Did you notice that USPS does not deliver the YellowBook anymore?
Why?
Because more than 60% of Americans use mobile phones and computers to search for local businesses. This shows that we just don’t use the Yellowbook anymore.
But what happened to the businesses which depended on the Yellowbook advertising? They do not have space anymore for advertising as the newspaper industry is in a decline. How can they reach the local market now?
Why?
Because more than 60% of Americans use mobile phones and computers to search for local businesses. This shows that we just don’t use the Yellowbook anymore.
But what happened to the businesses which depended on the Yellowbook advertising? They do not have space anymore for advertising as the newspaper industry is in a decline. How can they reach the local market now?
Small businesses need to join the space where their customers are spending time now. They need to go online.
Join “Google My Business” family
One of the first thing a business owner should do it to join Google My Business (GMB). There is no website needed to have an account. It is a free tool that helps business owners manage their online presence across the search engine. With joining and verifying the business existence, the business will be added to Google Maps.
If you have a service based business you can optimize the areas which you serve around your address.
If you have a brick and mortar store, you just add your address and office hours.
If you have a brick and mortar store, you just add your address and office hours.
In the last couple of years, Google added more and more features to GMB. The first of which I would like to focus on today; the business categories feature.
Business Categories
It seems like just a tiny segment of the listing, but it’s actually very important. Previously we could add only one category, but most of the businesses service not just one but multiple niches. Do not forget to add and optimize your categories.
For example, a Mental Health Counselor could add marriage counseling, couple therapy, life coaching, ADHD therapy, divorce counseling, etc…
Or a jewelry design studio, where you also could take art workshops could fit into different categories like: jewelry shop, and gift shop, an art studio, art school, artist, etc. All their categories are like keywords, and give information to Google when to show the business in the search. Don’t miss the opportunity to add multiple categories if they apply to your business.
Posts
The posts are also new on Google Business Listing. These are similar posts to the ones on Facebook or other social media. You can post about offers with a link, services with a “CALL NOW” button, or just additional information about your business and services. You can schedule the posts as well, making posting more efficient. You can have 3 posts at any time, but they expire after 7 days, so keep in mind that you have to come back regularly and add new posts. The great thing about these posts is that visitors do not even have to go to your website to see your offer; they can see it right away in the search result.
Description
This is also a new feature, which you can use to describe your business. Use this area very wisely. Do not write about how long you have been in business, or what your mission statement is, don’t add a link to your website. An optimized description uses keywords and short sentences that explain your service.
Photos
Lastly, GMB allows you to post pictures of your business, or images related to your service, interior and exterior shot for stores, Team member images, products images, etc. These are all good information for google, and also for visitors who are looking at your service. Make sure that you name the image file names according to the service or image they describe. Forget the automatic Sony121343_ 19112019.jpg file name.
There is a long article just about how to optimize images in WordPress, for better SEO.
There is a long article just about how to optimize images in WordPress, for better SEO.
Google Reviews
Having Google reviews on your site is a huge advantage that helps your business to stand out from the others.
