Guide on Google Business Listings

Whether you are a service provider, a brand or you sell products online, it’s essential for your business to rank in the Google local listing. One out of four searches on Google are made using location. You cannot really ignore this free organic traffic source from Google.

When users search for product or services using location, the first result after ads is local business listing followed by organic results in most of the cases. Google is also placing ads in the local listing, so it’s an important section of Google’s search result page.

When you create Google my business page(GMBP) it not only shows in search results but also on maps and reviews. Creating & optimizing GMBP can help your business get local customers & send targeted organic traffic to your website for search terms which includes your location.

Now you know the importance of GMBP, let’s get the basics clear :

1. Steps to set up/claim your local business listing
2. Additional features
3. How to optimize it to rank at the top spot
4. How to analyze the results

Set up/claim Your Local Business Listing

Visit https://www.google.com/business/ & click on Start Now button on the upper right corner of your screen. Fill in all the relevant information about your business.

Please read this guidelines before you start to fill the information about your business. Guidelines for representing your business on Google.

Sometimes you can get a message

“We can’t find this address. If the address you entered is correct, set the map’s marker location to point to your business address.” after clicking on continue.

Than what to do?

Don’t worry, I will show you how you can add your address on Google maps.

• Click on the red button which says “Set marker location”
• Select the location of your business address by checking the nearby places in the Google map
• Click on ‘Done, continue’
• Tick the box ‘I am authorized to manage this business’ and ‘I agree to the Terms of Services’
• Click on  continue
• Verify your business by post, click on ‘Verify now’

Hurray, you created your business page.

How to optimize it to rank at the top spot

Now let’s start the optimization process, visit your business listing & update your business information. Use keyword in your business title which should be a single descriptor.

As per Google guidelines, you can include a single descriptor in the business title which can help the searcher understand what your business offers.

Choose relevant categories
The category you select will help google to indicate for which search queries your listing belongs to.

Type in your services & you will get related options in the drop down menu, these categories are pre-defined, you cannot add a new category in it.

So if you don’t find your business related term in the search box, try to select the closer ones to your business.

Example: if your main category is Internet Marketing Company, you can also add categories like Social Media Marketing, Search Engine Optimization etc.

How to do it?

• Click on edit on the right hand side of your screen next to your business name
• Click the pencil icon next to your business category which is below your business name
• Add additional relevant categories to your page.

Add your business hours.

Add Images
Upload high resolution images on your business listing page,
Type of Photos: Profile photo Size, cover photo, logo, interior, exterior, at work, team.
Additional photo
Image dimensions:
Profile image – 250 x 250 pixels (minimum 120 x 120; maximum 5200 x 5300)
Cover photo – 1080 x 608 pixels (minimum 480 x 270; maximum 2120 x 1192)
Shared images – 497 x 373 pixels (minimum width 497; maximum 2048 x 2048)
Size: Between 10KB and 5MB
Type: PNG or JPG files

On Page Signals for Google My Business Ranking
On page optimization gives signal to Google which helps its algorithm to understand the content on a web page.

•  Optimize your Title tag with local keywords
• Add local keywords in your H1
• Incorporate local keywords in your content
• Use local keywords in your page url
• Optimize your image by adding local keyword in your Image name and alt tag
• Implement your Business Name, Address & Phone number on your website using schema mark-up in all the pages footer section
• Incorporate map of your business address in your Contact page.

Get Reviews on your Google business listing page
Reviews are considered as a personal recommendation by 84% consumers according to a survey.
Local Consumer Review Survey

It’s an important ranking factor in local business listing pack. Review quantity, review velocity & review diversity are few important things you need consider before starting your review acquisition.

Follow the three steps below to gather reviews:
Asking, showing & reminding.

1. Asking: Start with asking your friends, colleagues and your  existing happy customers to leave a review on your GMBP. Check how to share the direct review link via email or WhatsApp, it’s easy, follow the steps  Create a link for customers to write reviews.
2. Showing: Show them how to do it by making a short video & sending them on email or WhatsApp. Stick a small board on your reception or shop asking people to review you on Google.
3. Reminding: Follow up with people whom you have asked for review.

Create a NAP
Google algorithm looks at consistency of your business listing across different websites on the internet.

It’s very important to use the same business name, address & phone number & correct business categories while creating citations.

• Create listing on local directories, industry specific directories, different search engines & aggregator websites
• Search for your competitors business name in Google’s search box & check for its listing on different websites in Google’s search result page
• Set up alerts through Mention or Google Alerts to track new mentions of your competitors’ NAP listing

Local Link Building

• Build Links from local websites, blogs & get mentions in local news
• Quality of links are important than quantity, you need to focus on relevancy of your link profile
• Create a local resource page, a resource page can be cited by people when participating in Q&A websites and local business forums

Keep checking that no-one has edited to your listing and changed the businesses’s website to their affiliate link, have seen this too!

Start A Blog
Start a business blog and write about local news and information relevant to your targeted metro area, and share your content across all social media platforms, including your GMBP listing.

The more location authority your GMB listing has, the higher you’ll rank in Google local search results.
Comment on this article.

Negative Factors that can affect your Google Business Local Rankings

• Listing Detected at False Business Address
• Incorrect Business Category
• Reports of Violations on Your GMB Listing
• Site Hacked/Presence of Malware
• Mismatch NAP/Tracking Phone Numbers Across Data Ecosystem
• Presence of Multiple GMB Listings in the Same Category with Same/Similar Business Title and Address
• GMB Listings with Same Address/Phone Marked as “Permanently Closed”

Ranking in Google’s search result page helps business to acquire new customers, local listing has become an important part of it. So marketers & businesses should not ignore this important channel which can help them to target local customers.