Google My Business can be an excellent tool for boosting the SEO ranking of your ecommerce site. A lot of people think that it is only for brick and mortar businesses. However, Google My Business is just as essential for online businesses as it is for conventional physical stores. In this article, we’ll outline the steps you can take to optimize your ecommerce site for Google My Business SEO.
Table of Contents
Claim Your Google My Business Listing
The first step to optimizing your ecommerce site for Google My Business is to claim your GMB listing. If Google doesn’t recognize your business yet, you need to create your business listing on Google Maps. To claim or create your GMB listing, follow the easy steps below:
- Open your Google My Business account and click "Get Started."
- Enter your business name and click "Next."
- Enter your business address (if you have one) and click "Next."
- Choose the relevant category for your ecommerce store and click "Next."
- Enter your business website address, phone number, and other information required.
- Verify your business.
Optimize Your Profile
Optimizing your GMB profile is essential to telling Google that your ecommerce site is legitimate. The more information you provide about your business in the GMB profile, the better the chances of people finding you and making a purchase. Here are some tips to optimize your GMB profile:
Use Relevant Categories
Ensure you select the right category that describes your ecommerce store to appear in the most relevant searches. It is more of the same for retail, but for ecommerce, you can get creative with the categories. Make sure you don’t select irrelevant categories as Google could penalize you.
Include Accurate Information
Ensure that your business information on GMB is up-to-date and accurate. If you have multiple locations, ensure you have added them. Also, ensure that your business hours, phone number, email address, and other crucial details are correct. Your ecommerce site should have the same information on the website. If the details do not match on GMB and your website, Google may penalize your listing.
Add High-Quality Photos
Good quality images can provide compelling visual information to your customers. The images should showcase your products, the inside of your ecommerce store, and even your team members if possible. Images increase the chances of a customer making a purchase by 65%.
Get and Respond To Reviews
As an ecommerce store, you cannot receive Google reviews directly, but that does not mean you do not have the chance to receive feedback from customers. Encourage buyers to leave reviews or ratings on your website for the products they buy. Reviews can affect your business’s North Star ranking, which affects where your store appears in search results. Always respond to reviews, both negative and positive, as it shows potential customers that you care.
Create Google Posts
Google Posts is a free feature that enables ecommerce stores to connect with customers directly in search results and maps. These posts can be used to promote your products, share news about your brand, promote your promotions, and more. Ensure that you utilize this feature to boost your ecommerce site’s visibility.
Optimize Your Website
Your GMB listing only counts as half of the connection. Google also takes into account your ecommerce site when deciding where to rank you. Therefore, it is essential to take some steps to optimize your website for Google My Business SEO.
Optimize Page Titles and Meta Descriptions
The titles and meta descriptions are the first thing that customers see on the search engine results page (SERP). Ensure they are clear and concise, and include your target keyword.
Add Business Information to Your Website
Ensure that your ecommerce site has the same information as your GMB profile. For example, if your business address or phone number has been altered, ensure that this data is reflected on your website. Make sure it’s detailed and includes information about how customers can contact you.
Include Reviews and Ratings On Your Site
As mentioned earlier, feedback is important for your site’s ranking. Displaying product reviews and ratings on your site shows Google that people trust your company and its products. Make sure they are easily accessible and easy to spot.
Implement With Schema Markup
Schema markup is an SEO technique that enhances SERP listings by letting Google show more useful information in search results. An ideal term to use would be your product’s ratings and reviews.
Wrap Up
Optimizing your ecommerce site for Google My Business SEO is an essential part of digital marketing. Taking advantage of the free tools provided by Google can increase your site’s visibility and potentially increase sales. By following the steps outlined in this article, you’ll be on your way to a higher ranking in search results and a more successful ecommerce site.