The Biggest Mistakes You Can Make On Your Google My Business Profile
Google My Business is the key to mastering your local SEO and cleaning up in your community. However, there is a right and a wrong way to go about populating yours. With that in mind, we’re going to highlight the biggest mistakes that you can make on your GMB profile so you can avoid them!
1. Not claiming your GMB profile
The first and most obvious mistake you can make is simply not claiming your GMB profile to begin with.
You’d be amazed by how many local businesses there are out there who have not yet claimed and filled out their GMB profiles.
There’s an awful lot of potential going to waste so make sure you jump on it and claim your GMB today!
2. Choosing the wrong business category
It might sound silly, but you’d be surprised by how many businesses accidentally choose the wrong category when filling out their GMB profile.
For example: A pizza delivery service should not be listed as a ‘restaurant’ because that implies that they offer a dine-in service. Similarly, a restaurant that does not offer delivery on their food should also be mindful of any categories with the words “takeout” in them, etc.
While there may be some grey area depending on the nature of your niche, make sure you take the time to explore all your options and get this step right.
3. Using a PO box as your registered business address
Understandably, not all businesses will have a ‘physical’ location, such as a landscaper or a mobile detailing company. However, before going ahead and registering a PO box as your address (which Google considers to be ‘false address listings’), instead you should use your personal home address.
Don’t panic! Your home address will not be published for the world to see. Instead, a business service ‘radius’ will be offered to prospective customers, rather than an exact physical location.
Also, don’t try to fool Google into believing that you have a physical address in a different city (or country) because they will catch you out. For example, if you offer SEO in Abu Dhabi and your physical address is there but you are trying to register a GMB in London (even if you do service that area) without a physical address it can get messy.
4. Neglecting customer reviews
The star-rating your GMB profile receives is paramount! You should be dedicated to receiving 4 and 5-star reviews every single time a new customer interacts with your business.
Put it this way: when was the last time you spent any money with a business that had a star-rating lower than 3.5?
With that in mind, make sure you encourage your customers to leave their feedback (but don’t incentivise them with freebies or discounts) and when they do: respond to everything.
5. Inconsistent NAP details
Your NAP details (Name, Address, Phone Number) should be consistent across all media; your website, your business cards, your Facebook profile, and your GMB listing. If you have inconsistencies in your NAP details it will confuse your prospective customers and it may result in Google dropping your GMB from the rankings.
Conclusion: Perfect your GMB
The reality is, these are just a few of the blunders that business owners make when they fill out their GMB profile. If you want to make sure you are putting your best foot forward, we recommend outsourcing your local SEO requirements to the professionals!
That way, you can avoid any unnecessary mistakes while saving your precious time to focus on the things that matter most to you.
