The Role of Google My Business in Boosting Local SEO for Willis Companies

What is Google My Business and why is it important?

Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool that lets business owners see how their business shows up on Google like in Search and Maps. You can tell what it does but it has a bigger impact on local SEO than you might think. When you create and verify a GMB listing you tell Google important things about your business like your address phone number hours of operation and even what customers think of it. You could think of it as the online store for your business.

What does this mean for SEO in your area? When you search for services in Willis like "pizza near me" or "Willis plumbers " Google often uses GMB data to show you what you want. This means that your business can be found in the local pack on the map and in the results of organic searches. According to Google businesses with complete listings are twice as likely to be seen as honest. GMB is an important part of being seen in your area. If you want a quick look think of GMB as your company's short sales pitch that anyone looking for your type of business can see.

Do you want some real numbers? A study by Google https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/intl/en-gb/data-tools/think-insights/tenthingswelearnedatthethingswelearnedina2018/, 76% of people who search for something nearby on their phone go to a business within a day. Even better 28% of those searches resulted in sales. Businesses in Willis need to have a full GMB profile which is almost required.

Making sure your Google My Business profile is set up the right way

You might be wondering how to set up GMB so that it works for you. Let's break it down into steps that are easy to understand.

First and foremost claim your business. You can't improve something if you don't own it. Go to the Google My Business site and follow the instructions. Google will sometimes send a postcard to your business address to make sure you own it.

Make sure your profile is complete after you claim it. A profile that isn't complete won't help you. Tell them your business name address phone number website and hours of operation. Consistency is the key. Check to see that these are exactly the same as what you have on your website and other online listings.

Making the most of Google My Business features

After you set up your profile the next step is to learn how to use all of GMB's features. This is when strategy comes in to help your local SEO.

Read the reviews and talk to the people who wrote them. Get honest feedback from customers and respond to it. All of them not just the ones that are good. People especially potential clients notice how you handle criticism. Reviews are a type of social proof that shows that other people believe in your business which can be very convincing.

Use the posts feature to make a mini blog. Talk about an event in your area share your latest news or make an offer. Posts let businesses show off new text photos or videos right in Google searches. This is an ad that doesn't cost anything. You can tell people in Willis directly about your event through GMB posts for example. You can connect with customers and make your products more appealing with every post.

Things You Shouldn't Do When Using Google My Business

Even if you mean well it's easy to mess up with GMB. Let's talk about some mistakes that people often make so you can stay away from them.

First of all it's not okay to have wrong or inconsistent business information. Make sure to keep your hours up to date if they change with the seasons or for holidays. People get mad when they see different information and might leave if they don't know what's going on.

Not updating your GMB profile often can also be a problem. You can't just set it and forget it you have to keep working on it. Make sure to keep everything up to date like new products a new address or changes to your services.

Google My Business in Your Willis Community

You're not just promoting your business when you make your GMB better for Willis you're also joining a community. Get together with other businesses in your area and post together or send customers to each other. Use the platform to show how your business helps the community like by sponsoring a little league team or helping out at local events.

People are more likely to help you if they see you doing things in the community. You could add local keywords to your profile like "best coffee shop in Willis" instead of just "coffee shop " to help Google connect you with customers in your area.

Also using GMB posts to promote local events or partnerships shows that you care about the community which makes people like your brand even more.

For businesses in Willis Google My Business is more than just the first thing that comes to mind for people who like castles and coffee. It's about being a part of your neighbor's online world that they can easily get to. GMB can help your business connect with the community in a town where personal connections are important.

In conclusion Google My Business is a great tool for any business in Willis to use to boost its local SEO. It's a helpful tool that works and is simple to use. When used right it makes a story about your business that people can find and even better click on. Your GMB profile is a real link to the digital world just like the old handshake deals.