Four Ways to Accurately Update Your Google My Business Listing

Four Ways to Accurately Update Your Google My Business Listing

A Google My Business listing plays a central role in any local SEO strategy because most searchers look for businesses close to a physical location rather than a website. Keeping the listing’s NAP data (Name, Address, and Phone) consistent helps a local business rank higher in local searches and supports the business’s reputation and revenue. Below are four ways to make sure the listing data stays accurate.

Publish locally relevant content and earn reviews

Most consumers read online reviews before visiting a business. 74% of consumers say reading online reviews makes them more likely to trust a local business, and 84% of searchers trust online reviews as much as personal references. A website visitor is willing to trust an anonymous stranger’s opinion as much as a trusted friend’s. Adding local content to a site increases the chance that users searching for a nearby product or service will find it. Businesses without a website rely on their local audience instead.

Claim and optimize Apple Maps and other citation listings

Claiming and optimizing an Apple Maps listing is another important local SEO step. Citations make up one-third of the local pack ranking factors, according to Moz, and each citation should contain the same NAP for every location. The most valuable citations display the business’s name, address, and phone number. Unstructured citations exist but are not as important as they used to be.

Get listed on review sites and keep NAP consistent

Review sites are an important local SEO channel because they give customers reviews and give local searchers useful information. Citations should appear in the same language as the location. A company’s website should be optimized so it can be listed on these sites. Using review sites can increase traffic and boost Google’s local pack ranking. The right NAP in local SEO drives more traffic and converts more customers.

Focus on website content, the Local Pack, and NAP

Google’s Local Pack also shapes local SEO. A local business’s NAP is the first factor visitors use when searching for a business in the area, and customers who are local to the location are more likely to visit the site. A restaurant with more review listings is more likely to appear for more relevant searches.

Website content shows potential customers what the business offers. A site that is easy to navigate and provides useful information raises the chances of getting more business, and using the right keywords drives more traffic. NAP is a crucial element of local SEO because the more localized the website is, the more people are likely to be interested. Citations should point to the website, and the best citations are unique to each location. When a business has multiple locations, every location’s NAP must match.

More local traffic raises visibility in the local pack, increases qualified leads, and grows sales and profits. Local SEO brings more customers through local listings, so the content on the site should be relevant and interesting to the local audience and the website itself should be high quality.

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