In today’s digital age, local businesses need to leverage every tool at their disposal to capture the attention of nearby customers. One of the most powerful yet often underutilised tools is Google My Business (GMB). Google My Business is a free and easy-to-use platform that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps. If you’re a local business owner, setting up and optimising a GMB profile can significantly boost your visibility, resulting in more in-person traffic to your store, office, or service location.
In this blog, we’ll explore how GMB can help you drive more local traffic, discuss best practices for optimising your profile, and how WebSteps can assist with managing your Google My Business profile.
How Google My Business Boosts Local Visibility
When customers search for services or products near them, they’re likely to search terms like “plumber near me” or “coffee shop nearby.” If your business has a Google My Business profile, your chances of appearing in these local search results drastically increase. The Google algorithm prioritises proximity, relevance, and the prominence of businesses in search results.
Here’s how Google My Business helps local businesses gain more visibility and drive foot traffic:
Increased Local Search Visibility
Your GMB profile gives you a higher chance of appearing in the “Local 3-Pack”—the first three businesses that show up in local search results and Google Maps. Having a fully optimised profile increases your chances of appearing in this prime location, which often translates to more clicks and phone calls.
Google Maps Integration
When customers are looking for a business near their location, they often use Google Maps. Your GMB profile integrates with Google Maps, showing your exact location, operating hours, and contact information. This feature is especially useful for businesses relying on foot traffic, such as restaurants, salons, or retail stores.
Customer Reviews Boost Credibility
One of the most effective ways to encourage foot traffic is through positive reviews. GMB allows customers to leave reviews, which are visible to anyone searching for your business. Potential customers are more likely to visit a business that has strong positive reviews, so actively encouraging your satisfied customers to leave feedback can significantly enhance your local reputation.
Mobile Search Optimisation
Mobile searches have become increasingly important, with many people searching for businesses while they’re on the go. Your GMB profile is optimised for mobile devices, which means potential customers can easily find your location, get directions, or call your business with a single click from their phone. The ease of access provided by a GMB profile directly translates to more in-person visits.
Highlight Special Offers and Events
Google My Business allows you to post updates, offers, and upcoming events directly to your profile. This gives you an opportunity to catch the attention of people who are searching for your type of business and entice them with promotions or limited-time deals. Regular updates to your GMB profile help keep your business top-of-mind for customers who are deciding where to go.
How to Optimise Your Google My Business Profile
Now that you understand how GMB can drive local traffic, let’s discuss how to optimise your profile to ensure maximum visibility and engagement.
Complete Every Section of Your Profile
A fully completed GMB profile will perform better than a half-filled one. Ensure you’ve included your business name, address, phone number, website, and business hours. Adding high-quality photos of your business can also make a significant impact.
Keep Information Up to Date
It’s critical that your business hours, location, and contact details are always up to date. Nothing is more frustrating for a potential customer than finding that a business they want to visit is closed when their GMB profile says otherwise. Consistently updating this information helps build trust and credibility with your audience.
Use Relevant Keywords
Incorporate relevant keywords into your business description and services. This helps Google understand what your business offers and improves your chances of appearing in relevant search results. However, be mindful of overstuffing your description with keywords as that can negatively impact your ranking.
Respond to Customer Reviews
Engage with your customers by responding to their reviews, both positive and negative. This shows potential customers that you value feedback and are committed to providing excellent customer service. Responding to negative reviews in a professional and constructive manner can even win over sceptical customers.
Utilise GMB Posts
Regularly posting updates, promotions, or upcoming events can keep your profile fresh and engaging. Google gives preference to profiles that are active, so taking advantage of the GMB posting feature helps boost your visibility in search results.
Google My Business Profile Management
Managing your GMB profile can be time-consuming, especially when you have a business to run. That’s where WebSteps comes in. WebSteps offers expert Google My Business profile management services, designed to optimise your profile and ensure you’re maximising your visibility in local search results.
How WebSteps Can Help
Profile Setup and Optimization: Whether you’re starting from scratch or need to improve an existing GMB profile, WebSteps can handle the setup and ensure every section is fully optimised. We incorporate the right keywords, high-quality images, and complete business information to give you the best chance of showing up in local searches.
Review Management: Responding to reviews is an essential part of managing your GMB profile. WebSteps can help by managing reviews, providing responses to build customer relationships, and assisting in turning negative reviews into positive outcomes.
Regular Updates and Posts: Keeping your profile updated with current information, special offers, and business news can be time-consuming. WebSteps takes this task off your hands, ensuring your profile remains active and engaging, which helps boost local traffic.
Insights and Reporting: WebSteps provides insights into how your GMB profile is performing, showing you how many people viewed, called, or visited your location based on your GMB profile. This helps you understand the return on investment for your digital presence.
Google My Business is an essential tool for local businesses looking to drive more foot traffic. By setting up and optimising your GMB profile, you increase your chances of appearing in local searches and Google Maps, which can lead to more customers visiting your business. WebSteps can help you with every aspect of GMB profile management, ensuring your business is visible to the people who matter most—your local community.
If you’re ready to get more local traffic using Google My Business, contact WebSteps today to learn how we can optimise your profile and bring more customers through your door!