Now that you have a firm grasp on SEO versus Local SEO, let’s get started with optimizing your content, website, and blog. The first step is to optimize for Google My Business (GMB).
If you’re anything like the Vector Firm team, you use Google as one of your trusted resources to find services and products that are ideal for you. The good news is that your customers do as well.
The first step in optimizing for Google is to create a Google My Business account. Doing this enables Google to properly locate your office or branches on Google Maps and provides Google with your basic company information so that it can be authenticated as being a legitimate business.
According to HubSpot, there are the five steps to setting up your GMB account:
- Create your GMB account
- Verify your business
- Optimize your business listing
- Download the GMB app
- Learn the differences between GMB, Google Places, and Google+
Create Your GMB Account
This is a simple step that requires inputting your basic business information like address, hours, areas you service, etc.
Verify Your Business
At this point, anyone could have started a GMB account, but how does Google know it’s a legitimate account? Google resorts to older technologies in order to verify you digitally. You will have the option to verify your account via mail, phone, or email. Additional methods include instant verification or bulk verification which require that you have used Google Search Console for instant verification, and you can verify a chain of locations using their bulk verification option.
Optimize Your Business Listing
Optimization means that you are adding additional information that will be useful for Google to show your business as locally relevant. You’ll have the option to upload your logo, solicit business reviews, respond to reviews, and create content within your account by using Google Posts.
Download the GMB App
The GMB app is handy to have on your mobile device. It allows you to easily update your GMB account information and add new information on the fly. By using the app in addition to your other strategies for blogging and social posting, you’ll be feeding information right into the Google search machine.
More Google Tools
Aside from GMB, it’s important to know what Google Places and Google+ are. Yep, there are in fact seemingly 1000 Google things available for you and your business.
Google Places is the old version of GMB. If you had a Google Places account, make sure you don’t rely on that and move over to GMB.
Google+ is basically a Facebook account for your business, except that you should have a Facebook business page. If you’re trying to keep your platform and channel count manageable, use Facebook and skip Google+.
Next, in Part 3 of the series: Website and Blog Updates to optimize Local SEO
Your GMB account is up and running and optimized. Next, it’s time to think about webpage and blog formatting and updates.
SEO Your Way to Profit
Now is the time to plan, act, and execute on Google. The year is only a few months old and there’s time to implement and refine the steps necessary to launch your Google marketing strategy and impact your sales for 2020.
Get started today by contacting the Vector Firm team for advice.
