Local SEO
5 mins

Strategies to Increase Local Traffic on Google My Business Profile

Author
Soaham Guha
Published
Dec 2, 2024

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Why Google My Business Matters for Local Traffic

When someone needs a service in your area, the first thing they do is pull out their phone and search on Google. That split-second decision could mean the difference between them walking into your business or your competitor's.

If you want customers to always choose you, setting up your Google My Business (GMB) profile should be one of the first things on your checklist. It’s completely free and an incredibly effective way to boost your online visibility and attract potential customers.

In this blog, we will explain how you can optimize your GMB profile to drive more local traffic to your business. 

Optimizing Your Google My Business Profile for Success

In order to give your GMB profile maximal visibility, you need to fill out all the necessary sections and make it as engaging as possible for someone scrolling through it.

1. Complete Every Section of Your Profile 

Provide accurate and up-to-date information in all fields, including business name, address, phone number, website URL, hours of operation, and products or services offered.

Select the most relevant primary and secondary categories and write a compelling business description that highlights your unique value proposition and also includes a bunch of local keywords.

2. Add Engaging Photos and Videos

Upload high-quality images of your storefront or office, products/services, and staff members.

Include videos like virtual tours of your business, product demos, and customer testimonials to further engage potential customers looking at your profile.

Enhancing Your Visibility through Local SEO

You can create a lasting impression in the minds of local customers with a mix of uniformity, keyword targeting, and updating specific business details. 

1. Ensure NAP Consistency 

Your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) should be identical across all online platforms, including your website, Google My Business profile, and other online directories (Yelp, Facebook, and other industry-specific listings).

Inconsistent NAP can confuse both customers and search engines like Google, ultimately hurting your local rankings.

2. Optimize for Relevant Local Keywords

Conduct local keyword research to identify the most common terms your target audience uses when searching for businesses like yours. 

Blend these keywords into your business description, products/services, posts, responses to reviews, etc.

Spend some time actually looking for relevant keywords instead of keyword stuffing with AI, and keep it authentic to the reader with a human touch.

3. Set Accurate Business Hours

Keep your hours of operation updated, including regular opening and closing times, holidays, and temporary closures.

Incorrect hours can lead to false expectations, leaving customers frustrated and prompting them to leave negative reviews.

Use Reviews to Build Trust and Engagement

Authentic customer reviews serve as a testament to the quality of your work. It is the voice of your customers that increases trust across a larger base of potential customers.

1. Proactively Request Reviews

Ask satisfied customers to leave a review on your GMB profile either in person after a positive interaction or via an email/text message post-purchase. 

Make leaving a review as easy as possible by creating a direct link to your GMB review page and providing clear, concise instructions. 

2. Respond to All Reviews, Positive or Negative

Thank customers who leave positive reviews by showing your appreciation for their business and valuable feedback in the form of genuinely heartfelt replies.

Address negative reviews constructively by acknowledging the customer's concerns and offering to make things right. If things escalate, take the conversation offline to cool things down.

Responding to these reviews, regardless of their nature, shows you value feedback and are committed to customer satisfaction.

Utilizing Google My Business Features for Engagement

GMB provides more than enough features that you can use to increase customer outreach and induce a positive sentiment toward your business. 

1. Create Engaging Google Posts

Share updates, announce the launch of new products/services, promote sales or special offers, and showcase upcoming events. Highlight customer stories directly on your GMB profile with regular posts. 

Posts can include text, photos, videos, and call-to-action buttons. 

2. Your Q&A Section is a Goldmine

Identify the most commonly asked questions customers have about your business and post these questions and their answers in the Q&A section of your GMB profile.

Upvote the most helpful answers to increase their visibility.

By seeding it with frequently asked questions, you can save time answering repetitive inquiries, ensure accurate information is provided, and highlight your key selling points and differentiators.

3. Enable Messaging for Direct Communication

Turn on the messaging feature in your GMB dashboard—your direct line to ready-to-buy customers. This simple GMB feature lets local customers instantly book appointments and get answers about your services—right when they're most interested. 

Turn on notifications and assign dedicated staff to promptly respond to incoming messages. 

When someone finds your business, make it easy for them to become your next customer with one-click messaging. 

Making Data-Driven Improvements with GMB Insights

Google My Business also provides you with a lot of insights (backed by crystal clear data) to analyze your online presence and accordingly make tweaks to further improve your overall standing on the internet.

 

1. Track Customer Actions on Your Listing

Track insights to identify the gap in your funnel. Analyzing how customers interact with your GMB profile. 

Look for these key metrics:

- Direct searches for your business name
- Discovery searches for your products/services.
- Clicks to your website
- Requests for directions
- Phone calls
- Messages
- Bookings  

For example, if you notice a high number of direction requests but low actual visits, it could indicate issues with your listed address or pin location. Ensuring your address is accurate and easy to locate can help translate more of those searches into real foot traffic.

2. Assess Search Query and Conversion Data 

See which search terms your business appears for. Track both discovery queries that display your listing and direct queries that drive visits to your website or location.

Boost your listing’s performance with high-converting keywords in your business description, products/services, and posts.

Top it all with monitoring search terms over time to adapt to shifting customer needs and preferences.

3. Regularly Audit Your Performance

Use GMB insights along with other analytics tools (for example, Google Analytics) to continually evaluate your business listing's performance.

Look for trends, opportunities, and areas needing attention, like changes in search volume/query type, spikes/dips in customer actions, and differences in performance across locations (for multi-location businesses).

Make data-driven optimizations to your listing by adjusting keywords and categories, refining your description and products/services, and updating photos and posts.

Bringing It All Together 

Your GMB profile is the digital storefront that turns searches into sales. This is where your potential customers meet you for the first time.

Strategic optimization and activity management on your GMB profile can yield exponential growth for your business. Gushwork makes it easy—our dedicated SEO managers (exclusively assigned to you) handle everything. Whether you want to set up Google My Business from scratch or optimize your existing profile, our end-to-end service ensures your business stands out when local customers are searching for you.

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