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Are you a local service business struggling to rank your Google My Business?
Here’s 15 key reasons why you’re not ranking and how to fix them.
1. Incomplete or Inaccurate Information
A GMB profile thrives on completeness. Ensure that every section is filled out accurately, including business hours, contact details, and descriptions.
TED Law ensured their GMB ranks better by filling in all the information mentioned above.
2. Lack of Regular Updates
Google values freshness. Regularly updating your GMB listing with new photos, posts, and promotions can signal to Google that your business is active and relevant.
Using TED Law as an example, you can see that they’re regularly updating their GMB with photos and videos, as shown below, which helps them rank better.
Plumbing Pros LLC in Easton, PA has quickly grown their business to over 251 positive reviews in only a few years, largely by doing good work and responding to customer reviews.
3. Inconsistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone) Across the Web: Consistency is key. Discrepancies in your business’s NAP on different websites can confuse Google and dilute your credibility.
4. Not Utilizing Google Posts: Google Posts are an underused feature that can significantly boost engagement and visibility. Regular posts about offers, events, or updates can make a difference.
5. Ignoring Customer Reviews: Engagement with customer reviews, both positive and negative, is crucial. It shows that you value customer feedback and are committed to improving their experience.
TED Law ensures that its GMB ranks high by engaging in customer reviews.
6. Lack of Quality Photos: Photos are worth a thousand words, especially in GMB. High-quality, relevant images can enhance user experience and engagement.
7. Not Leveraging Local Keywords: Optimize your GMB listing with local keywords relevant to your business and community. This helps in matching local search queries more effectively.
8. Failing to Categorize Your Business Properly: The right category can directly impact your discoverability. Ensure your primary and secondary categories align closely with your business offerings.
For example, TED Law GMB shows that it’s in “Personal Injury Attorney” which helps them rank high in the GMB listing.
9. Neglecting to Add Attributes: Attributes like ‘wheelchair accessible’, ‘free Wi-Fi’, or ‘outdoor seating’ can be decisive factors for customers when choosing between businesses.
Using TED Law as an example, they added Wheel Chair accessible as an attribute to ensure that their GMB listing ranks better.
10. Insufficient or Irrelevant Q&A: Monitor and add to the Q&A section of your GMB listing. This can provide valuable information to potential customers and improve SEO.
As you can see below, TED Law monitors and adds Q&A to ensure that customers with any burning questions can get answers faster.
11. Not Utilizing Google My Business Insights: GMB Insights provides valuable data on how customers find and interact with your listing. Use this data to refine your strategy.
12. Poor Website SEO: The performance of your linked website also influences your GMB listing’s rank. Ensure your website is optimized for search engines.
13. Lack of Backlinks: Backlinks from reputable sites can enhance your listing’s credibility and search ranking.
14. Proximity Issues: Proximity to the searcher plays a role in GMB rankings. While you can’t change your location, you can optimize for the area you serve.
15. Penalties Due to Policy Violations: Ensure your listing complies with Google’s guidelines to avoid penalties that can harm your ranking.
In conclusion, mastering Google My Business involves a multifaceted process that demands attention to detail, regular updates, and a keen understanding of SEO best practices.
By addressing these 15 factors, you can enhance the performance and visibility of your GMB listing, paving the way for increased local engagement and business growth.
Want to know whether your business is Googleable and ranking so that you can get more calls and revenue?
Check out our $200 “Are You Googleable” audit.
Dennis Yu
Dennis Yu is a former search engine engineer who has spent a billion dollars on Google and Facebook ads for Nike, Quiznos, Ashley Furniture, Red Bull, State Farm, and other organizations that have many locations.
He has achieved 25% of his goal of creating a million digital marketing jobs because of his partnership with universities, professional organizations, and agencies. Companies like GoDaddy, Fiverr, onlinejobs.ph, 7 Figure Agency, and Vendasta partner with him to create training and certifications.
Dennis created the Dollar a Day Strategy for local service businesses to enhance their existing local reputation and make the phone ring. He's coaching young adult agency owners who serve plumbers, AC technicians, landscapers, roofers, electricians in conjunction with leaders in these industries.
Mr. Yu believes that there should be a standard in measuring local marketing efforts, much like doctors and plumbers need to be certified and licensed. His Content Factory training and dashboards are used by thousands of practitioners.