Common Google Business Profile Mistakes That Kill Local Rankings
At My Business On Maps, we recognize that despite being a widely used, free, powerful local SEO tool, many businesses still lack the complete knowledge required to make the most out of Google Business Profile. The results? They fail to achieve any worthwhile results for their business. The culprit? It’s either under-optimized or a profile is mis-optimized—usually resulting in infrequent foot traffic, low website visits, and, accordingly, low conversions. To help businesses tackle the mistakes that might be stagnating their local rankings, we are outlining some common Google Business Profile mistakes along with essential strategies that you can use to fix them and achieve the results you are looking for. We will also explain how our local listings management services at My Business On Maps can benefit you.
Key Mistakes To Avoid
Setting up and optimizing a Google Business Profile isn’t merely about adding keywords and information and acquiring reviews. It’s about clearly communicating what your business does while filling out the essentials. Businesses need to understand that it’s the medium through which potential customers reach out to them. Neglecting to fill in details, missing out on high-quality visuals, and engaging in keyword stuffing are all mistakes businesses need to avoid. Here are the silent killers of local rankings.
Incomplete or Inaccurate Info
Your Google Business Profile includes various fields, each with a distinct purpose. Failing to complete any of them or entering inaccurate information into any field can hurt your visibility and user trust. Remember, Google prioritizes complete, consistent data for its search and map results.
Inconsistent NAP (Name, Address, or Phone Number)
You must ensure that the NAP (Name, Address, or Phone Number) details on your Google Business Profile match those on your website, social media, and all online directories (like Yelp). Inconsistency may confuse Google and undermine your business’s legitimacy.
Ignoring Reviews
Ignoring reviews can harm your local SEO by reducing prominence, trust, and engagement signals, leading to lower rankings in both local search results and the map pack. You might be unwilling to ask existing customers to post reviews, or you might be missing opportunities to respond to their reviews. Both scenarios signal poor engagement that hurts rankings.
Poor Visuals
Not posting high-quality photos and videos is something that you need to avoid. Also, posting blurry or outdated images, or not posting pictures at all, is going to impact your local rankings.
Keyword Stuffing
Google strictly prohibits Keyword stuffing in Google Business Profile (GBP). Doing so means violating Google’s guidelines and risking your profile, too. It usually leads to penalties, including lower rankings, suspensions, and even removal in some instances.
Neglecting Google Posts & Q&A
Despite being a free tool, Google Business Profile offers a multitude of helpful options that you can use to top Google’s local ranking charts. Many businesses miss out on using Google Posts to share updates, offers, and events, including photos and CTAs. They even miss out on using the Q&A section to proactively answer commonly asked questions by posting their own FAQs.
Wrong Categories
Another common mistake new business owners make is choosing the wrong primary category for their business when setting up their Google Business Profile. This results in them missing out on ranking opportunities for specific searches. It confuses search algorithms, harms their local SEO, and reduces their lead generation.
No Localized Content
To rank locally, you need to focus on a specific local area. Hyperlocal marketing in Google Business Profile (GBP) involves adding location-specific information to the profile to attract local customers. However, not many businesses focus on this kind of optimization, and eventually it hurts their chances of ranking for local search results.
How To Fix Them
The key to fixing potential mistakes you could make as a business was knowing about them in the very first place. Now that you have comprehended them, let’s dive into the ways to fix these common mistakes that hinder your local rankings.
Complete Everything
Ensure you complete all sections of your Google Business Profile and update them as needed. Double-check the filled-in basic information, hours, and selected categories, and add a compelling description as well.
Standardize NAP
The online realm is a connected one. Missing out on inputting the same information on different listing platforms can affect your ranking probability. Ensure all your NAP details are identical across all platforms, as they are on GBP.
Manage Reviews Actively
Be sure to manage all the posted reviews on all your Google Business Profiles. Even if they are negative ones, be sure to respond to them, as not doing so signals that you are not concerned about your business reputation. While you can’t delete negative comments, you can report the inappropriate reviews for policy violations like spam or profanity. Also, make sure to encourage customers to leave reviews.
Upload High-Quality Media
Add professional photos and videos to your profile section, and ensure they are high-quality.
Use Keywords Naturally
Incorporate relevant local keywords in your business description and services, and not in the business name.
Use All Features
Don’t miss out on using all the potential features of a GMB profile. Post updates, answer questions, and add products/services.
My Business On Maps – Here To Broaden Your Online Presence
At My Business On Maps, we understand that Google Business Profile isn’t just a free tool that businesses can leverage to their advantage. It’s actually the cornerstone of an effective local SEO strategy that sets the stage for their business to realize long-term returns on efforts made. However, there’s always a chance businesses will miss out on essentials. Hence, it’s recommended that they opt for a local listings management services provider that manages all their business listings and not just Google Business Profile.
For businesses seeking an online marketing partner, contact us at My Business On Maps. We help businesses elevate their local SEO performance, enabling them to grow strategically and achieve the results they are after. With us, your goals take center stage as we apply innovative strategies to position your business prominently with your local audience. Just give us your business details, and we’ll handle the rest to help you secure better rankings on local search results.
Our comprehensive business listing service will help you dominate local search results across multiple platforms, not just Google. So, if you’re serious about leveling up your business, contact us today and let us work to elevate your local search engine rankings.