How to Improve Your Business Listings
If you are looking for the best ways to improve your online presence, Business Listings is one of the things you should look into. You can improve your Business Listings through Backlinks and SEO. Also, you can add or remove the service areas that you offer from your listing.
Verify ownership of a business
If you’re interested in claiming ownership of a business listing, you need to first make sure the listing is verified. Often, the process is automated, but it’s a good idea to check in and verify that the listing is active and up-to-date.
The first step is to create a Google Business Profile account. You can do this from the My Business dashboard. Once you’ve created your profile, you’ll receive an email that alerts you when another user requests to take over your Business Profile.
Next, you must go to the My Business dashboard and click the “Claim” or “Verify” button. When you do this, you’ll be able to see a list of the potential location matches.
This is a relatively easy process, but it may take up to seven business days for your business to be verified. There’s also a chance that your claim will be rejected. If so, you can appeal. However, this option isn’t available in every case.
Another option for claiming ownership is to request it through a website or other online platform. These platforms often automatically create a verification location for your business.
Other ways to claim ownership are by phone and postal mail. A call to the company’s local phone number or postal mail can sometimes be the fastest way to get your claim started. In either case, you’ll be asked to provide some business information.
For small businesses that don’t have share certificates, a liquor license application or a contract agreement may work. Larger corporations can usually provide a stock certificate. Stock certificates aren’t always indicative of business ownership, though.
If you don’t have access to these forms of documentation, you can provide proof of business ownership through tax forms and other business documents. You can also upload a photo of your business and include your business’s name, address, and phone number.
Ownership claims can take up to a week to be verified, but they can be faster if you contact Google by email. They will notify you if they need more information and give you a deadline.
Optimize your listing for SEO
Google has a few things up its sleeve that will help you get your business front and center. These include a free analytics package and some basic SEO basics. Having a complete NAP, including the correct contact details, is a must for local search rankings.
The name of the game here is to optimize your listing for your target audience. In addition to your business website, you will also want to add your social media profiles to the mix. This is an excellent opportunity to engage with customers and prospects. It is also the perfect way to demonstrate your company’s commitment to customer service.
The best way to achieve this is to create and maintain a listing of a variety of quality content. For instance, your listings should include a description of your main services as well as your most recent news or event. Not only will this enhance your Google ranking, but it will also increase the likelihood that a potential customer will click through to your website. You might also consider providing your business with a mobile phone number, as this is an ideal medium for reaching out to customers on the go.
Google will provide you with the benefits of its algorithms, such as a local map to your listing. To get the most out of this feature, you will also need to provide a more robust list of information, such as your physical address and a brief bio of the business owner. Lastly, a Google+ profile may be in order, as this can amplify the exposure and visibility of your business. Finally, take the time to read through Google’s tips and tricks to make sure you are maximizing your efforts. Doing so will ensure that you stand out from the competition and get the most out of your SEO efforts. Remember, a business that plays by the rules is rewarded in kind.
There are also a number of other tools, such as Yelp, that can aid in your SEO efforts. But the most effective way to optimize your listings is to simply take the time to fill out all of the necessary information.
Add or remove service areas
There are many ways to display your business on the internet. For example, you can opt to list your business on Yelp or Google Places. Alternatively, you may want to opt for a hybrid solution, a la WebShare. The former will allow you to list your business across several sites while the latter allows you to limit the number of locations you list.
When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), consistency is the key. For instance, listing your business on multiple sites may seem like a good idea but it could come at the expense of your rankings. Likewise, having more than one service area can also be a recipe for disaster.
You can use the service area feature on Google Places to add or remove locations. This feature allows you to create up to 20 service areas. In addition, you can also edit your location settings. One of the advantages of having a service area is that you can easily keep track of where your business is located. Also, this feature is great for businesses that do not have a physical location but still want to make sure customers can find them.
For a service-based business, a service area may be the only thing standing between you and the door. If you don’t have a physical location, you can still use your current website to add or update your contact information. And as long as you don’t have overlapping service areas, you will have a leg up on your competition.
On the flip side, if you are the owner of a home-based business, having multiple listings on the same platform can lead to suspensions and downgrades. To avoid this, make sure you have a solid address and appropriate signage outside of your building.
One of the best aspects of a service area on a site like Google Maps is that you can actually use it to map out the best places to find your services. By knowing where your business is located, you can provide your customers with a more personalized experience.
Backlinks to your website
Backlinks are a way to get more traffic to your website. These links are usually clickable and can be found on a variety of websites. Having more backlinks means your site is more popular and you will receive better results in the Google search rankings.
You can increase your backlinks by producing high quality content. This will also increase your brand awareness. It’s not difficult to do.
One strategy is to write an article for a well-known online magazine. The article will link to your site, providing a valuable backlink. Another strategy is to use a link to your site in social media profiles. By doing this, you can reach people in your niche.
Creating a blog is another great way to generate backlinks. If you produce high-quality content, you are more likely to receive an authoritative backlink from another well-known website.
You can also build relationships with other website owners. Participating in discussion forums is a great way to build your reputation as an industry expert. Also, you can ask other website owners to link to your site. Whether you do it by email or via a social media platform, it can be a great way to drive targeted traffic to your website.
You can use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to analyze backlinks for your site. MonitorBacklinks offers details on top backlinks based on Trust Flow and Citation Flow. They are also good for identifying broken links.
Another way to create high-quality backlinks is to participate in guest posting. For example, you can write an article for a website that publishes articles on the topic of your business. After you publish the article, you can send it to a blog or guest posting site.
Once you’ve produced a high-quality piece of content, make sure to promote it on social networks. Linking your site to a Pinterest board can also help you secure a backlink. Using hashtags can help you connect with people in your niche.
If you have a local business, make sure to include it in the local organization directory pages. You can even get a free service that connects you with journalists.