Small business owners in India have faced a lot of difficulties as the market shifted it’s the focus from a complete offline shopping experience to online business.

Here are some problems faced by small business owner in India-

• Small business owners tend to believe that internet marketing is really very expensive.
• Small business owners do not understand the need to invest money for internet marketing and online presence.
• Small Businesses lacks a proper
• It becomes difficult to get and retain customers, both new and existing ones.
• Money Management skills are negligible in Small business
• Big lack in the awareness of the uses of Social Media Management

To solve the problem of small business owners, world’s number one search engine offering Google My Business Tool.

Today we will talk everything about Google My Business Optimization.

Fundamentals of Google My Business

When you are searching for your favorite service or product on Google, the very first thing that comes up is the list of all the sponsored companies.

The very next thing below it is a small box with several pins placed on it. That represents the map of the neighborhood and vicinity you live in.

The pins are the businesses that are available nearby. Once you click on the pins, you will see a lot of details about their addresses, timings, features and a lot of other details.

But there is a catch here. It is that there is rarely more than three different companies that are visible in the “Google 3-Pack”.

There is a small button that states “More Places”, but how many people do so? Do they really click it?

Google My Business Optimization is one of the most valuable and useful aspects of SEO regarding local businesses.

It can help you get listed and also help you rank on one of those first three names on the list. One of the best strategies for Local SEO in 2020 includes the use of Google My Business tools and techniques. (Check search ranking factors by MOZ).

Google My Business Optimization: Step By Step Process

Below is step by step Google My Business Optimization process:-

1. Google My Business Account Setup.
2. Claim Your Google My Business Short Name Today.
3. Select An Apt Category And Sub-Category.
4. Post Only & Often High-Quality Image.
5. Mention The Same Information Everywhere.
6. Include Local Keywords.
7. List Local Numbers.
8. Avoid manipulating Google via GMB.
9. Keep Your Business Operating Hours Updated and Accurate.
10. Manage And Respond To Customer Reviews & Rating.
11. Add Social Media Profiles.
12. Ensure Your Content Is Well-Optimized For Searches.

If you want to learn how to optimize your Google My Business, then you will need to follow a few important steps in order to do so. Take a look at those steps in this segment of the blog.

1. Google My Business Account Setup

First, you will need to set up a Google Business Account if you have not done it for your business still now. Without the listing, you cannot move forward with the technique.

2. Claim Your Google My Business Short Name Today

Next, you will have to get a Google My Business name for the business. Try to keep it short and crisp for others to remember. Always use a catchy and easy to pronounce the name. It becomes much easier for people to keep their name in mind.

3. Select An Apt Category And Sub-Category

Choose the category and subcategory where you would want to place your business to. There will be different categories coming up, you will need to trace then.

4. Post Only & Often High-Quality Image

Now, this is an important step. Make sure to upload good and high-quality resolution images of your business on your account. You would not want your customers to see an old and shabby image of your business.

5. Mention The Same Information Everywhere

Double-check the information that you have provided on Google My Business account. You have to work to check if the account is being used or not.

6. Include Local Keywords

Keywords play an important part. Input keywords which match the industry, business and service you are related to. The right set of keywords will help your business to the surface when people are searching for it. You can use Keyword planner to extract local keywords.

7. List Local Numbers

In order to allow the people to contact you, add a working and active phone number. Your customers won’t be able to reach out to you when there is no phone number.

8. Avoid Manipulating Google via GMB

You must follow all the Google rules and regulations; otherwise, you will be suspended from Google My Business. Don’t use keywords unnaturally, avoid adding the multiple listings of the same business location, etc. By following these can save you from getting suspended from the listing.

9. Keep Your Business Operating Hours Updated and Accurate

You must always provide the most accurate business working hours for the people to come over and get in touch with you.

10. Manage And Respond To Customer Reviews & Rating

On Google My Business, you will need to encourage your customers to reviews and feedback on your services. Ensure to reply to them. Ask your customers to leave a review on your Google My Business page. If someone has put up bad feedback, ask them about their inconvenience and try to improve your services from the next time onwards.

TIP: - How to take Google my business review easily? Use Foore Tool. It’s free and convenient to use.

11. Add Social Media Profiles

You should add your social media profiles on your Google My Business account for better exposure and popularity. Social media can help you attract a lot of new and potential customers in the long run.

Check out our LinkedIn Marketing Strategy 2020:

Ensure Your Content Is Well-Optimized For Searches

In the end, you need to be sure that your website is absolutely ready and your business content is optimised for search. A strong and well-built website for your business and customers will always be more preferable to come up in the top 3 ranks.

Make sure to follow these steps for an effective and efficient optimization for your Google business account. GMB is one of the best local SEO strategies that has been evolved in the past few years.

READ MORE: Want To Pitch Investor Like Ratan Tata? Use His Pitch Deck Template

How To Verify Google My Business Location?

You can verify your google my business location by 5 ways.

1. Standard postcard.
2. Email.
3. Phone.
4. Instant verification (Through Google console).
5. Bulk verification- Through “Chain” feature.

How To Verify Google Business Without Address?

You must be pondering, “Please Google, verify my business without any address”.

1. You can also list your business on Google My Business servers without adding the address. Just follow the usual steps of creating the account and Google will ask you whether you want to add an exact address of not. On that tab, you will need to click on “NO”. This is how you can get your Google My Business Verification done without address.
2. You can also verify without postcard, when you are using google search console with the same I’d which of Google My Business.

How To Rank In 3 Packs?

Follow these steps for a better and reliable Google Pack 3 ranking in 2020:-

1. First, fill your GMB Local page filled with the up-to-date information and details
2. Then you must cultivate the reviews which are present on the GMB account
3. You need to ensure that the listing is throughout the web with accurate and consistent information and visibility.
4. Make use of local links to boost visibility.
5. Use standard backlinks to raise the overall organic rank of your site.
6. You will need to work for a strong and stable online and social media presence on different platforms for getting more organic followers.

As Said By Wendy Piersall,

Google only loves you when everyone else loves you first.

Google My Business Listing Insights

You will get many useful insights of your business in Google my business dashboard. Such as:-

Photo Insight

Section of this reporting component includes bulk insights for:

• Total owner photos.
• Business owner photo views.
• The total customer photos.
• Customer picture views.

Customer Actions Insight

Customers usually carry out these activities to find how your customer takes action on your business in Google My Business. Such as:-

“Total actions” lead to the total of these following types of actions which the customers made –

• Visit your business website.
• Requests for directions.
• Calls you on your number.
• View the business photos.

These are the few labels are available as reports in the reporting section –

• Total actions.
• Website actions.
• Directions actions.
• Phone call actions.

How To Test Your GMB Optimization?

Here are some easy and effective ways to test you Google My Business Optimization and investigate the industry-specific features:-

• All the hotels have a completely different knowledge panel for all hotel searches.
• The restaurants and food chains can have their menus linked to the Business Account.
• Majority of the individual businesses are allowed to upload product/service details.
• Businesses which are “appointment based” can easily use a ‘Book’ button and then connect with online booking.
• Service-area orientated businesses can hide their addresses on Google My Business servers and select an area instead of that.

You Can Get In Touch With The Experts

For those of you, who want to run a more effective business, will need to get in touch with a good and reliable digital marketing company in Patna. They will help you to set up and optimize your Google My Business account without too many hassles. You cannot experiment trial and error with your business that is why it is always recommended to take professional help in these cases. Doing tasks and following rules that you are not sure of is just a big waste of time and resources. The best SEO companies and their Local SEO tactics have a good track record of providing the people with consistent and praiseworthy results, at times with 300% ROI. You can also join our Facebook groups for Local SEO Tips.

Why Choose ENSETT Google My Business Optimization Service?

Do you doubt us? Here are some important reasons why you should choose ENSETT Google My Business service for the best possible results:-

• They have brilliant proven GMB ranking results that include businesses from the local industries and niches.
• 100% guaranteed accelerated results.
• They use GMB SEO Techniques for the best exposure and efficiency.
• With their help, businesses can overcome proximity limits.
• A business will be able to increase their visibility and improve customer conversion rates in the long run.
• Competitively priced and affordable when compared to other services.

BONUS TIPS:

Listen to this podcast which is a part of Voice SEO by Search Engine Nerds, Interviewees Greg Gifford, a world-renowned Local SEO expert.