Business listings on Google, or in the local pack as it is often called, are important because many potential clients are using this directory to find your business. Your website might rank number one for your company’s name on search engines but if someone needs immediate service, they probably will not go all the way through the process of finding your site and converting to being a client. The local pack has specific information that people are looking for when they want services quickly.
As long as you have a physical location that you can list with an address, then you should have a business profile set up for Google My Business. The only other requirement is that you own or manage the site where you will put their profile. Once you connect with Google My Business, the process of verifying your business is pretty simple. If you are new to Google Business Profile and looking to get started, then EZ Rankings will help you with the same.
What is Google Business Profile?
Google Business Profile is your first step to making sure that people can find you. This will allow you on the Google search results page just like a store with a physical address. You can list your location on Google Maps and show all of the information that potential customers are looking for.
The information provided by the business profile includes name, contact phone numbers, hours of service, photos, localization details including GPS, reviews, menu options if any, videos, job openings, or other similar content depending on what type of business you have.
Your listing will be verified through both local and web verification methods in order to make sure it’s yours before it gets published online. There have been several cases where the brand was hacked so verifying your company ensures that only authorized information is put out.
The beauty of this is that it’s all free. Once you have created your Google My Business Profile, you will never have to worry about updating it again.
How to List Your Google Business Profile in the local pack?
- The first step is to make sure that you have a Google account. If you don’t, then you can create one here.
- Once you have your Google account, go to business.google.com and sign in with the same credentials.
- From there, click on “Start now” in the yellow bar at the top of the page.
- This will take you through a few simple steps in order to create your Google Business Profile including naming your profile, providing information about your company, and verifying that it is yours by phone or postcard (you will need to provide a physical address).
- After your profile is created, it’s important to claim your business listing on Google Maps.
- Once you have claimed your listing, it’s time to verify it. This can be done by clicking on the “Verify” button in the yellow bar or going to maps.google.com/business and clicking on “Verify.”
- The final step is to add all of your social media links. You can do this by going to “Business Profile Settings” and then “Social Links.”
Be consistent with the NAP details:
Listing your business on Google is important but it’s also important to make sure that all of your NAP (Name, Address, and Phone number) details are consistent across the web. This includes websites like Yelp, Facebook, and Foursquare. Customers are more likely to convert if they can find your information easily and it’s consistent across the web. These details are crucial for Local SEO and can help you rank higher in the local pack.
What if my business is new?
If you are new to the area and do not have a physical address, then make sure that you can get your profile verified. Consider homes for sale in your area and try to find an agent who would be willing to let you post some photos of their offices or front doors online. You can also verify through social media channels like Facebook and Twitter by adding the location information into your profile description.
Be patient: Expect results over time
It’s important to understand how Google works. Ranking on organic search takes time so don’t expect your listing overnight. If you want more immediate results, then consider advertising with Google Adwords so that when people search specifically for services they offer, they will show up on the first page.
The beauty of local SEO is that you can control your destiny more than traditional SEO. With regular SEO, you need to wait for Google to find you but with Local SEO, all it takes is some time and effort to claim your listing online using the above steps. Once this has been done, get more customers by impressing them with how easy it was for them to find your location online!
Does my business need a Google Business Profile?
Yes, it’s absolutely important to list your business on Google Business as it helps customers to reach you easily. As the local business competition is growing, it’s more important than ever to make sure that your information is easy to find online. In addition, Google My Business Profile can help your business rank higher in the local pack results.
In today’s digital age, it’s crucial for businesses to have a strong online presence. This includes having a verified Google Business Profile. A Google Business Profile is free and easy to create and helps customers find your business when they are searching for your services online.
Wrapping up!
Creating a Google Business Profile is one of the most important things that you can do for your small business. Not only does it help customers to find you easily online, but it also helps your business to rank higher in the local pack results. As the local business competition continues to grow, it’s more important than ever to make sure that your information is easy to find and consistent across the web.
