Choosing the right Google Business Profile category for improved search presence
Published by : Vicinus
Date : October 22, 2024
Every local business’s SEO journey begins with selecting the categories for their Google Business Profile (GBP). In addition to informing potential customers about your business’s offerings, the main and secondary categories you choose help Google figure out what kinds of searches will bring you more traffic and improve your search engine rankings.
Your Google Business Profile’s visibility can be greatly enhanced by carefully selecting the categories that will impact your visibility and search engine ranking. One of the best ways to get this enhancement is with this approach. If you want to know how to make the most of your online presence, this post will show you how to use GBP categories. To maximise your company’s visibility in local search results and drive more traffic and sales, choosing the right categories for your GBP is important. These categories should accurately represent your company’s activities and target audience. Effective category selections in maintaining business listing accuracy.
There are a lot of advantages to using Google My Business as a business owner, such as boosting your online visibility and search presence. Therefore, improving your company’s internet presence, especially in your local area, is as simple as choosing the right Google My Business (GMB) categories. A search engine can better tailor its results to each user’s query by using these categories. Things that fit within these groups tend to have common characteristics. Let us try to understand how you can choose your Google My Business (GMB) categories and explore the various aspects involved.
Allow us to begin by providing a basic overview of Google My Business (GMB). You have most likely seen it in action before, even if you aren’t aware of its exact description. As you enter a company name into Google’s search bar, a small tab appears on the right side of the results page. The business’s location, hours of operation, phone number, and maybe even some images will all be part of it. You may find their listing on Google My Business here. They have their very own section of the web that is reserved for them whenever someone searches for them, thanks to their GMB account. Usually, GMB begins with the primary category that best describes your business and then adds secondary categories to highlight additional offerings.A Google My Business profile is an effective instrument for overseeing your business listing and improving your prominence in local search outcomes.
Consequently, a GMB profile appears alongside search results for an organisation. It covers every essential detail that a potential customer could want to know about the company. However, a well-optimised GMB profile would be too lengthy to put in a single screenshot. The profile includes room for our Google Reviews and a GMB post, where you may showcase your newest news and offers to those searching for your business.
As mentioned earlier, the platform gives you the option to select between two different categories, which are referred to as primary and secondary categories:
When generating a Google listing, you are required to select this category as it is a mandatory requirement. In addition, because there will only be room for one choice, it must be the one that most accurately exemplifies what you do in a general sense. With more than 3,000 primary categories, it is essential to choose the right category to enhance your visibility for the appropriate population.
Before selecting the primary GMB category for your company, it is essential that you carefully consider which category is the most suitable for your company. This is because the category you choose can affect the functionalities you have access to, for your listing. It is feasible, for instance, to add links to your listing in the case of restaurants or companies that deal in food and beverages. These links would allow customers to place orders, peruse the menu, or reserve a table online.
There is the opportunity to concentrate your business further through the use of “Additional category” that is available through Google My Business. They will be accommodating if your company provides a variety of services and/or products that cannot be grouped into a single category.
Despite the fact that it is possible to select up to nine secondary categories, it is not advisable to make excessive use of this decision. This kind of behaviour is not something that the platform approves of because some companies tend to use these categories solely as keywords. In a perfect world, two or three more categories would be included.
There is no conclusive answer for choosing the appropriate Google My Business categories, as each enterprise is distinct. If your profile is not producing the expected outcomes, consider modifying your categories. You may modify them at any moment to determine which combinations are most effective for your enterprise.
The following tips will helps you choose the ideal category that will inturn, get you more footfall to your business online profile:
Commence by investigating pertinent critical industry specific category keywords associated with your enterprise. Enumerate keywords that characterise your offerings, then utilise tools such as Google Keyword Planner to ascertain the most prevalent terms. Select categories according to the keywords with the highest search traffic to enhance your visibility.
Select your major category with care, as it significantly influences Google’s local search algorithm. Upon selecting the primary category, incorporate several supplementary categories to augment your internet visibility. For example: If you work within the fitness business or own a gym, select “Gym” as the principal category and utilise supplementary categories like “Personal Trainer” or “Fitness Center” to augment your visibility and draw in more clients.
Examine the categories of your competitors in the local market for inspiration. Examine enterprises in your community or locality to identify pertinent terminology that may relate to your firm. Look at your local competitors’ categories for ideas. Consider putting terms like “Health Club” or “Yoga Studio,” which describe your offerings, in your description to stay competitive in local searches.
Refrain from excessively categorising your profile. Adhere to categories that are most pertinent to your business, since incorporating excessive categories may adversely affect your local ranking.Click here to know about the latest guidelines.
Consistently evaluate your categories to confirm their continued relevance. Google often modifies categories; hence, adjusting them according to performance and new features can enhance your profile’s efficacy.
Categories are essential for characterising your business and linking you with prospective clients seeking your products or services. If your primary category is “Italian Food restaurant,” your business may appear in search results for associated terms such as “Restaurants,” “Italian Restaurants,” or “Pizza.” Your selected category is a significant factor affecting your local ranking on Google.
Your business type may influence the category label supplied by Google.
Select a principal category that most accurately reflects your firm in its entirety. Please ensure specificity when making selections from the dropdown menu. For example, instead of choosing “Salon,” select “Nail salon.” If your desired category is unavailable, choose a more general one that appropriately represents your firm. Be advised that the creation of a custom category is not feasible.
Certain features may differ depending on the selected category. Be aware that modifying or adding categories may necessitate Google to re-verify your business for correctness.
It is possible to modify or append categories to your Google Business Profile subsequent to the original configuration. You may modify your primary category or incorporate supplementary categories at any moment via the dashboard. This adaptability enables you to modify your profile as your organisation progresses, guaranteeing that your listing remains pertinent and optimal for search visibility. Please be aware that changes may take some time to reflect on your public listing.
An effectively organised Google My Business (GMB) page is crucial for optimising your business’s online visibility. Selecting appropriate categories can enhance visibility, engage customers through customised content, and display reviews, all while improving local search ranks at no cost.
Precise address information on your Google My Business (GMB) listing facilitates customer access to your location, increases foot traffic, enhances local SEO, and bolsters trust in your enterprise. According to Redlocalseo, 64% of users have utilised Google My Business to obtain a local business’s contact details.
Present and address consumer feedback, fostering confidence and demonstrating proactive involvement with clients.
Your GMB profile distinguishes itself, attracting attention in local searches despite the presence of competition.
According to a recent study by Google, approximately 45% of surveyed customers conduct research on Google prior to making a purchase.
Develop focused posts such as exclusive promotions or announcements to captivate prospective clients and stimulate action.
Consistently monitoring and changing your Google Business Profile categories is absolutely mandatory for sustaining a robust local SEO presence. As your enterprise progresses, your categories should likewise adapt.
Utilise keyword research and competitive analysis during profile setup with the help of industry relevant tools to enhance your business categories for GMB listings. This proactive strategy will enhance your business’s competitiveness in local search outcomes, generating additional clients and fostering growth.
No, the creation of a personal category is not permitted. You must select from Google’s predetermined categories that correspond with your business. If none are an exact match, choose the most pertinent category.
