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A strong online presence is paramount for local businesses wanting to stand out in a competitive market. A well-optimised Google Business Profile (GBP) can significantly boost your visibility, helping potential customers find you with ease and choose your services over competitors. At Digital Influence, we’ve successfully secured the #1 spot on Google, and understanding the key sections of your GBP that influence your ranking can be transformative for your business too. A detailed and accurate profile increases your chances of capturing customer attention and dominating local search results.
This article explores the eight essential sections of your Google Business Profile that can help boost your ranking and ensure your business thrives in 2024 and beyond.
Our ranking for the keyword ‘Local SEO’.
Google Business Profile (GBP) Optimisation
To fully optimise your Google Business Profile, providing complete, accurate, and consistent information is non-negotiable. Start with the basics: your business name, address, phone number, website, and business hours. These elements form the foundation of your profile. Incorrect or incomplete information can mislead potential customers and harm your credibility. Additionally, choosing the correct categories to describe your business helps Google understand the nature of your services accurately, ensuring that your business pops up in relevant search queries.
An example of our Google Business Profile at Digital Influence which is optimised with contact details, address, business hours etc.
NAP Consistency (Name, Address, Phone Number)
Consistency is more than just a word in the world of local SEO – it’s a critical principle. Ensuring your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across your website, social media profiles and various online directories is paramount. Consistent NAP data helps build trust with Google, reinforcing that your business information is reliable and accurate, which in turn improves your local ranking. Any discrepancies in your NAP data can confuse both customers and search engines, undermining your local search visibility.
Customer Reviews and Ratings
Reviews and ratings can make or break a customer’s first impression of your business. Encouraging customers to leave positive reviews is not just about improving public perception; it’s a crucial factor in driving up your local rankings. Keywords within reviews signal relevance to Google, making your business appear more prominently in local searches. Actively responding to both positive and negative reviews demonstrates engagement, builds trust, and shows potential customers that you value feedback and are committed to improving their experience.
An example of just 1 of our 100+ Google Reviews on our Google Business Profile at Digital Influence.
Local Backlinks and Citations
Backlinks and citations from reputable local websites and directories significantly bolster your online reputation. When your business is mentioned on local news outlets, community organisations’ websites, or relevant directories such as Yelp or TripAdvisor, it signals to Google that your business is a trusted local entity. These backlinks and citations are akin to votes of confidence in your business, strengthening your visibility and credibility in the local search ecosystem.
Mobile-Friendly Website
Now that mobile searches are more prominent than ever before, having a mobile-friendly and responsive website is crucial. Many local searches are conducted on mobile devices, and a website that loads quickly and provides a seamless user experience can vastly improve your local rankings. Google’s emphasis on mobile-first indexing means that if your website isn’t optimised for mobile, you’re likely missing out on a sizable chunk of potential local traffic.
On-Page SEO (Local Keywords)
Optimising your website content with local keywords is another critical piece of the local SEO puzzle. Incorporate city, region, and neighbourhood names into your titles, meta descriptions, headers, and website copy. Doing so signals to Google that your business is highly relevant to local searches, thereby increasing your chances of appearing in the coveted local search results.
Posting and Maintaining an Active Google Business Profile
An active and regularly updated Google Business Profile signals to Google that your business is engaged and relevant. Regularly posting updates, promotions, events, or blog content keeps your profile fresh and informative. This continuous activity not only helps in keeping your audience engaged but also enhances your local visibility, as a dynamic profile is favoured by search algorithms over stagnant and inactive ones.
An example of the ‘Posts’ section on our clients Little India Merivale & Kaiser Brew Garden’s Google Business Profile.
Proximity to Searcher
While the physical distance between your business and the searcher isn’t entirely in your control, optimising your profile and website for “near me” searches can help you appear more frequently in local queries. Tailoring your content to include local keywords can improve the likelihood of your business showing up for users searching in your vicinity.
Conclusion
Optimising your Google Business Profile is integral to improving your local search ranking and drawing in more customers. Prioritising accuracy, consistency, and detail in your profile can catalyse significant positive changes for your business visibility. By ensuring that your business information is consistently up-to-date and well-maintained, you’re not only assisting Google in understanding your business better but also simplifying the process for potential customers to find and choose you.
At Digital Influence, we understand the importance of a well-maintained Google Business Profile. Our Google business profile optimisation can help you optimise every aspect of your profile to ensure you stand out and attract more local customers. Contact Digital Influence today to learn how we can help your business dominate your market.
