to recognize your company and link it with pertinent search queries. The following advice can help you pick the appropriate categories:
Choose a main category that adequately describes your company.
Add more categories that are pertinent to your enterprise.
Do not include categories unrelated to your industry or that you do not offer.
Conclusion: Any local SEO strategy must enhance your Google My Business categories. Increase your exposure in local search results, give prospective customers helpful information, and eventually increase traffic to your business by using the advice provided in this blog. Remember Google’s ranking factors and categories to determine which businesses appear in the Local Pack. Regularly monitor and update your Google My Business categories for optimal performance.
