Local SEO Tools: Take Your Business To The Next Level with Google Business Profile

Digital marketing has come to stay. SEO, which stands for Search Engine Optimization, came around in the ’90s and it looks like it’s not leaving us any time soon. Of course, SEO has seen changes throughout the years, and marketers and business owners have adapted to these updates accordingly.

However, when it came to local businesses, experts understood that other tools and tactics were required. What worked for global SEO did not work for local search engine optimization. Stay with us as we explore one of the most popular local SEO tools out there: Google Business Profile.

Google Business Profile Introduction

Google Business Profile, formerly known as Google My Business, saw its beginnings in 2005, through Google Local Business Center. However, the platform we know today was officially launched in 2014. This

The platform is regarded as Google’s directory, allowing you to add crucial information about your business, such as NAP (name, address, phone number), photos, business location, and other items that can help your company appear on local search results.

Google, the world’s most famous search engine, is the place to be when you want to help your business get discovered by potential customers. Of course, you must set up your GBP correctly for it to be successful.

Starting Your Local SEO Journey: Setting up Your GBP

You need basic items when creating your Google Business Profile. Your business name, hours, contact number, and photos are essential for it to be set up successfully.

It’s Time to Verify Your Business

According to Google and its security measures, you must verify your account before editing the business profile.

The process will vary depending on the profile needs. If you are verifying it for the first time, you must claim your profile. This can be done through text, phone calls, email, or video. However, Google could also request you to verify your account again once you change some business information.

Add All the Information Required

Once you decide to create or claim a business profile on Google, you must add all the business information the platform requires. Some of these items are:

1. Business hours
2. Business NAP: name, address, phone number.
3. Business description.
4. Business logo, photos, and videos.

Content Is King, Even for Local SEO

If you are here, you most likely have some knowledge about global SEO, which means you probably know how important content is in this regard.

Local SEO is not much different in this aspect, even if the execution is. While global SEO content is mostly focused on reaching wider audiences, local SEO content’s goal is reaching people in the town or city the business is in.

GBP plays a great part in this, as you can post SEO-optimized updates to your business account, helping you be on potential customer’s radars.

Let the SEO Games Begin — Optimize Your Google Business Profile

We all know by now that most people use Google search to find several things across the web. Whether you are looking for a restaurant or a new dentist’s office, trusting the search engine to help you find what you need is almost muscle memory at this point.

However, you must pay attention to several factors to ensure your business listing shows up on Google Search and Maps when people search for specific queries.

Some of the things that are part of Google Business Profile’s best practices are:

1. Adding accurate information: Having accurate information helps potential customers find your business.
2. Ensuring you respond to reviews: Customer reviews are social proof. Most people read these thoroughly before making any decisions, so keeping them tidy and showcasing you care about your clients through them can be a game changer.
3. Making sure you have chosen the right category for your business: An optimized Google Business Profile has every aspect covered, and paying attention to this item can help more users find your business since they will be searching for what you offer.
4. Keeping your profile up to date: You want to make sure you keep everything that represents your business fresh and up to date. Have you made any changes to your establishment? Has your menu had minor changes? Make sure you update your business profile accordingly!
5. Asking for help, if needed: Company owners might have issues with their GBP management. Granted, owning and running a business is quite time-consuming, so if you find it difficult to keep up with this essential task, consider hiring agencies that offer local SEO services that can give you the helping hand you need.

Google Business Profile and Other Local SEO Tools

Google Business Profile is essential for local SEO, but there are other popular local SEO tools among experts. Here is the thing: these platforms all have excellent features. Simply said, it is not a matter of which one is better, but a matter of which one fits your (or an agency’s) needs better.

Some experts prefer having an all-in-one tool that helps them monitor several items at once (such as being able to take a look at your GBP metrics, your on-site SEO status, and your listings’ condition). Others prefer having item-focused tools. Here are some of the tools you can rely on when working on local SEO:

BrightLocal

BrightLocal is a user-friendly platform that allows you to monitor your local SEO metrics. With features such as local search audit, citation tracker, citation builder, and rank tracker it is easy to see why this platform is highly sought-after. It also has a free academy that helps you learn and understand more about local SEO and the way the platform works.

SEMRush

SEMRush is another popular local SEO platform among experts. The platform offers keyword research, review management, and rank-tracking features. Similar to BrightLocal, it also showcases listings that might need improvement.

Moz Local

The last tool we will mention today is another popular one among local SEO experts: Moz Local. One of the reasons many choose to work with this platform is that it allows you to delete duplicate listings automatically. It also helps with reputation management on sites like Facebook, Google, and others.

Wrapping Up

If you want to ensure your business shows up on Google Maps and Google Search, you must start at the root of it all: Google Business Profile.  Today’s world moves through its digital paths, and ensuring your business is visible to customers on the internet is now an essential part of owning a company.

Remember to consider all aspects when working on your GBP, including reaching out to experts if needed. Thank you for reading!