Google My Business Profile Optimization - Ultimate Tutorial for 2023 (Every Secret Revealed!)

Last updated: Jun 29, 2023

This video is a tutorial on how to optimize your Google My Business profile to attract more customers and generate more revenue.

This video by Ranking Academy was published on Oct 25, 2022.
Video length: 37:55.

This video is a tutorial on how to optimize your Google My Business profile for better online visibility and higher rankings on search engines.

The video explains the importance of having an optimized profile and showcases the difference between a non-optimized profile and a fully optimized one. It provides step-by-step instructions on how to edit your business name, add a business address, and offers tips on adding relevant keywords to your profile without violating Google's guidelines.

The video aims to help small business owners attract more customers and generate more revenue through their Google My Business profile.

Introduction to the importance of optimizing a Google My Business profile.
Comparison of a non-optimized profile versus an optimized profile.
Explanation of the benefits of optimizing a Google My Business profile.
Overview of the tutorial and its organization into chapters.
Instructions on how to navigate the tutorial using timestamps.
Instructions on how to access your Google My Business profile.
Explanation of the different interface options that may be available.
Importance of the business name and its impact on search rankings.
Guidelines for adding keywords to the business name without violating Google's rules.

Google My Business Profile Optimization - Ultimate Tutorial for 2023 (Every Secret Revealed!) - YouTube

Section 1: Introduction

Introduction to the importance of optimizing a Google My Business profile
Comparison of a non-optimized profile versus an optimized profile
Explanation of the benefits of optimizing a Google My Business profile
Overview of the tutorial and its organization into chapters
Instructions on how to navigate the tutorial using timestamps

Section 2: Accessing and Editing Your Google My Business Profile

Instructions on how to access your Google My Business profile
Explanation of the different interface options that may be available
Importance of the business name and its impact on search rankings
Guidelines for adding keywords to the business name without violating Google's rules
Demonstration of how to edit the business name using both interface options

Section 3: Adding a Business Address

Importance of adding a business address to the Google My Business profile
Common mistakes made when adding a business address
Explanation of different scenarios for adding a business address
Instructions on how to add a business address correctly
Importance of consistency in the business address across all platforms

Google My Business Profile Optimization - Ultimate Tutorial for 2023 (Every Secret Revealed!) - YouTube

Section 4: Optimizing Business Categories and Attributes

Explanation of the significance of business categories and attributes
Instructions on how to choose the most relevant business categories
Importance of selecting additional attributes to provide more information about the business
Demonstration of how to edit business categories and attributes
Guidelines for selecting appropriate attributes and avoiding spammy practices

Adding Address to Your Listing

You can add an address to your Google My Business listing if you have a physical location where customers visit.
If you have a suite number or are on a specific floor, it is recommended to add these details to your second address line.
You can add a suite number by clicking on "ADD address line" in the edit profile section.
Virtual office locations are not eligible for a Google My Business profile.
If your business operates from a co-working space, you can only claim a listing if the office has clear signage, receives customers, and is staffed by your business.

Service Area Businesses

If your business travels to customers' homes instead of having a physical location, you should not add a physical address to your listing.
Instead, specify the areas in which you operate by clicking on the service area option in the edit profile section.
You can include up to 20 areas within a two-hour drive of your business location.
Adding areas you don't cover is not recommended as it won't help your business rank higher.
Service area businesses may choose to display or not display an address on their listing, but it's important to follow Google's guidelines to avoid issues.

Hybrid Businesses

Hybrid businesses have a physical location where customers visit but also provide services at customers' homes.
These businesses can add a physical address to their listing and specify the areas in which they operate.

Editing or Adding Phone Number

You can edit or add a phone number to your Google My Business listing in the contact section of the edit profile.
Add the primary phone number that connects directly to your business.
If you use a toll-free number or call tracking number, you can add it as a secondary phone number.

Choosing the Right Business Category

Your primary business category is the most influential factor for your listing's rankings.
Choose the category that matches the service or product that brings the most revenue to your business.
You can spy on your competitors' listings to see what categories they have chosen.
Use the GMB Everywhere Chrome extension to overlay categories on Google Maps search results.
Edit your business categories from the "Edit Profile" option and add relevant secondary categories.

Linking Your Listing to a Website

Link your listing to the home page of your website if you manage only one listing.
Ensure the content of your home page aligns with your primary category and targeted keywords.
For businesses with multiple locations, link each listing to a dedicated location page on your website.
If you change your primary category based on seasonal trends, update the website link accordingly.
Modify the website link using the "Edit Profile" option and the pencil icon.

Adding Secondary Categories

Use the GMB Everywhere extension to see what secondary categories your competitors have added.
You can add up to nine secondary categories to your listing.
Edit categories from the "Edit Profile" option and select "Business Information."
Follow the same steps as previously described to modify or add secondary categories.
For seasonal businesses, switch your primary category according to the season to attract relevant customers.

Building a Website from Your Google Listing

If you don't have a website, you can build a free one directly from your Google listing.
The free Google website is created automatically based on your Google Business listing information.
Customize the website in minutes to showcase your business.
To build a website, click on the "Website" option in either interface.

Website Customization

Click on "manage" in the dialog box to access the old Google Business profile manager.
Customize your website using the built-in options.
Click on "publish" to associate the link to your site with your listing.

Importance of Reviews

98% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses.
Reviews are displayed prominently on your profile and can make a difference in whether someone contacts your business.
Reviews also impact your listing's visibility in search results.
Google reviews are recommended, and you can ask customers to post reviews via text, email, or social media.
Responding to reviews, both positive and negative, contributes to building customer trust.

Accurate Business Hours

Keeping accurate business hours is crucial to avoid customer backlash and missed revenue.
From interface number one, click on the edit profile icon and then the hours menu link to update your hours.
You can add regular business hours, holiday opening hours, and specific hours for services you provide.
From interface number two, click on edit profile, select business information, and follow the same steps.
Google plans to automatically update the business hours of 20 million businesses using AI technology, but it's important to verify your hours manually.

Avoiding Inaccurate Information

Add your operating hours on your website to verify the information with Google.
Update your business hours regularly to ensure accuracy.
Manually verify your opening hours to avoid relying solely on Google's automatic updates.

Adding an Appointment Link

Adding an appointment link to your Google My Business profile can generate more leads directly from your listing.
You can add an appointment link even if you're a service-based business like a lawyer or accountant.
Using a booking facility like Calendly can make your profile look more professional.
To add an appointment link, click on the arrow in interface number one, select "Bookings," and add the link.
In interface number two, click on "Edit Profile," select the booking option, and follow the same process.

Optimizing Your Business Description

Your business description is displayed at the bottom of your listing and should tell potential customers about your company.
Your description has no influence on your listing's ranking in Google search results, so avoid keyword stuffing.
Don't use uppercase letters, emojis, or add links in your description.
The description can hold up to 750 characters, but only 244 will be shown initially.
To add or update your business description, click on "Edit Profile" and add your description in the field.

Displaying Opening Date

Displaying your opening date can be reassuring for customers, especially if your business has been established for many years.
To add your opening date, click on "Edit Profile," select "Opening Date," and enter the date your business started operating.
Google will automatically add the number of years you've been in business to your listing.
Be transparent and avoid misleading customers by adding a false opening date.
The number of years in business only shows on your listing in Search and Maps, not on your panel.

Adding Business Attributes

Business attributes are labels that can appear on Google listings and convey certain features or qualities about your business.
Attributes like "women-owned," "curbside pickup," or "wheelchair accessible" can help your business appear in relevant searches.
The available attributes depend on your primary business category.
To add attributes, click on "Edit Profile," select "More," and explore the different categories to select relevant attributes.
In interface number two, click on "Edit Profile," and from the pop-up window, select the attributes that apply to your business.

Questions and Answers Section

Questions and answers section is a Google business profile feature that is often overlooked by business owners.
Members of the public can post questions and answers directly on your listing, which could display inaccurate information.
To avoid this, make sure you are notified whenever someone posts a question on your listing.
You can also post your own questions and provide the answers to them.
Questions can be liked, and the most liked question will appear directly on your listing.

Photos

Photos play a significant role in showing off your business and attracting customers.
Businesses that add photos to their profiles receive more requests for directions and clicks through to their websites.
Make sure to use a high-quality cover photo that represents your brand well.
The recommended cover photo size is 1024 pixels by 576 pixels, in JPEG or PNG format, and not exceeding 5 megabytes.
Your logo is also important for brand recognition, and the recommended size is 720 pixels by 720 pixels, in PNG format, and not exceeding 5 megabytes.

Adding and Changing Photos

Regularly add photos to your listing to drive customer engagement and leads.
The best photos to add are ones that showcase your services, products, team members, and the exterior and interior of your business.
Photos should be in JPEG or PNG format, not exceeding 10 megabytes, and a minimum of 720 pixels by 720 pixels.
Avoid using free stock photos, as they may not be representative of your business and could be automatically removed.
To add more photos, click on the "add photo" icon and choose the photo option from the pop-up window.

Adding Products to Your Listing

You can visually enhance your business panel by adding products to your listing.
Products are placed high on your business panel and are eye-catching to visitors.
You can include images, prices, and create different product categories.
Visitors can scroll through the list of products and explore different categories.
Clicking on a product opens a pop-up window with product details and a call to action.

Adding Services to Your Listing

If you're a service-based business, you can add the list of services you provide to your listing.
Services are displayed within the Google Map app results.
Adding services helps searchers make informed decisions about your business.
Google suggests a list of services based on your category, but you can also add custom ones.
You can add a price and description to each service.

Using the Post Feature

The post feature allows you to provide the latest information about your business directly from your profile.
Posts act like social media updates and can inform searchers about special events or offers.
There are three types of posts: latest update posts, offer posts, and event posts.
Latest update posts include an image, description, and call to action.
Offer posts display for the duration of the offer and include details and terms.

Adding a Post to Your Listing

You can add a post to your listing at least once a week.
Using interface number one, click on the add update icon and select the post type you want to create.
Fill in the details, including an image, description, and call to action.
Using interface number two, click on the promote button and select the post type you want to add.
Fill in the details, including an image, description, and call to action.

Activating the Messaging Feature on Google My Business

Activate the messaging feature on your Google My Business profile to allow potential leads to text message you instead of calling.
A chat button will appear on your listing in the Google Map app and on your posts in Google search results on mobile phones.
The chat button will not appear on your listing when viewed on a desktop, but a prominent call to action button labeled "request a quote" may be added to your business panel.
Respond to messages as promptly as possible to provide good customer service and to prevent Google from automatically switching off the message feature.
You can add a welcome message and customized automated responses when activating the message feature.

Watch the video on YouTube:
Google My Business Profile Optimization - Ultimate Tutorial for 2023 (Every Secret Revealed!) - YouTube