4 Reasons Why Google Business Profile is the Most Important Listing on the Internet
Reading Time: ~3 Mins | By: Jelly Academy
GMB (Google My Business) Maps
Google Business Profile (GBP) is the most important directory/listing on the internet, but why is that? And if you don’t have a GBP profile, should you get one? Yes, you should absolutely create one and if one already exists that you don’t control, you should make sure to take ownership of it.
Here are 4 reasons why GBP is the most important listing today:
Dominant Search Engine
Google is the dominant search engine, accounting for 90% of the market share versus all other search engines (ie. Bing). There isn’t a more dominant search engine out there which means when the majority of people search, they use Google. This means to capture that audience whether it be for your brand name, local searches (restaurants near me, hair salon [city], etc), you’ll need to have a GBP listing.
Brand Recognition
GBP also helps with brand recognition by ensuring that anytime someone searches your organizations’ name, they see your business name, picture, phone number, description, link to your website, as well as any interesting, useful, or fun GMB posts you have submitted.
Search Engine Results Page
GBP also takes up valuable real estate on the search engine results page (SERPs). Anytime someone searches for your business name or your profile shows up in the SERPs, you’ll see it taking up the whole right-hand-side on desktop searches and mobile. With mobile it’s even better because your listing will be the first and only thing people see until they scroll all the way down on their search. Occasionally if you get really lucky and are in a small enough town, you may even show up for a non-branded term.
Maps & Local Search
The 4th reason why it’s super important is that without it, you won’t be found on the Google Map pack listings. So your business will not be discovered organically to nearby potential customers or people looking for your services in a specific area. This could potentially cost your business a lot of exposure and/or business from potential customers that just don’t know who you are because you aren’t being shown.
As can be seen, there are a lot of potential reasons why GBP is the most important directory on the internet. Without it, you are potentially costing your business a lot of customers/revenue, so be sure to create, claim, and optimize your GBP to obtain the best local exposure for your business.
How to Optimize Your Google Business Profile Listing
Optimizing your Google Business listing ensures your business stands out in local search results. Follow these steps to maximize visibility and customer engagement:
Optimize Your Business Name
Include keywords in your business name, but ensure it complies with Google's guidelines.
Add Your Website Link
Ensure your website URL is linked correctly to drive traffic and improve rankings.
Choose Relevant Categories
Select the primary category that aligns with your business focus and add additional relevant categories.
Update Opening Hours
Keep your hours accurate. Consider extended hours to outshine competitors.
Products Feature
Use the "Products" section to showcase your offerings.
Write a Compelling Business Description
Highlight your services and unique selling points in the description.
Encourage and Manage Reviews
Ask satisfied customers to leave reviews. Positive feedback not only builds trust but also signals reliability to search engines.
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