Did you know that Google My Business and Google Maps are the most powerful tools to boost new local business in 2021
Last year I started realising the power of Local SEO as a webdesigner. I had tried all of the well known SEO tools and software and even seen what agency do to pretend they are optimising business, but often they are damaging businesses with poor quality links. This learning curve of mine made me want to share what I learned.
So back at the end of 2019, 18 Oct 2019 to be precise, I gave my top 13 tips to help you for the coming year of 2020 If you want to view it head over to the article called “Google My Business Secrets“. The surprise was that few local businesses really knew this information and suddenly my Youtube videos were in demand. At the time a few hundred subscribers followed me. As of writing its had 8,834 views.
Now a few thousand subscribers later and a growing channel as more businesses managers apply and see the value of these regular videos I unleash 13 Google My Business Optimization Tips to Rank Higher in 2021. This video below will help you rank in Google Maps. You need to optimize your profile in Google My Business the right way to really see the boost.
Everything you need to know about GMB 2021
The fact is still quite a few business owners don’t use Google My Business correctly or haven’t even used it at all! If you have an online business then its likely you have already heard about Google My Business. If you haven’t head over to https://youtu.be/eEo2IbhCtMo
You are likely to be among the majority who haven’t had time to boost their online business yet by adding the new marketing attributes tags released a few months ago by Google or having the correct Health and safety and Category options enabled.
Google My Business allows your business to appear in local search engine results and on Google maps. So please treat this article and video as an MOT/vehicle inspection or a tick list for your business listing.
How to Rank Higher on Google Maps in 2021 Video
“Regular content and consistency will boost any Google Business profile and rank higher on Google Maps”
Zanet Design
Next Look as some ways to give boosts with a brand new trick released this week. Additionally, I show how photos can make a huge difference in being shown in the results. Next, the great use of the GMB app and how to use it for accepting quotes from prospective clients. All online businesses will want to learn the power of Publer for using bold as a heading in Google My business post.
Video: Google My Business For Online Business
The Big 13 : How To Rank In Google Maps 2021
Tip 1
Complete your Business Profile. so many Google Business listings on Google Maps lack clarity or even aren’t properly registered. So make sure that’s not the case for your business by doing a simple search for your business name in Google
Tip 2
Citations can come from all over the web. Do you know where yours are coming from? There are tools like ubersuggest that can reveal where your backlinks are coming from. Additionally register as many online business directories that make sense to your business. In this way you build accurate details and this over time will impact on your business authority in turn rank.
Tip 3
Maximise your buttons. Buttons can be made up as a request a quote like the image below, as well as Call, Directions, Save and Website. These are all available by simply adding the relevant information to the listing are in your Google My Business control panel.
To get a request a quote button for business enquiries you will need the app on your phone. You may have received an email message asking for a quote. If not make sure you have this feature as it’s essential for online businesses. Make sure you download the app.
Then make sure you respond quickly to a quote. Google will have a trigger in a positive way if you respond. Adversely if you don’t reply promptly that will provide a negative ranking, so its good to benefit from this if you receive one.
While you are there, are your opening and closing times correct? Google likes these to be updated as you can see also in the screenshot below.
Tip 4
The first 250 letters or characters out of the allowed 750 letters are by far the most important. So make sure you understand what keywords are important for new clients to find your business and then write a great description especially in the first few sentences. For Facebook use all 255 characters and copy it from GMB to Facebook for consistency.
How do you get the right keywords and know what to aim for? Make sure you go to insights again and analyse the keywords there. It will tell you what you are currently being found under and these should be at the front of your keyword list.
Also you can always head over to Google Analytics and Google Search Console. Take a look at this video as it is still current for ranking In Google Maps for 2021with the right keywords.
Keywords for Google My Business is one of the biggest areas of confusion
Tip 5
Updating the profile and regularity of information can not be stressed enough. Each week add photos. Take a look at insights and beat your competitors. Photos bring in traffic. Insights will show you. One place most business owners don’t consider as a serious way to gain traffic is through good quality images. When did you last take a look at your Google My Business insights? Take a look at where your traffic is coming from and most of my clients see its not from the website or maps. It’s from images or photos.
These images are even showing the standard search within the Google mobile results see this article for a full explanation of Google my business images showing in SERPs. Not only is Google showing them more often these days. But photos and videos bring in the most traffic by far because visitors like a visual appreciation of a product or service.
Tip 6
Check you have the most accurate and latest categories assigned to your business. There are a few ways to do this. Head over and get this special tool if you use chrome. There on the page, you will also see all the categories available Visit zanet/gmb – spy
Tip 7
Use Yoast to add feature-rich snippets Yoast is an amazing tool. it can also help you add articles that will rank in voice search
Tip 8
Check your Knowledge panel out in the real world. Google changes layouts constantly. for example only last week my social media links stopped showing. Yet Q and As have now reappeared. Google Maps and Google My business are constantly being treated by Google along with new features, so keep checking back. If you see something new then get onto it and it could be the very thing that gets you ahead in the map ranking.
Tip 9
Regularly add an article / post / event / offer. You can edit your Google My Business within search engine results too, so it’s now easier than ever to do this
Tip 10
Ask for reviews with review link and always ask for them to include photos. This is a really good ranking factor for 2021 Use keywords to reply to all your reviews on Google My Business (keywords video)
Tip 11
Increase branding. You can do this with good use of images and logos..Also if you can register for bookings, online calender etc you get extra ticks and buttons on your knowledge panel. These are all good ranking factors for 2021. Also brand your special offers and categories products
Tip 12
Answer all Questions and Answers with keywords. you can even ask and answer your own
Tip 13
Add a manager if you are struggling. Google understands that there is a lot to do if you are wanting a serious presence in local SEO and Google maps. Do you need an experienced professional to manage your website and help your small business grow on the web?
If you want a pro to look after your Google My Business then send a message on my contact page or take a look at the GMB management packages here.
How To Rank In Google Maps 2021 Conclusion
In summary, these suggestions and tips when done together in on a regular basis will have a massive impact on your Google Maps rank for 2021.
The article and video above will help you discover how to rank in Google Maps 2021. The 13 tips are easy to follow and the video shows you how I do it. So I hope these videos and suggestions have been really helpful. please let me know below if you have any questions in the comments below.