If you own a business and want to be more visible on the web, you’ve probably heard of Google My Business. But what exactly is it, and how can you make the most of this free marketing tool? This article will cover a few of the essential topics you need to address to maximize your presence on Google. In this guide, we’ll discuss duplicate listings and how to optimize images for the site. We’ll also cover the importance of responding to reviews in Google My Business and verifying your listing.
Managing duplicate listings in Google My Business
If you’ve already got duplicate listings on Google, you can easily remove them by contacting Google support. They will ask you for the Map links for both listings and an explicit request for the deletion. There are additional resources for GMBpedia members.
To avoid having multiple listings in Google My Business, you need to verify them. This step will ensure that the information is correct and that only you can access it. Most businesses verify their listings via mail or through other methods, but there are ways to verify your information. It’s important to remember that duplicate listings can occur when data is picked up from several sources. Sometimes, a business accidentally adds a verified location to a listing. If the listing is not confirmed, Google will flag it as a duplicate. This is a problem that can cause your listing to be delisted.
Importance of optimizing images in Google My Business
Optimizing your images in Google My Business is as important as optimizing your website photos. There are three targets to keep in mind: file name, file size, and image category. Never leave the file name the same as when you first uploaded it. For example, if you uploaded an image of a camper named IMG_3778957364645, you are not doing your SEO. Instead, name it something like thrive camp 2020.
Photos have a solid correlation to search performance. Businesses with more than 100 photos received 520% more calls, 2717 percent more directions, and 1,065% more website clicks than those with fewer images. Photographs are significant in Google My Business because prospective customers read them. On average, consumers read ten reviews before they trust a business. Consumers trust reviews online over word-of-mouth, so it is so important to optimize your images in Google My Business. Visit https://victoriousseo.com/markets/local-services/ to apply these tips for your local business.
Importance of responding to reviews in Google My Business
Replying to negative reviews is essential for your Google My Business Optimization strategy. This will increase your ranking, but your response will also help others find your business. The process can be time-consuming, so assign someone to respond to reviews. This will also bring consistency and accountability to the process. Search engines will see a business that responds to online reviews as credible and valuable. Log into your GMB account and navigate to your business listing to respond to online reviews. Next, click on the “Reviews” tab in the sidebar. This will show a list of all reviews that have been left for your business.
Importance of verifying your Google My Business listing
Verifying your Google My Business listing is straightforward, but it can be overlooked. If your listing is not confirmed, you could be missing out on the power of SEO. Google provides two ways to verify your listing: sending you a postcard or calling your business. The postcard requires a minimum of five days to arrive, and the only information on it is the business name and location. Verifying your listing via phone is a much faster option.
Once you’ve verified your listing, you can manage its information. Google will only show verified businesses in search results, so verifying yours is crucial. Once your listing is verified, you can change your information, update photos, publish new posts, and respond to customer reviews. You can even use bulk verification if you have more than one location. If you’re using this method, make sure you use the same Google account as your business.