A Google My Business (GMB) Profile is a key element in your business’s local Search engine optimisation success. A GMB profile is simple to set up and completely free! Once you have established your business’s profile and ensured it is fully optimised by completing all relevant fields. Then there are four steps you can complete to help boost your GMB profile’s presence and increase your local search results.
Encourage Google reviews
Reviews are so valuable in the current climate. Many people will look at a Company’s reviews when researching a product or service. Today’s customers are more likely to trust a customer review than a brand’s statement or advertisement. People tend to have more faith in business’s with at least 10 four or five-star reviews. However, getting customers to leave review can be difficult and they are unlikely just to leave them with out any coaxing. There is nothing wrong with asking customers if they would kindly leave a review. Within your GMB profile there will a short URL link which you can send to customers via email asking them to leave a review. You should always encourage customers to be honest with their reviews.
Do not try to cheat the system
As with all other Google products and tools. Google knows if your business is trying to cheat the system to improve search results. So do not use any spam tactics paying people to leave positive reviews or offering discounts. Google will know and if Google feels this is happening it will flag your website as dishonest. These flags will appear on your website indicating to visitors that your site cannot be trusted. Plus, potential customers are more likely to trust a business with honest reviews, even if there are some that are a little negative assuming your business has responded and resolved the issue.
Always reply to negative reviews
Ideally negative reviews should not be appearing and if a customer has a problem, you should be dealing with this before it gets to the review stage. Needless to say, you cannot please all the people all the time so if your business does get a negative review make sure you reply. Apologise and offer to contact them off line to resolve the issue. Never get involved in an online discussion or worse still argument. Take the problem off line and resolve with the customer. On some occasions some customers may be happy to update their review, if they are happy you have resolved the problem. It is always worth an ask. By offering an understanding response demonstrates to your target audience that your business cares about its customers.
Upload regular Google posts
Uploading a Google post to your GMB profile and linking back to your website provides a free advertising opportunity. There are several categories to choose from products such as, an event for example a sale, and updates. Google will also provide insight on how many people have viewed and clicked on your post. By understanding which posts your target audience engage with the most can help you to plan future posts.
Finally ensuring your business has an optimised and regularly updated GMB profile will help your local target audience find you. Plus, if your current customers leave positive reviews, it will help build your business’s trust and your customer base. If you any questions on a Google My Business Profile or any other marketing activities, please get in touch for a no obligation chat. Either call 07753941231, email or complete my online form.
