#SEO #DigitalMarketing #GoogleMyBusiness #GoogleMaps #LocalSEO #SEOTips

In the landscape of digital marketing, one often-overlooked SEO tool holds immense power for businesses aiming to dominate local search results: Google My Business (GMB). We all know that an SEO optimized website is extremely important, but local map and search results on Google are becoming increasingly vital. Despite their importance, many businesses neglect to harness their full potential, missing out on critical tools for improving their local SEO and connecting with potential customers.

The Crucial Role of Google My Business

Want your company to rank higher in local Google search results? Claiming, optimizing, and consistently developing your Google My Business Profile is one of the most crucial things you can do for visibility. GMB gives you access to local customers and drives engagement and interest. If you want Google to take your business seriously and outrank your competitors in local search results, investing in GMB profile optimization is a must.

The New "Add Update" Feature is a Game-Changer

Recently, Google rolled out a game-changing feature on GMB: the "add update" option. This feature transforms your GMB profile into a mini-blog, allowing businesses to regularly share updates, stories, and offers directly on their listing. Here's why this feature is a game-changer for local SEO:

Storytelling Opportunity: The "add update" feature isn't just about posting updates; it's about storytelling. Businesses can now share behind-the-scenes glimpses, success stories, customer testimonials, and industry insights, creating a compelling narrative that resonates with potential customers. Although there isn’t much space for text, use the opportunity to organically integrate keywords. Visuals are at the play a pivotal role in captivating your audience and telling compelling stories and Google places great emphasis on this.

Connection Building: By sharing authentic and engaging content, businesses can forge deeper connections with their audience. This humanizes the brand, fosters trust, and encourages customer loyalty. Use the power of visuals to tell captivating stories about your business, sharing behind-the-scenes moments, client interactions, and testimonials made into graphics. Allowing your audience to get to know you through visuals allows you to increase your likeability and trust factors.

Visibility and Ranking Boost: Google values fresh and relevant content and will consider a GMB profile that consistently shows up to be one of greater authority.

How to Rank on Google Maps

We’ve all seen search results on Google Maps show up alongside website results. It’s no secret that Google is changing the way we find local businesses. Google often adds “near me” suggestions to the search user, helps Google know that search user’s intent. They want to find a business (like yours!) that is in their local area to help them solve their problem.

To get your Google My Business profile to rank when people near you search for your products or services, it’s important to understand the way Google’s Local SEO algorithm works.

According to Google, the three main local ranking factors are: Distance, Relevance, and Prominence.

You may not be able to control close you are to the search user, but you can absolutely improve your Relevance and Prominence with regular updates.

Search Relevance is all about how closely you are matching the searcher’s query. Can you solve their problem, and do your updates show them how you are able to do that? Prominence is about how well liked and trusted your business is. With the add update feature, demonstrate your likeability, creating familiarity with photos of you, your employees, and your office. Show social proof by sharing testimonials and client reviews.

Leveraging the Power of "Add Update" for Business Growth

To get the most out of the "add update" feature and enhance your local SEO strategy consider implementing:

Consistent, Short, and Impactful Updates: Posting once or twice a week is optimal for maintaining engagement. Keep your posts short, keyword rich, with concise captions that complement your visuals and convey your message effectively. Focus on delivering content that resonates with your audience and encourages them to engage with your services. Be sure to mention your local area to show up in relevant local map packs.

Keyword Optimization: Incorporate relevant keywords and location-specific phrases in your updates to improve visibility for local searches, while highlighting your expertise and trustworthiness.

Visual Appeal: Use high-quality images and videos to make your updates visually appealing and attention-grabbing. Hire a local professional photographer so your audience knows that you and your business are committed to a high level of quality and professionalism. Ask your photographer to cross-promote your business!

Call-to-Action (CTA): Make it easy for potential clients to connect with you directly from your GMB profile. Include clear CTAs in your updates to encourage actions such as visiting your website, contacting you, or making a purchase. The “Add Update” has many different Calls-to-Action to choose from. Help your audience take that all-important next step and have them reach you directly.

Respond: Respond promptly to reviews, messages, and comments to demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the "add update" feature on Google My Business is a game-changer for businesses serious about dominating local search results and connecting with their target audience. By embracing this feature and crafting compelling updates with professional visual content, businesses can strengthen their online presence, improve rankings, and attract new customers. Don't overlook the power of GMB in your local SEO strategy—it's the key to unlocking success in the digital age.