How to Claim & Optimize Your Google Business Listing
Google Business Listings are the modern equivalent of the old Yellow Pages. If you own a business, nonprofit, or retail shop and haven’t claimed your listing, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to get found online. Below are directions on how to search for, claim, and complete your listing for maximum impact:
1. Search for Your Business on Google.com
If your business is already listed, you’ll see it in the search results. Click on it to view the details.
2. Claim Your Business
If you see a link that says “Claim this business” or “Own this business?” Click on that link and follow the prompts to verify that you are the owner. Google may ask for verification via phone, email, or mail.
3. Complete Your Profile Information
Once you’ve claimed your business, it’s time to fill out your profile. Here are all the key areas to complete to get “Green Light Status” (see screenshot below)with Google:
- Business Name: Ensure your business name is consistent with what’s on your signage, website, and other listings. Include LLC and Inc if those are part of your legal name.
- Address/Phone/Website: Enter your complete and accurate business contact information.
- PRO TIP: Be consistent with abbreviations, like St. for Street. Directory listings on the Internet must all be exactly the same to be effective.
- Hours of Operation: List your business hours. If your hours change seasonally or for holidays, make sure to update this information regularly. Even if you work from home, list hours. Your listing won’t be complete without this information.
- Photos: Upload high-quality photos of your business, products, or services. Pictures can greatly influence a customer’s decision to visit your business. You can also include your logo in the mobile app.
- Description: Write a clear and concise description of your business and include relevant keywords/phrases. Highlight what makes your business unique and don’t forget the call to action!
- Appointments: If you offer an online appointment link like Calendly.com, include that.
- Products/Services Showcase: How cool is this?! You can now add photos, text, and links to your website for the various business services or products you offer.
- Categories: You can choose more than one category so select as many as appropriate for your line of work.
- Q&A: Do you have frequently asked questions in your industry? Why not include them in your listing?
- Updates: Probably the most important area of your listing is the ability to post news, photos, and links to your website or blog to stay fresh. Shoot for 1-2 updates per week! (see screenshot below)
Why is all this important?
Enhanced Visibility: A complete profile helps your business appear in relevant searches, improving your visibility to potential customers.
Customer Trust: Accurate and up-to-date information builds trust with customers. They are more likely to choose a business that provides clear details.
Local SEO Boost: A fully-optimized “Green light status” Google Business Listing improves your local search engine optimization (SEO), helping your business rank higher in local search results.
Claiming and optimizing your Google Business Listing is a crucial step for any business looking to improve its online presence. By filling out these key areas completely and accurately, you can attract more customers, enhance your credibility, and boost your local SEO.
Need help? Schedule a 15-minute Zoom consult with us, and we’ll walk you through these steps!
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