Our top tips on how to best optimise your company’s Google Business Profile (Guide for 2024)

 

Introduction

We have built countless WordPress websites, and because we make the process easy for our customers, they often also want us to improve their local search engine optimisation.

One of the first things we often do is create a Google Business profile. This is simple to do, yet you should make yourself a brew and spend enough time completing the profile so that you add as much detail about your company as possible.

So for example, you should add the following information to your company’s Google Business Profile:

– Address
– Phone number
– Pictures of the business premises or perhaps products that you sell
– Website address
– Opening hours

So why is Google My Business important when improving a company’s local SEO?

Well, with many smartphones, the shopper will have their location data switched on, which basically means that this helps Google know precisely where the shopper is.

So, let’s say they are shopping in St David 2 shopping centre and want to find a shop that sells kitchens.

Therefore, the shopper might search for “luxury kitchen showrooms near me.” Now, because the location data is switched on, Google will be able to show a map in the search results of businesses that are close by and sell luxury kitchen items.

Therefore, without a business with a Google Business profile, the company would be unable to appear in the map results. So, if somebody is looking for a local business, they won’t appear on the map or in what SEO agencies call Google’s 3-pack of results.

So, as the old saying goes, you need to be in it to win it. Your business should definitely set up a Google Business profile.

 

How can a business optimise its Google Business profile

Choose the right business category:

So, first things first, make sure you choose the right business category on your Google Business profile. Now, you might think, well, that’s a no-brainer. I’m a builder; I won’t list my business as a hairdressing salon!

However, the thing is that sometimes, Google will offer a broad category, such as “construction”, yet your business may specialise in just building “garden rooms”. So, the point we are trying to make here is to take the time to pick a business category which accurately describes the services that you offer. Don’t pick an overly broad category because your business might get displayed for construction terms, such as “house building”, when your company only offers to build garden rooms.

 

Use a local phone number

Another one of our top tips is to use a local phone number where possible, such as one starting with 02921 for Cardiff, rather than using your mobile phone.

The reason is that if your phone number starts with 02921, this is another clear signal to Google that your business is located in Cardiff. If you’re using a mobile number, well, your business could be based anywhere.

 

Must definitely get your Google Business profile verified

Again, this is an absolute piece of cake; you can now even verify your business’s Google Business account by just receiving an automated phone number.

Another method is to obtain a confirmation code via e-mail. Not so long ago, when Google Business was called Google My Business, you had to wait to receive a postcard through the post.

This was a little annoying because the postcard could be lost in the mix of junk mail that many businesses receive.
So, for many of the Google Business profiles that we now verify, you usually obtain a simple code via your e-mail address.

Make sure that you keep your Google Business profile up to date

So let’s give you an example: say you run a solicitors practice here in Cardiff.
Well, your business could be competing with, say, 25 other solicitors’ practices, so how does Google know which business to display in the map results?

Well, the main way that Google decides which businesses to show in the Google Business results depends on where the person is. Google will try to display the nearest businesses.

So, for example, many people now ask, where’s the nearest, say, pizza takeaway restaurant? Google knows that you want a local business, so it will offer suggestions for local pizza restaurants within, say, a 5-mile radius.

Now, a good way of ensuring that Google knows that your business is still trading is to log in and update the information from time to time.

For example, you might open different hours in the run-up to Christmas, so just update your opening hours for then.
This will signal to Google that your business is still trading.

 

Does your business need help to improve your local SEO?

We are the SEO experts here in Cardiff. With over ten years of experience getting businesses placed on page one of Google, we simply know our stuff!

We have worked with a wide variety of businesses, from dentists who concentrate on tooth reconstruction to construction companies that want to take on large-value construction contracts.

We know our stuff

Leading, well-known SEO websites have cited and linked to us. We work with some of the best and most prominent companies in Cardiff.
Please have a chat with us.

After a quick conversation with us, many people are pleasantly surprised by how affordable our SEO packages are. At £500 per month, our services are affordable to many SME businesses located here in Wales.

 

So, why not get on the dog and bone and give us a call?