How to Make Google Work For You

When first getting started with SEO, it is easy to get overwhelmed. What should you do? What should you focus on? What is important? Though SEO strategies vary depending on the type of business and the size of your business, one avenue that is always important to focus efforts on is Google.

Google runs the internet. If you aren’t found on Google, do you exist?

Creating a Google My Business listing is a great way to begin your SEO journey. Having a presence on Google and being easily found when customers make searches related to your business can result in a ton of revenue.

Making Google work for you is not difficult, here is how you do it!

Create Your Google My Business Account-

The first step is to create a Google My Business account for your business. To create your Google My Business profile, go to https://www.google.com/business/ and begin the process. The process is pretty straightforward, however, you could argue that this is the most important step.

This is one of the most important steps for many reasons. First, you need as much information about your business as possible. Entering the correct information about your business is key. In order to optimize your Google My Business profile and ensure that your listing is easily discoverable for your customers, adding as much relevant information about your business is crucial. The name of your business, where you are located or what areas you service, your hours of operation, etc. are all questions that will be asked while you set up your Google My Business profile.

Verify Your Business-

Once your listing has been created, Google requires you to verify it. This step is crucial. If you do not verify your business, you will not be able to utilize and optimize your listing. By verifying your listing, you are confirming that the information you have entered is correct. Since anyone on Google can suggest an edit to the listings information, verifying your business also means that you will be the only one that can edit your listing and the information on it.

Google makes it very easy to verify your business and here are several different ways it can be done. Verification by postcard, phone, and email are just a few options Google provides.

Optimize Your Listing-

The next step is to optimize your listing. There are several areas within your GMB profile that can be updated with relevant information that will help your listing flourish.

Updating the products and services section of your listing gives Google even more data about your business and helps market your business as the most reliable and relevant option when customers in your area search for businesses like yours.

Remember, INFORMATION IS KEY.

Update Listing Consistently-

It is difficult to say what step out of this process is the most important. ALL steps are equally important in different ways. The last step is no exception. Updating your GMB listing consistently will keep your business relevant, not only for Google’s algorithms, but also for your potential customers.

Uploading high quality photos, making consistent posts highlighting your businesses products/services/events/etc, and responding to reviews are sure ways to keep your listing fresh, relevant, and easy to find.

In fact, businesses on Google with photos see over 35% more clicks to their website and over 42% higher Google Maps requests.

Responding to reviews, even the negative ones, can help your business’s search rankings. According to Google, ¨Responding to reviews shows that you value your customers and the feedback that they leave about your business.”

Remember to audit your business's information occasionally to ensure that it is all correct and up to date!

Making Google work for you is a sure way to increase your visibility online and bring more customers to your door. Creating your GMB account, verifying and optimizing your listing, and updating consistently, is a great way to begin your SEO journey. We hope these tips will help you and your business!