As the world’s most-visited website holding 92% of the search engine market share, Google is one of the most important tools for boosting the visibility and accessibility of your business.

Boost your SEO in Belfast

Optimising your Google My Business profile across Search and Maps allows you to communicate key information to your customers such as business opening hours and contact details.

Your profile will be used to provide:

Your business name
Business address
Contact details, including phone numbers and email addresses
Website link
Business hours
Categories, such as retail, hospitality and beauty salon
Description of your business, your value proposition and your mission
Imagery and photography of your business
Reviews and testimonials from customers
Short updates, posts and promotions

How can optimising your Google My Business improve SEO?

Setting up your profile is a great way to improve the search visibility of your business, particularly with your SEO.

Search results are becoming increasingly location-based and are considering user and search intent more than ever. This means that Google is assessing whether your customers’ search intent is informational, commercial, navigational or transactional.

Keeping up-to-date with your Google My Business

There are many handy features that you can use to maximise your profile. These include:

Google Local Search: This provides a list of businesses that are nearby, alongside a range of additional information including address, business hours, category and reviews. This range of factors then assists customers with deciding which businesses to use and visit. You should therefore ensure you are including as much information as possible on your Google My Business profile.
Google Knowledge Graph: Using the information from your profile, you can utilise factual, verified information. With millions of searches every day, the Google Knowledge Graph automates and constantly updates your profile.
Maps: To increase searchability and accessibility, Google My Business synchronises with Maps to improve your business profile.
Insights: Google has designed a unique tool that allows you to delve deep into the behaviours of your customers. These insights will tell you how customers find your listing, where they find you, and what actions they take upon finding your business – phone calls, asking for directions and viewing photos, for example.
Messaging: Your customers can send and receive text messages from your business. This is a great way to connect directly with people who are genuinely interested in what your business has to offer.

Why you should be optimising Google My Business

Although there are countless places to promote and showcase your business online, Google My Business is one of the best ways to tell your customers what your business is all about.

The ‘online listing’ format means you have full control over how your business appears. From the search results page to Maps, you control what potential customers see.

Gather a large volume of customer reviews and feedback

With Google My Business, it has never been easier to compile lists of customer reviews and feedback on your business, product or service. With a GMB listing, you can use this built-up collection of customer reviews. This will create a more authoritative listing on Google – that people will trust.

As well as this, having a high volume of reviews on your Google My Business listing will improve your overall position on the search results page – improving your SEO.

Local SEO Ranking

When someone searches for a nearby location, they will find a range of listings on Maps and Search.

With a comprehensive, effective listing, your business will show up for relevant searches in your area. This means your customers will find you much more quickly and easily!

Boost your in-store visits

If you are a business with bricks and mortar store as well as an online platform, it is important to nurture both elements of your business with the help of SEO and GMB.

GMB is extremely beneficial for those with bricks and mortar stores because it offers a range of additional options such as business location, opening hours and directions. Take your customers from brand discovery to conversion with just a few clicks!

Your Google My Business should be packed with a range of details for your business. These include contact details, reviews, links etc.

With these additional features on your search results page listing, you are making it easier than ever for customers to discover and visit your business.

You also ensure any questions/queries are answered quickly as customers can give you a quick phone call or email. For those operating in-store, Google My Business is also beneficial as it allows your customers to scope out your business before visiting.