7 Steps to Optimize Your Google My Business Listing and Get More Customers in Dubai
Are you a Dubai-based entrepreneur seeking to enhance your digital footprint and draw a larger customer base? Google My Business (GMB) could hold the solution you’re seeking! In this article, we will delve into the possibilities that GMB offers to businesses in Dubai, its advantages, and effective methods for optimizing your GMB profile for success. Get ready to explore the realm of local SEO and the optimization of Google My Business services in Dubai!
Key Takeaways
- Google My Business serves as a listing platform provided by Google, enabling business owners to establish or claim a listing for their businesses.
- The primary purpose of a GMB profile is to input business details, ensure visibility on Google Maps, provide crucial information to searchers, and receive business reviews.
- By optimizing your Google My Business Profile effectively, you can enhance your rankings and bolster your local SEO performance.
What Is Google My Business?
Google My Business stands as a listings platform delivered by Google, where business proprietors can either create or assert ownership of their business listings. The fundamental objective of a GMB profile is to furnish business particulars, ensure your business appears on Google Maps, supply essential data to potential searchers, and gather reviews from customers.
Why Google My Business Matters for Your Small Enterprise in UAE
Lacking a Google My Business profile can severely hamper your business’s visibility on Google Maps and in the local pack, thereby negatively impacting your SEO strategy. Without it, potential customers attempting to locate your business might yield no results. Furthermore, existing information about your business could be incorrect, such as inaccurate phone numbers, incomplete street addresses, or failure to indicate the closure of past businesses. This underscores the importance of claiming and vigilantly managing your Google My Business profile.
How to Create a Google My Business Profile
To initiate the process of setting up a Google My Business Profile, start by visiting the Google My Business Profile Manager and selecting the “Manage Now” option. Subsequently, either log in to your existing Google Account or create a new one if needed. Afterward, provide your business name and city; if it doesn’t appear in the search results, proceed to create a new profile.
Next, input essential details about your business and await either a postcard or a phone call for identity verification. Upon receiving the verification code, enter it into your profile.
In instances where your business has already been claimed by another user and displays an associated email address, and you lack access to this email, you will need to wait a few days for Google to ascertain the page’s creator. Once the ownership issue is resolved, you can then request a verification method from Google, which can be completed via either a postcard or a phone call.
7 Strategies for Enhancing Your Google My Business Presence
#1 Thoroughly assess and update your NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information
The initial step involves navigating to the ‘Info tab.’ Within this tab, your primary focus should be on reviewing the NAP information.
Firstly, assess your business name for accuracy. Is it correctly displayed and consistent with other platforms such as Yelp? Does it align with the name on your physical location? If any discrepancies are identified, it’s essential to update your business name accordingly.
Secondly, monitor your address details. Are there any differences, such as ‘Street’ being inaccurately listed or missing building numbers? If any errors are detected, promptly rectify the information. Furthermore, if you intend to hide your address, you should be able to click ‘Clear Address’ to remove it, provided your industry permits this.
Lastly, verify your phone number for correctness and ensure you’re using the primary number associated with your business. If your business employs multiple phone numbers for different employees, ensure that the main office number is the one prominently featured.
#2 Incorporate a detailed business description and select the appropriate category
At the bottom of the Info tab, there is a section dedicated to business descriptions. Here, you should include a concise narrative about your business’s origin, core values, the range of services you offer, and the geographical areas you serve.
It’s crucial to specify the cities you serve and the services you provide, as this signals to Google that your business should be ranked for those specific terms in those areas.
Additionally, make sure to select the most appropriate business category for your establishment. For example, if you run a coffee shop, ensure that you choose the ‘coffee shop’ category. If your business is involved in drop shipping, select one of the e-commerce options. Make sure to select all relevant categories.
#3 Consistently engage with customer reviews by responding promptly
Google My Business profiles enable you to receive reviews from customers. Navigate to the “Reviews” tab to access all reviews for your business.
Initially, reviews are organized by their recency. Click on “Haven’t Replied” to identify reviews that have not received responses.
Reply to all reviews, whether they are favorable or unfavorable. In your responses, address any pertinent information raised by the reviewers.
Additionally, incorporate relevant keywords whenever possible. The more frequently a word appears on your profile, the higher the likelihood of ranking for that particular term.
#4 Highlight your range of products and services within your profile
Depending on whether your business offers products or services, proceed to the respective tab.
For product listings, select “Products.” Here, upload product images, choose the appropriate category, and provide product names.
Pro tip: Utilize search terms that people commonly use when seeking your products on Google.
For service offerings, select “Services.” Within this section, designate a product category, then add services falling under that category. You have the opportunity to include a customized description for each service; make sure to infuse relevant keywords into these descriptions.
#5 Enhance your profile’s visual appeal by uploading high-quality photos of your establishment
Now, visit the “Photos” tab. Examine the “Cover” and “Logo” images. If these areas are blank, take your logo and place it on a solid-colored background. You can utilize tools like Canva to create a new image with dimensions of 250 x 250 pixels. Afterward, upload this logo to Google My Business.
Subsequently, choose a photo for your cover image. You can either crop the image using Google My Business or use a tool like Canva to resize it to 1024 x 576 pixels. Once ready, upload the image to your Google My Business profile.
Finally, upload any pertinent photos of your business, including exterior shots, interior views, images of staff, and other engaging visuals.
#6 Leverage the unique attributes and features available to showcase your business effectively
Scroll down the Info tab until you reach the ‘Attributes‘ section. Here, you can mark any pertinent details related to your business, such as whether it’s black-owned or if you offer gender-neutral restrooms. This is the place to include such valuable information for your customers.
#7 Engage your audience through regular posts using the posting feature
If your business is hosting events or wishes to share updates, take advantage of the ‘Posts’ section. To create a GMB post, access the “Post” tab, and click the blue button at the bottom right. Choose the appropriate post category, compose the necessary content, add a photo, and fill in other relevant fields. Then, click “Publish.”
Previously, posts on Google My Business had a seven-day lifespan, but now they do not expire. However, remember to specify the specific dates and times for your events.
The Advantages of Maintaining a Google My Business Profile
Through meticulous optimization of your Google My Business Profile, you can elevate your rankings and enhance your local SEO performance. By ensuring accurate service areas, a valid address, comprehensive product and service listings, and actively soliciting customer reviews, you’ll swiftly surpass your competitors.
This not only results in an expanded customer base for your business but also contributes to an improved website and GMB rankings, thereby bolstering your domain’s authority.
If you believe you require support in crafting a GMB profile optimized for local SEO, there are numerous SEO agency for small businesses in Dubai available to assist you. Don’t hesitate to seek their help to ensure your profile is professionally developed.
What to Do Moving Forward
Investing in your Google Profile affords you a competitive edge in the digital landscape. Local SEO has proven to be a transformative force for small businesses, making it a strategic move for online entrepreneurs. It’s imperative to provide as much information and high-quality media content as possible.
Keep in mind that anyone can suggest edits to your listing, highlighting the importance of ensuring initial accuracy. Regularly logging into your GMB dashboard to verify the accuracy of your business information is also essential. As your online presence grows, consider expanding further by acquiring a domain and crafting a dedicated website for your business.
