Local SEO with Google My Business

A Google My Business listing improves your visibility to local audiences. Google knows where the visitor is, but it also knows the location of your business. Someone searching for a plumber is better off with a business just round the corner than one on the other side of the country. 

No-click searches

Google already answers around 65% of searches itself. Google draws on multiple databases, including your website and your Google My Business listing. In the past, many people used to search for your address, directions or telephone number. Now, Google displays this information directly to the searcher. 

How do you set up a Google My Business account?

A business listing on Google is free. There’s a good chance your business is already listed thanks to public databases such as the Chamber of Commerce business register. Search for your business and then claim it. To verify your listing, Google will send a card with a code to your address; once you’ve entered this code, the business listing will be under your control. Now fill in the business listing as fully as possible, and don’t forget to include your website’s URL. 

Structured data

SEO experts actively use structured data. This code is embedded in the website’s source code and provides search engines with detailed information about the type of content on the website. By using structured data effectively, search engines can better understand your website. When combined with Google My Business, your business listing will appear more frequently in search results for keywords featured in your content – particularly to people who live or work near your location. 

Does this really work well?

Google My Business provides statistics. It tells you which search queries resulted in your business listing being displayed, as well as how often people clicked on your phone number, directions and links to your website. Google My Business is frequently used to check opening hours. Make sure your business listing is up to date, and the same applies to your website. 

Integration with Google Ads

A Google My Business listing combined with Google Ads is a winning combination. Local searches are more cost-effective and generate plenty of relevant impressions amongst the right target audiences. It’s even possible to measure the number of in-store conversions (i.e. how many people actually visited your business via Google Ads). You do, however, need to add a video banner. 

If your business has multiple locations, create a location group and import it into Google Ads. They make life a lot easier and deliver good results. 

Do you want to be found more easily by the right target audiences in your local area? Ask SEO Ninja to sort this out for you.