Optimise Your Google My Business (GMB) Listing

Google My Business is one of the best ways to list local businesses online. A GMB listing can help your business show up in the local search results on Google Maps, Google Assistant and more.

GMB lists the basic information about your business and you should provide the right information. Not all businesses can get a listing; only businesses with a physical location to verify can get listed. This is mainly for offline local businesses.

Next, Google My Business verification is done through mail, email or phone number. If you own a website you can also verify your profile through Google Search Console. Verification via postcard is the right way to verify your GMB listing. Google sends the verification code to the physical address you list.

You should optimise your GMB listing to get a wide local reach and attract more potential customers. You can approach a GMB optimisation service or optimise your listing as follows:

• Once you get your GMB listing you should go to the ‘Info’ tab to review your NAP information. Check if your name, address and phone number are right. Does this information match what is listed on the physical location? The name of your business should match accurately and you should not stuff keywords in it.
  
  
• Next, add your business description in the section provided. You can write a brief description of the founding of your business, the services you provide, your values and the areas you serve.
  
  
• GMB allows you to have one primary category and around nine secondary categories. You should select a GMB category that best describes your business. For example, a food centre ‘Taste Bud’ will come under the primary category of ‘Restaurants’ and the secondary category can be ‘Food court’, ‘Food producer’ and so on.

• You should specify your business location accurately. You should specify whether you are running a business at your location, or have both a service area business and a storefront business. If you are operating from a building then you should give the floor details.
  
  
• Add your business hours and phone number correctly. You should tell your customers your work timings to improve the experience. Some businesses leave the phone number blank because they want to avoid answering phone calls and interacting with the public. You should provide your phone number to enhance the support.
  
  
• If you have a website you can add it to let your customers know about your business in detail. You can use an appointment URL for your customers to leave a message through the contact form.
  

• Give information about your company in detail and keep your content up to 700 - 750 words. You write about all the qualities of your business.
  
  
• If you offer products or services then navigate to the respective tab and add the required information. For example, if you offer products then go to the ‘Products’ tab and upload a photo of the product, add the product name and the right category.
  
  
• GMB listing allows you to receive reviews from customers. You can go to the ‘Review’ tab to see all the reviews. You should reply to all the reviews listed.
  
  
• You can go to the ‘Photos’ tab and upload the photos and logos of your business. Create a solid background and upload your logo, export it to your desktop and upload it to GMB.
  

• Use the special attributes feature and add let customers who know your business by showing attributes. You can add facilities unique to your business.
  
  
• If your business is hosting an event or you want to share information then you can use the ‘Post’ tab. Select a category for your post and add the copy and add a photo if required. Click the ‘Publish’ tab.
  
  
• Restaurants, hotels, and bars need to fill out menus and booking items. You can make your own dish photo to make it look real.
  
  
• The Messaging feature can be used to communicate with your customers. The backend of the messaging can be used via the GMB app.