How to Optimize Your Google Business Profile for Local SEO

An optimized Google Business Profile (GBP), formerly Google My Business, is an invaluable tool for local businesses. It enables your business to appear in local search results, on Google Maps, and even in Google’s Knowledge Panel.

However, you must strategically optimize your GBP to reap these benefits. This optimization includes accurate information, consistent updates, and leveraging Google’s native features to engage with potential customers.

It’s 100% free to create and manage your Google Business Profile. And you can get a lot out of it without paying a dime. With Local View, learn how to optimize your Google Business Profile to perfection.

Completeness of GBP is an important ranking factor. Try to complete as much as possible information about your business on Google listing.

When you look up a business on Google, you might see a map and a list of nearby businesses at the top. This is known as the “local pack”.

Businesses that do a great job on their Google Business Profiles have a better chance of showing up in this area. And usually, the ones that show up at the top of this list attract more customers.

1. Make sure your NAP is Accurate

Ensure your company’s name, address, and phone number—known as “NAP”—are correct on your Google Business Profile (GBP). Your business’s name is crucial, as keywords in the GBP business title are the #2 ranking factor, impacting your search engine ranking. However, it’s recommended to write your business name exactly as it is, as including keywords is against Google’s guidelines and can lead to suspension. Don’t worry; in the next steps, I’ll show you where it’s better to include keywords.

Address:
- Make sure it’s correct, and the placement of the map pin is accurate.
- Choose your service area; if you didn’t add a business address, you can’t skip this step. Simply choose an area from Google’s suggestions or start typing the name of the area you serve.
- This step is optional if you added the physical address, but you might consider adding it to gain some “extra points.”
Phone Number and Website URL:
- Add your phone number and website URL if you have one.
- Ensure that you have main keywords mentioned on the website.
- TIP: Use important keywords in H1 and H2 tags for better website performance.
- Your GBP landing page might be your homepage or might not be. Therefore, if you don’t want to fill your homepage with keywords, consider adding a new landing page.

2. Select the appropriate business category and subcategories

Your business category tells Google what kind of business you have, making it more searchable. The primary GBP category you select acts as is the #1 ranking factor, so ensure you’ve added the one that your customers will look for. You can always change your business category or add more categories later. Additional GBP categories are also an important ranking factor, so add as many relevant categories as possible. It’s possible to add up to 10.

Tip: A helpful (and free!) the extension you can use to view your competitors’ categories is gmbeverywhere.com. Take inspiration.

3. Customer Reviews

Reviews play a key role in your business reputation. They’re one of the first things people see when they search for your company on Google. A business that continuously gets reviews on a regular basis sends the right signals to Google that it is an active business that the public still cares about.

Never stop asking for reviews. Review acquisition needs to be an integrated and ongoing part of your marketing strategy.

Tip: Respond to customer reviews! You can integrate your Google Business Profile with the Listing Management tool on Local View to respond to reviews from multiple platforms in one place.

4. Add A Good Business Description

A great business description explains:

what you offer
what sets you apart
your history
anything else helpful for customers to know

Add keywords to your business description to enhance your local SEO.

5. Add products and services

Add keywords to your product descriptions and service descriptions. You can add products and services for all businesses, whether service providers or product suppliers. The only difference is for restaurants, which can only add a menu.

6. Use Google Posts to Update Customers

Google Posts help you improve the customer experience. They allow you to share time-sensitive information and important updates directly to Google Search, Maps, and Shopping. Posts can include updates, images, videos, offers, and events. Posting regularly also shows Google that you’re active online, implying to visitors that the rest of your profile is up to date too. We recommend posting twice per week. When you have something new to share, find the “Your business on Google” menu and click “Add update.”

You can also use the Local View Listing Management tool– the GBP Posts Scheduler– to optimize this process.

Tip: Include keywords and important notes in your posts (e.g., include “accepting new patients” for family doctors and dental clinics).

7. Add Q&A

From another account, you might ask questions and respond from your business account.

Tip: Consider those Q&As that appear in search when you search for your main keyword.

8. Add Images to Your Listing

You can add four types of images to your GBP profile:

Logo: Your visual identity when you post updates or reply to reviews.
Cover Photo: A single image representing your business.
Photo: Images that give customers extra insight into your company (e.g., interior and exterior shots or pictures of the team).

Photo Requirements:

Format: JPG or PNG
Size: Between 10 KB and 5 MB
Minimum resolution: 250 px tall, 250 px wide

Tip: We recommend adding 100+ images for better SEO (search engine optimization).

9. Prioritize User Experience

Add business hours and special hours. Confirm public holidays or add hours so customers know when you’re open. If you are going to close earlier, you can also update this information on your Google listing to prevent disappointment. Learn more about business hours’ impact on local pack rankings here.

10. Add Business Attributes and Check Google Suggestions

Don’t forget to add relevant business attributes to provide more information about your business. Check Google Suggestions for additional recommendations and insights to further optimize your Google Business Profile.

Optimizing Your GBP

Follow these steps to optimize your Google Business Profile for best results:

Log in to your Google Business Profile account.
Click on the name of your business.
Update the ‘Info’ section with all relevant information about your business, including your address, contact details, opening hours, and business description.
Add quality photos of your business to provide potential customers with visuals of your offerings. You can use Local View’s Photo Manager to help manage your photos.
Select the appropriate business category and subcategories. This will help Google understand what your business is about, aiding you in ranking for the right local searches.
Encourage your customers to review your business on Google, and be sure to respond to these reviews. Potential customers often look at these reviews before deciding to do business with a company.
Consistently post updates, offers, or events in the ‘Posts’ section. This will not only engage potential customers but also signal to Google that your listing is active and relevant.
Ensure your GBP information matches the information on your website and other local citations for consistency.

Why Optimize Your GBP?

Visibility: Optimizing GBP enhances your business visibility when prospective customers search for services or products that you offer in your locality.
Reputation Management: An optimized GBP features genuine customer reviews and your responses, building trust among potential customers.
Local SEO: GBP plays an integral role in your local SEO strategy, helping you rank higher in local search queries.

Maintaining Your GBP

Once you’ve optimally set up and verified your listing, it’s not a set-and-forget task. Regular reviews and updates are essential as old or incorrect information can mislead potential customers and negatively impact your business.

For businesses with several locations or those finding it challenging to manage their GBP, consider investing in a tool like Local View, which offers a suite of advanced features to automate and optimize your GBP.