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Google My Business

Google My Business may sound like a generic concept. (Of course people are Googling your business, that’s how the majority of consumers come across new products and services!) However, it’s actually a specific tool that can be critical for your Search Engine Optimization (SEO). We’ll look at what it is and how you can leverage it to shorten the space between you and your target demographic.

What Is Google My Business?

Google My Business is a free service from Google that can help you both manage and boost your business profile. Once you claim ownership and attain management rights, you can start using the features to give you more visibility on Google. Considering Google has 3.5 billion searches per day, this is the search engine that you want to focus on.

What Is a Business Profile?

A Business Profile on Google refers to your listing. If people search for something in your city or town, Google Maps will position your company in the local results as long as you have a profile. Anyone can set up a profile, which will then automatically add your location to the maps section. All you need is the location, name, and business category to get it done. As long as it’s not a duplicate, Google will accept the information and set up the profile.

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What Does Google My Business Mean for Local Marketing?

The most basic profile in the world will still provide you with some degree of visibility. Customers can use it to post photos, leave reviews, and get their questions answered. However, your local SEO success will take more effort than just inputting a few facts about your business.

  • Check-in Online: The more customers see you respond to your profile, the more likely they are to engage with it. For instance, if someone asks a question and you answer it the same day, it encourages the next interested party to reach out the same way.
  • Publish posts: You can manage your profile in much the same way that you would your Facebook profile. Tempt prospective customers to learn more about new products or special discounts when you maintain your profile.
  • Maintain your account dashboard: This is where you can list more information about your business, including hours, website links, pricing, and what makes you different from your competitors.
  • Incorporate keywords: Knowing how local people search for you can go a long way toward building in keywords to your business profile. Google will also promote certain sections of your profile based on relevancy to your customers. Use the analytics tab of the free platform to see who is finding you and how.

How Digital Healthcare Solutions Can Help You Succeed

Keep in mind that anyone can set up a profile for you. Before a disgruntled customer has the chance to do it, take ownership of your results. If you need help mastering your local SEO success, call Digital Healthcare Solutions to nail down a strategy.

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Why Is Google My Business So Important?

Google My Business is a free tool from Google that allows business owners to take control of their online presence. When your patients search for a business online, the keywords they use can trigger the search engine to pull up your business name and location on the map.

Many business owners forget about just how important it is to reach the people who are physically closest to them, and just how much one search engine can impact their bottom line. Prioritizing their searches can be the key to boosting your revenue across the board.

Google My Business: The Business Profile

You may know from your own Google searches that there are plenty of businesses that show up in Google searches that don’t actually have a website. If you click on their information, it may provide little more than an address and a name. It begs the question: why would business owners establish a profile but supply practically no information about what they do?

The answer is that it’s possible the business owner didn’t set up their profile at all. Not everyone thinks it’s important to be online, especially if they’ve gone this long without it. A basic business profile only takes a few basic facts about the establishment to create it, which means that a total stranger can set up the profile and cause it to pop up on the map.

If you don’t want the narrative of your business to run away from, you need to have a concrete approach to how your customers are finding you. This will not only help you reach customers, but it can also help you find out what other people are saying about you.

Mastering the Strategy

Finding the right strategy for Google My Business starts with getting acquainted with the different features. Staying engaged with the available tools will show customers that you’re engaged with them. For instance, customers can ask you questions through Google My Business and get the answers they need to determine whether they want to take the next steps.

Local connections are powerful for a number of reasons. These are people who know everything from the customs to the streets of your city or town, and that common knowledge can be a foundation for the loyalty you need to both help your patients and get ahead.

You can also use analytics to determine how to adjust your profile and whether you need to add more information to it. From photos to hours to brand information, you’re building a bridge that can take your business to the next level.

Contact Digital Healthcare Solutions to Improve Local SEO

We are experts at finding out where your customers are, how they find you, and how you can find them. If you want to learn more about how we can best incorporate Google My Business into your larger local SEO strategy, contact us today to learn more.