How to Manage a Google Listing for a Service Area Business
- Published: May 13, 2024
Are you ready to boost your service area business's online visibility?
What is a Service Area Business?
A service-area business is a type of company that primarily provides its services directly at the customer’s location rather than at a fixed retail or office space. These businesses often cover a wide geographical area, extending beyond the immediate vicinity of where the service provider is based.
This category includes businesses without a physical storefront that customers can visit, making their operational base largely invisible to the public. Additionally, some service-area businesses may have a physical location, but their main service involves traveling to homes or offices to fulfill customer needs directly.
Service-area businesses are structured to bring their offerings directly to you, whether at home or your place of work, ensuring convenience and tailored service delivery. Examples of service-area businesses include plumbing services, home cleaning services, mobile dog grooming, landscaping services, and on-site computer repairs.
How to Set Up Google Business Profile for a Service Area Business
For service area businesses that don’t operate from a fixed physical location, setting up a Google Business Profile (GBP) is essential for improving local search visibility and attracting potential customers. Here’s how to get your service-based business recognized on Google:
Step 1: Claim Your Business
Start by visiting Google Business Profile online and select “Manage Now.” Enter your business name in the provided search box. If your business isn’t already registered, you’ll see an option to create a new listing. Follow the prompts to add your business to Google.
Step 2: Verify Your Business
To ensure the authenticity of your business, Google requires verification. For many local businesses, this involves receiving a postcard by mail at the business’s registered address. This postcard contains a unique verification code that you will need to enter in your GBP account. Although this is the most common method, some businesses may be able to verify via email, phone, or SMS.
Step 3: Review and Edit Your Business Information
Once your account is verified, carefully review and update your business information. This includes the phone number, services offered, and the service areas you cover, especially since you don’t have a permanent business address. Make sure all details are accurate and reflective of your business to ensure customers have the correct information when they find you on Google.
Step 4: Specify Your Service Areas
After verifying your business, specify the geographic areas where you provide your services. This step is crucial for service area businesses as it helps Google show your profile to potential customers in those locations. You can set these areas by city names, postal codes, or regions.
Step 5: Engage With Your Customers
Finally, actively manage your Google Business Profile by responding to reviews and questions, posting updates about your services or special offers, and uploading relevant photos. Engaging with customers not only builds trust but also helps maintain an active, up-to-date profile that ranks higher in local search results.
How To Get More Local Customers For Service Area Business
- Set Up Your Service Area: Clearly define the areas you serve on your Google Business Profile. You can set this by cities, postal codes, or regions. Accurately setting your service area helps potential customers find your services when they search for local solutions.
- Keep Your Information Updated: Regularly update your business information, including contact details, services offered, and operating hours. This ensures that potential customers always have access to accurate and current information.
- Utilize the Posts Feature: Use Google Posts to share updates, promotions, or news about your services. This feature helps keep your profile active and engaging, providing fresh content that can attract more customers.
- Gather and Respond to Reviews: Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews and make sure to respond to them. Reviews can greatly impact your business’s reputation and search rankings. Responding shows that you value customer feedback and helps to build trust.
- Verify Your Listing: Ensure your Google Business Profile is verified. This process adds credibility to your listing and is necessary for making full use of all Google Business Profile features.
Digital Marketing For Service Area Business
- Leverage SEO Strategies: Focus on local SEO tactics, including local keywords and content that addresses local issues and questions. This targeted content helps in attracting customers within your designated service areas who are searching for specific services you offer.
- Utilize Social Media Platforms: Engage with local audiences through social media by sharing relevant content, participating in community discussions, and running localized ads. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter allow you to connect directly with your community, enhancing your overall business visibility and trust.
- Implement Email Marketing: Develop an email marketing strategy to stay in touch with your customers. Send out updates, promotions, and personalized offers based on customer interests and previous interactions. This personalized approach can help maintain customer loyalty and encourage repeat business.
- Create Videos: Use videos to show what your service offers, share customer reviews, or give tips related to your field. You can post these videos on social media platforms like YouTube and Instagram, where they can engage your audience and provide valuable insights into your business.
- Work with Local Influencers: Partner with local influencers who can help promote your services. These people already have a following in your area and can help spread the word about your business, boosting your presence and trust within the community.
- Use Targeted Ads: Focus your advertising on the areas you serve by using geo-targeted ads. This approach ensures that your ads are seen by potential customers in specific locations, making your marketing efforts more effective and efficient. Utilize platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads to set up these localized campaigns.
How to Rank Outside Your Service Area
Expanding your visibility beyond your immediate service area can significantly boost your customer base. To achieve this:
- Optimize: Enhance your Google Business Profile with broader geographic keywords targeting neighboring regions.
- Content Marketing: Create blogs and social posts related to these wider areas, addressing local issues and regional trends.
- Testimonials and Case Studies: Showcase success across varied locations to affirm your reach and efficiency.
- Ad Campaigns: Launch targeted ads in these extended regions to ensure visibility where potential clients are searching.
These strategies will help you attract customers outside your typical service radius, expanding your reach and strengthening your online presence in regional markets.
Which Service Area to Add?
As a service-area business (SAB), defining your geographical coverage is key. Decide whether you’re servicing a 30-mile radius, a 100-mile radius, or another range. Remember, your customers are looking for local services that come to them, so they need to know if you cover their specific location, such as their zip code.
When setting up your Google Business Profile, you can specify up to 20 locations. Include a mix of city names, zip codes, and counties to make it clear where you operate. Also, prominently display these service locations on your website to ensure potential customers know they are within your service area.
This strategy will help improve your visibility in local searches and make it easier for customers to find and choose your services.
Additional Tips to Enhance Your Google Business Profile
- Regular Updates and Posts: Keep your GBP updated with fresh content about recent projects, special offers, or industry news. Regular updates keep your profile active and engaging to followers and potential customers alike.
- Monitor Your Insights: Use Google Business Profile’s insights tool to track how customers find your listing and interact with it. This data is invaluable for refining your marketing strategies and making informed decisions to improve your outreach.
- Avoid Common Pitfalls: Ensure that all the information in your Google Business Profile is accurate and consistent. Avoid common issues like misinformation or neglecting customer interactions, as these can undermine your business’s credibility and SEO efforts.
- Use the Q&A Section: Keep an eye on the Questions & Answers part of your profile. Add frequently asked questions about your services and answer any new questions promptly. This shows you’re active and ready to help, making your business look more trustworthy.
- Show What Makes You Special: Use the features section to highlight what makes your service unique. Whether you offer 24-hour services, free consultations, or special discounts, pointing out these special features can make your business stand out and attract more customers.
By adopting these strategies, your service area business can enhance its online presence, attract more local customers, and ultimately achieve greater success. Remember, the key to maximizing your Google Business Profile is ongoing engagement and consistent optimization.
Grow Your Business with Local View: Google Listing Experts!
Our specialists fine-tune your profile for maximum visibility and local customer engagement. Enjoy personalized strategies, consistent updates, and active engagement with Local View, making your business a local search standout. Trust us to boost your online visibility while you concentrate on your customers. Partner with Local View for seamless digital navigation!
FAQs About a GBP for a Service Area Business
To set up a Google Business Profile for your service area business, start by visiting google.com/business and signing into your Google account. When creating your profile, choose the option to hide your address and instead specify the service areas by cities, postal codes, or regions you serve.
If your business does not have a physical location, focus on detailing your services, operating hours, and customer testimonials. Use the service area feature to define where you operate, and ensure your contact information is clear for direct customer inquiries.
Regular updates are crucial. Try to post weekly updates about new services, special offers, or customer stories. Keeping your profile active with fresh content improves your visibility and helps engage potential customers.
Enhance your local search ranking by collecting and responding to customer reviews, using local keywords in your profile description, and posting regularly. Also, make sure your business information is accurate and comprehensive, including an up-to-date list of services and operating hours.