How to Optimize Your Google Business Profile for Local SEO in 2024?

Are you running a small or large business and have recently created a Google Business Profile account - now what to do? You may have heard about the GBP account for a strong online presence. This is one of the keys to enhance your local SEO, but what exactly does that mean? And the most important question that will strike in our mind is how Google Business Profile account will enhance online visibility? 

But before proceeding further, 

Let’s first know about Google Business Profile!

Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business) is a free tool that helps businesses manage their online presence and visibility over Google, including Search and Maps. By optimizing your profile, you can boost your local SEO. This profile enables businesses to reach and engage with local customers by including essential information and features in search results.

In this blog, we will discuss the top local marketing strategies and ideas that will help you succeed in 2024! Also, it is important to understand Google’s Latest core web vitals update for better customer satisfaction.

Step-by-Step Debugged Pro's Expert tips to Optimize Your Google Business Profile

It is essential to optimize your Google Business Profile (GBP) that involves a variety of features to enhance your online presence. Here are the following key elements that make the most of them:

• Information
• Description
• Category
• Reviews
• Photos
• Videos
• Keyword Optimization
• Question and Answering
• Attributes
• Keep your Audience Up-to-Date

1. Business Information:

The first step is to optimize your Google Business Profile and make sure all that your business information is accurate and formatted correctly.

This also includes:

• Business Name
• Address
• Phone Number
• Website
• Business Hours

2. Business Description: 

Your business description is a brief overview that gives prospective customers an understanding of what your organization does. With Debugged Pro’s specialists they are expert in including relevant keywords to improve SEO. Their professional writers and SEO make a clear and concise description that helps to highlight your service, product or other selling features.

3. Choose the Right Categories

After business descriptions it is important to optimize the category of your business for SEO. It helps Google understand what your business is about, which increases your chance of appearing in related searches. 

There are two main categories: Primary and Secondary

Let’s differentiate primary and secondary categories in your local business profile:

How Will You Differentiate Categories and Choose the Best One for Business?

Primary category is the main category that Google associates with your business. so choose your categories wisely, as it describes best about your business. 

While a secondary category includes the additional services offered by you. There are approx 4,000 different categories in your Google Business Profile but Google allows you to feature only 10 out of them you have 1 primary category and 9 secondary categories. You need to keep it simple by specifying these services or offering for your business.

Your category is displayed in the top section of your Google Business Profile.

4. Collect and Respond to Reviews

Reviews are an effective strategy for local SEO. Encourage your consumers to write reviews for your Google Business Profile. Whether you receive positive or negative reviews, you need to respond to them swiftly. This will help to engage your customers and show them that you value their feedback.

5. Use Google Image Posts

We’ve all heard the saying that first impressions count, and this is just as true online as it is in real life. According to research, the human brain understands images 60,000 times faster than text. Because Images and visuals are easier to understand and sharing images on GBP posts will help you enhance your profile's visibility and engagement. 

Hence businesses with images get 42% more requests for directions and 35% more clicks on their websites.

6. Customize Your Videos

Videos provide a dynamic way to showcase your business. Here are methods you can implement in your GBP:

• Use short, interesting videos to highlight important parts of your business.
• Customer Testimonials: Share customer testimonial videos to increase trust.

But you also need to keep in mind that if your business is not verified, your videos will not appear live until you authenticate your GBP listing.

Also if you want to upload new videos in your GBP then you need to follow below guidelines:

• Video Max. Duration: 30 seconds.
• Video Maximum File Size: 75 MB (down from 100 MB as of October 2020).
• Video Minimum Resolution: 720p.

7. Local SEO keywords Optimization

Local SEO keywords are basically the process of finding relevant keywords about your product, services or places of particular areas. So that people can find your business with these relevant keywords include these keywords in your profile especially in title, descriptions and posts. This will help you get ranking on top and obtain more organic website traffic.

8. Regular Monitor and Update Your Q&A Section

Customers can use the Q&A section on your profile to ask inquiries and receive responses. You have to keep updating on a regular basis and respond to their questions on time. This will help users find the right answer they're looking for and connect with the information they need.

9. GBP Attributes

Attributes provide additional information about your business. You need to select such attributes that are important to your business like "wheelchair accessible," "free Wi-Fi," or "outdoor seating". 

10. Keep your Audience Up-to-Date

The posts on Google allows you to publish latest updates like offers, events and news directly on your business profile. Frequent postings will keep your audience updated, and you will effectively engage them by using images, calls to action, and relevant information.

Why is Local Search Important?

Local search is important for businesses because people who are searching locally are more likely to visit your business if it is near. A strong local SEO strategy of Debugged Pro’s experts will help you attract more visitors and expand your business. 

According to Google:

“76% of people search a business on their phone online and visit a physical place within 24 hours whereas 28% of those searches result in a purchase.”

The Key Factors of Local Website Ranking

1. On-page SEO

What It Is: On-page SEO indicates to crawlers that the local information added to your local profile is also present in your business page. Basically Local SEO involves optimizing your website i.e. Business NAP, Title, Descriptions and other essential details to improve your search engine rankings.

Why It Matters: For a better on-page local SEO includes relevant keywords (location, service, product based), creating high-quality content, optimizing meta tags, and ensuring that your website is mobile-friendly with high speed. All these factors are responsible for better search engine ranking. 

2. Build Local Backlinks

What It Is: Backlinks are third party links that connect other websites to your own. An expert local SEO gets backlink from trustworthy local websites like blogs, business listing sites and other news related sources.

Why It Matters: These high-quality and niche oriented backlinks indicate to search engines that your business is reputable in your region. This also helps to gain the authority of overall websites, as Google prioritizes high authoritative websites that help to boost your rankings. Building relationships with other local businesses will help your audience get to know about your brand and services. 

3. Local Citation and Social Media Platform

What It Is: Local citations are an important factor for search engine ranking and visibility. These are the online references of your businesses Name, Address and Phone Number (NAP) on various websites including business directories, social media platforms (like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) and other third parties blogs. 

Why It Matters: Accurate citations ensure that potential customers have the correct information to contact or visit your business. This can directly lead to more foot traffic and calls. You also need to make sure that NAP information is the same across all platforms. With regularly updating business listings on highly authoritative websites like Yellow Page and Yelp can significantly enhance your local search presence and attract more local customers.

Tips for Continued Optimization in 2024.

• Leverage New Features: Google frequently adds new features to business profiles. Stay informed and use these options to improve your profile.
• Engage With Your Community: Engage with your local customers through posts, events, and promotions. Establishing a strong local presence will significantly boost your profile.
• Utilize Video Content: Add video content to your profile. Videos are engaging and can provide a deeper understanding of your business.

Conclusion:

Local citations are a crucial component of local SEO. If you want to enhance your business visibility, it requires expert efforts and attention. At Debugged Pro, they have experts in SEO, PPC, and content writing who can help ensure your business is accurately listed across the web. Their team is capable of managing and optimizing your local citations, improving your search rankings and making it easier for potential customers to find and trust your business.

Hire our experts today and see the difference it can make in attracting and retaining local customers. For more queries you can directly contact us at 0172-4785461 or email at info@debugged-pro.com.