Business

A Comprehensive Guide to Google My Business Categories – Everything You Need to Know

Google My Business

One of the most critical aspects of your Google My Business (GMB) profile is your category selection. Choosing the right one can make all the difference in your rankings and customer conversion rates.

There are currently over 4,000 GMB categories available for businesses to choose from. Thankfully, picking the right ones can be a lot easier than you might think.

Table of Contents

Basics

If you are a small business owner, you have probably heard of Google My Business (GMB) and how important it is to optimize your profile. GMB is a tool that works with your website to give shoppers the information they need to narrow their search and determine whether your business can meet their shopping needs.

GMB pages also list your address, phone number, hours of operation, and other essential info about your business. This makes it easy for shoppers to find your business, visit your location, or schedule an appointment.

However, selecting the correct categories is a big part of your Google My Business strategy. Choosing the wrong ones can hurt your SEO, so it’s best to research before making your choice.

As the name suggests, categories are a group of keywords that can represent your Google My Business listing. These categories help you rank and be found on Google search, maps, and Google+.

There are thousands of categories on the Google My Business platform. Some are very specific, like “piano repairer,” while others are broader.

Some are very simple, such as a bakery specializing in wedding cakes. Some have special features, such as a booking button or a website URL.

There are many options out there, and it cannot be obvious to decide which ones will work best for your business. In addition, Google constantly adds and removes categories, so it can be a trial-and-error process to find the right ones.

Keywords

Choosing the proper Google My Business categories can make or break your local SEO. It’s one of the most important local ranking factors, according to search engine optimization experts.

First of all, it’s essential to choose the most relevant category for your business. This will help your business rank better in Google and improve the chances of customers connecting with you.

For example, if you’re a medical provider, you’ll want to select a category that describes your specific field of expertise. For example, a hand surgeon should select “hand surgery” as their primary category instead of “orthopedic surgeon.”

The same principle applies to other industries and services. A plumber may select “plumber” as their primary category, while a wedding bakery could pick “wedding cake baker.”

It would help if you also considered your seasonality. For example, an HVAC contractor may focus on AC units in the summer and furnaces in the winter.

In addition, it’s important to choose the correct secondary categories. For example, a roofing contractor should pick “roofing” as their primary category, not “general contractor.”

You can use tools to get ideas for your categories. It’s updated every three days, and it’s a great place to start looking for the types that will be best for your specific business.

Local SEO

The Google My Business Categories feature lets searchers see the top local businesses for a given search term. It also includes a map and can be viewed directly from the SERP instead of having to click on a listing to get to a business’s website or other social media account.

You must fill out all relevant information to optimize your profile for local searches. This includes your business name, address, and phone number (NAP).

Adding keywords to your company name is another crucial local SEO technique to help you rank higher in local searches. This is because Google uses your business name to match your location with a specific search term.

You should also add products and services to your Google My Business profile. These can be anything from your restaurant menu to your office space so that Google can match them to relevant queries.

Once you’ve populated this section, it’s time to optimize your Google My Business for local searches. You can do this by including a compelling description that will entice searchers to check out your business.

Another crucial local SEO technique is to ask your customers to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile. This helps build trust and authority and is a great way to encourage potential customers to try your services. Responding to reviews is also essential, as this shows search engines that you’re active in your community and willing to foster a positive customer experience.

Social Media

Social media is a term used to describe websites and applications that allow people to interact with each other by sharing information. 

Generally, these sites allow users to create profiles, follow others, share updates and photos, and receive notifications. They also offer the ability to customize settings and organize users into groups.

In business, social media can be a great tool to communicate with customers, respond to feedback, and keep up with consumer trends. It also allows companies to crowdsource ideas for improving products or services and boosting sales.

Google My Business allows businesses to manage their profiles, create posts about special events or promotions, and add links to their website. It also lets companies to appear in Google’s local 3-pack, which helps with local SEO.

As with any other online marketing strategy, developing a social media marketing plan and implementing it correctly is essential. This can include posting engaging content, building a strong community, and creating a reputation as an industry expert.

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