Google Business Profile SEO: Fast Google Maps Ranking

A HUGE WELCOME! I'm so happy you've decided to join me in this detailed Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) course because I KNOW by the end of it, you will have a powerful listing that will attract the right people and work to convert viewers into leads and customers.

So let's hurry, jump in and get started!

NOTE: Stay ahead of the curve with our updated course! We've added 12 new lessons in September 2024, bringing the total to 28 lessons. Get access to expert instruction and the latest local SEO strategies.

Attached Resources:

· Google Business Terms

· Course Curriculum Outline: This full curriculum outline (including lesson titles and descriptions) is also available on the attached PDF (if you prefer to follow along with it that way).

Learn all about the Google 3 pack and how appearing in the top three local search results can significantly boost your visibility and attract more customers. You’ll also learn how to use the 3-pack to *find where your competitors are ranking in relation to your business (*this method will give you a rough overview).

For a more in-depth analysis of the Google 3-pack and extended search, please refer to Lecture 18.

In this lesson, you'll learn how to access Google Keyword Planner without creating an ad or providing your credit card information.

If you already have a Google ads account, please go ahead and skip this Lecture.

*IMPORTANT NOTE*:

Not everyone will see the option to switch to expert mode.

If the system won't let you do anything without first creating an ad, please do the following:

· Follow the prompts to start creating an ad.

· Add in your information

· Optional: add a start date in the future (just as an extra step to ensure the ad won’t run)

· Immediately pause the ad

If your ad is paused right away, you won't get billed for the ad and your ad won’t start running.

Next: Let’s Start Building Your Keywords

We’ll next use Keyword Planner to identify relevant keywords for your local SEO

Discover the power of Google Keyword Planner and learn how to build a targeted list of keywords for your Google Business Profile.

In This Lecture, You’ll:

• Learn how relevant keywords can boost your local search visibility

• Discover tips and tricks for using Google Keyword Planner

• Find keywords with high search volume

By the end of this lesson, you'll have a solid foundation for optimizing your Google Business Profile.

Let's get started!

Loaded with tips and practical examples, this lecture will teach you the power of Google Business Profile categories and how to choose the perfect categories to boost your local search rankings. Don’t forget to download the free dream tool I mention!

By the end of this lecture, you'll have a clear understanding of how to optimize your Google Business Profile categories and improve your local search visibility.

Discover my exclusive 9-step formula for creating a powerful, attention-grabbing, and high-converting description that sets your business apart!

Filled with tips and a strong copywriting and marketing formula, you can use this strategy for other areas of your business marketing as well:)

By following this formula, you can:

• Increase your click-through rate and attract more potential customers

• Improve your local search rankings and boost your visibility

• Convert more visitors into customers with a compelling business description

Don't miss out on this opportunity to unlock the full potential of your GBP business description!

*** IMPORTANT: Be sure to download the AI prompt I made for a description that is sure to stand out!***

Through this Lecture you will discover how to set up your own Google Business Profile Account and how to get verified by Google.

NOTES:

• Start at: business.google.com.

• This Lecture ends where Google needs to verify your business by MAIL - they will mail you a verification number via postcard in a few days.

• You may also be invited to verify your business with video. You will still need to wait a few days to be verified.

• Once you have your postcard or verification number, go to business.google.com and enter the number.

• While you are waiting for your postcard to arrive; please continue with the next 3 Lectures, which will best prepare you for when it comes time to fill out your profile:)

• If you already have a Google Business Profile account started, you can go ahead and skip this Lecture.

By now you have all of the pieces you need to put together an outrageously awesome google business profile! In this lecture, we'll dive into the often-overlooked aspect of Google Business Profile optimization: services.

In This Lecture, You’ll:

• Learn how to add your business services

• Understand how to put together compelling descriptions that attract customers and improve your search visibility

• Understand the importance of selecting appropriate service categories and using relevant keywords.

In this lecture, we'll continue completing and optimizing your Google Business Profile.

In This Lecture, You’ll:

• Complete your business information, ensuring that your profile is accurate and up-to-date.

• Optimize your business listing details

• Add visually appealing photos that showcase your business

• Learn additional marketing tips and tricks to ensure your profile stands out

By mastering these backend elements, you'll take your Google Business Profile to the next level.

In this exciting lecture, we'll explore the potential of Google Business Profile products. Learn how to create and promote products such as:

· Physical products

· Software

· Online courses

· Memberships

· Professional services

· Ebooks

· Music

· Coaching

· Event tickets

In This Lecture, You’ll:

• Set up your product listings with compelling product descriptions and high-quality images

• Gain tips to leveraging GBP features to attract and convert customers

By mastering product listings, you can expand your reach, generate additional revenue, and enhance your overall business presence.

Discover the power of Google Business Posts (formerly known as Updates) and learn how to use them to effectively promote your business and drive engagement. Leverage posts to showcase your offers, services, promotions/sales, events, and more!

In This Lecture, You’ll:

• Learn how posts can increase your visibility, attract new customers, and showcase your latest offers

• Develop compelling post content that captures attention and encourages interaction

• Use our AI prompt to generate creative posts and save time

By mastering Google Business Posts, you can enhance your local search presence, connect with your audience, and drive more traffic to your business.

*** Please grab your download! It's filled with tips on how to create an effective Google Post PLUS an AI prompt that will generate an engaging post for you.

Are you ready for one of the best ways to build trust with potential customers? That’s through reviews! You’re about to discover the power of customer reviews and how to encourage more positive reviews for your Google Business Profile.

In This Lecture, You’ll:

• Find your direct review link and learn how to easily share the link with your customers

• Create the perfect review request to encourage customers to leave reviews

• Learn how to respond to reviews effectively - both positive and negative reviews -to build trust and improve your reputation.

By mastering the art of reviews, you can boost your local search rankings, attract more customers, and build a strong online reputation.

Discover 3 tactics to boost your local search rankings and attract more customers.

In This Lecture, You’ll:

• Engage with potential customers and showcase your expertise by answering questions on your Google Business Profile

• Drive traffic to your listing by adding links to your website or other online platforms

• Understand key performance indicators and optimize your profile based on data-driven insights. (for a deep dive into analytics, please also review lecture 20)

By mastering these strategies, you can further develop your profile and enhance your local presence.

Join me for this optional, in-depth training where you'll witness the practical application of the skills you've learned throughout the course. Watch as I plan out all steps to transforming a real-world Google Business Profile from ordinary to extraordinary. You can then take what you learn and apply it to your own, or even your clients’ businesses.

Ready for a challenge? Let's put your GBP optimization skills to the test! In the next few lessons, you'll witness firsthand how to create a powerful action plan for a real business, ThinkTank Workspace.

Watch and Learn:

• Strategic Planning: Watch as I conduct in-depth research and analysis to identify key optimization areas.

• Action-Oriented Steps: See how I develop a step-by-step plan to improve ThinkTank's Google Business Profile ranking.

• Your Benefits: Apply what you learn to your own profiles, or your client profiles, to rank higher, increase visibility and get more qualified leads

Key Takeaways:

· Understand the importance of a strategic approach to GBP optimization

· Learn how to conduct thorough research and analysis

· Learn to develop a customized action plan you can tailor for your own needs

By the end of this video series, you will be steps closer to being a GBP optimization master with valuable new knowledge and skills you can use to rank your own profiles or those of your clients!

This is the start of our research journey and the beginning of our solid action plan. Learn what is working well and what Thinktank can improve to rank higher and get more business. You’ll also learn valuable tips you can use on your own or for client profiles.

In this lesson we’ll use Google Maps to view Thinktank’s profile and identify any obvious things that need to be changed and add those to our action plan. You’ll learn some important Google Business Profile tips, learn about the importance of NAP consistency, learn an important tip about listing your website url, post tips, image tips and a whole lot more!

In This Lesson, You’ll:

· Learn how to analyse a business in Google Maps

· Identify areas for improvement to boost local search rankings

· Learn valuable tips for optimizing your own GBP

Next up in our research is knowledge panels. The information displayed in a Google Knowledge Panel is primarily sourced from a Google Business Profile – another reason you’ll want to optimize your profiles! However, Google's algorithms also consider information from other sources, such as Wikipedia, to populate knowledge panels.

By optimizing your GBP profile, you can influence the information that appears in your knowledge panel.

In his lesson, you’ll learn more about what a knowledge panel is and how you can find a businesses’ (or your own) knowledge panel.

In This Lesson, You’ll:

• Understand the importance of the Knowledge Panel in local search and how they can boost your businesses’ visibility help to attract more customers

• Learn how to find and analyze your business's Knowledge Panel so you can improve it

• Discover additional information and steps you can take to enhance the appearance and effectiveness of your knowledge pant

By the end of this lesson, you'll have a deeper understanding of the Knowledge Panel and how to leverage it for your business's benefit.

Special Note: Even if you're not a traditional business with a physical location or who provides services for a local area (i.e. singers, authors, politicians, artists, speakers etc.), creating a Google Business Profile is essential for building a knowledge panel. By providing accurate information and building a strong online presence, you can enhance your visibility and reach a wider audience.

We are now ready to uncover Thinktank’s local search visibility. In this lesson, we'll dive deep into the world of organic local search results.

You’ll learn how to find your ranking position compared to your competitors, how to use Google 3-pack and extended search, and how to analyze results for your optimization strategy.

Objectives:

· Understand the importance of local search rankings

· Learn how to use Google 3-pack and extended search for effective analysis

· Discover practical tips for conducting accurate local search research

NOTE: The method in this lesson will provide a general free overview of your ranking position and competitors. I encourage you to do the search for different keywords and areas you want to rank for. So, for example, if my main keyword is “Internet marketing services Toronto”, I may also want to do a search for “local SEO services downtown Toronto” and “marketing funnels services north Toronto” and other keywords I want to be discovered for. For more accurate results, you may also want to consider using some tools I outline in your upcoming lesson on using paid features.

Now it’s time to get a feel for the location ThinkTank is in and what areas they can target for ranking optimization.

Objectives:

· Identify strategic target neighbourhoods and communities you could rank in

· Conduct a location analysis to optimize your visibility

· Tips to choosing and prioritizing the best locations to target

· Factors that could influence your optimal radius for targeting

How Far Out Should You Go?

The optimal targeting distance depends on various factors, including competition, customer demographics, and accessibility. Here are some general guidelines:

• Urban Areas: In densely populated areas with high competition, consider targeting within a 3-5 km radius initially.

• Suburban Areas: With less competition, you can extend your target radius to around 10 km.

• Rural Areas: Depending on the population density and transportation options, you might be able to target a wider area.

Remember: These are just guidelines. Experiment with different targeting distances to find the most effective approach for your business. Always monitor your results and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Let’s now explore Thinktank’s GBP performance (analytics). Going back 3-6 months will help us understand performance trends. We’re going to look at views, searches, calls, website visits and keywords that are working to analyze what can be improved.

In This Lesson, You’ll:

· Understand how to use GBP analytics to assess your own profile's performance

· Learn to identify key performance indicators (KPIs) and track their progress

· Identify top-performing keywords and areas for optimization

By the end of the lesson, you’ll be comfortable using GBP Performance to assess how your profile is performing.

Let’s explore Google Business Profile’s “profile strength” to learn what else ThinkTank needs to do to complete their profile.

“Completeness of GBP” is #6 on the Whitespark list of Conversion Factors and #12 on the Local Pack/Finder Ranking Factors, which is why I dedicated this lesson to learning how to check if your profile is complete.

In This Lesson, You’ll:

• Understand the importance of profile strength in local search rankings

• Learn how to analyze your GBP's profile strength using Google's tools

• Complete identified key areas to boost your own visibility

Special Note: If your profile keeps appearing as incomplete even after you've followed the lesson and filled in the core parts of your profile, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Google sometimes prompts you to sign up for certain Google services or products it deems relevant to your business (e.g., Google Ads). If you don’t sign up for these, your profile may show as incomplete—even though the main profile is fully filled out. Note: This does not directly affect your ranking.

2. Profile completeness is about more than just filling out every section. While having all fields filled in is ideal, Google places more weight on the key areas that contribute to your visibility and ranking. Focus on the essentials that Google prioritizes, such as business name, category, address, hours, and images.

3. Additional items like posts, reviews, and more media can further help, but are not required for the profile to be considered 'complete.' More content (like photos or posts) can, however, help signal to Google that your profile is active and up-to-date.

As you know, keywords are extremely important for ranking locally. That’s why it’s essential for us to learn what ThinkTank’s optimal keywords and categories should be.

In This Lesson, You’ll:

· Understand an easy 3-step formula for local keyword research and category success

· Learn how to use 2 free tools and the provided AI prompt to generate the best local keywords to attract your local customers

· Learn about intent based keywords and location modifiers

Resources: Don’t forget to download the provided AI prompt and follow along to unveil your optimal local keywords!

You learned about intent-based keywords in the previous lesson, but because they are so important, in this lesson I added in a detailed explanation of why intent keywords are so valuable.

In This Lesson, You’ll:

· Understand the concept of intent-based keywords

· Learn why intent matters

· Identify keywords that reflect user intent

You’ll learn the benefits of using intent-based keywords and how they can better help you attract and convert the right traffic.

In previous lessons, we explored free methods to assess your Google Business Profile (GBP) health and local search rankings. While these tools provide valuable insights, paid SEO features and tools offer even more comprehensive data and advanced features.

In This Lesson, You’ll:

• Learn about paid features that can help you gain in-depth insights into your rankings, competitors, and audience

• Understand features that can streamline tasks like citation management and review tracking

• Identify opportunities to further enhance your GBP and local SEO strategy

  
  

This lesson will empower you with information about paid SEO tools so you can determine which may help you to enhance your GBP optimization efforts. You’ll learn about a variety of paid features that can help you monitor your ranking position in relation to your competitors, ensure you have consistent online listings, monitor your website’s technical help and more.

Lesson Overview
Before wrapping up our research phase, let’s revisit the key local ranking factors to ensure we’re focusing on the strategies that will have the biggest impact on ThinkTank’s Google Business Profile (GBP).

We’ll use Whitespark’s Local Search Ranking Factors report, specifically their section on Local Pack/Finder Ranking Factors, to guide us.

Important Note: While Google’s 3-Pack is mainly influenced by optimizing your Google Business Profile, your website also plays a crucial role. A strong website with optimized service pages enhances your overall local visibility. Think of your GBP as the key to unlocking local results, while your website serves as the foundation that strengthens your online presence.

When you click 'View All' under the Google 3-Pack (Local Pack), you’re taken to the Local Finder. This expanded list is still driven by local SEO factors like GBP optimization, proximity, and relevance, and will help your business appear in these results.

It’s important to note that the Local Pack differs from organic search results, which rank based on your website’s SEO. Both work together, but the Local Pack prioritizes GBP and local content, while organic results focus on your website’s content and authority.

In This Lesson, You’ll Learn:
• The key factors that influence Local Pack rankings
• How to leverage Whitespark’s Local Search Ranking Factors report for actionable insights
• Expert tips and strategies to strengthen your local SEO toolbelt and boost your visibility

By the end of this lesson, you’ll understand the top-ranking factors for Local Pack results, what each factor means, and how to apply these insights to maximize your local presence.

Even after achieving a top ranking, ongoing optimization is crucial for maintaining Thinktank’s position, expanding their reach, and maximizing their business’s local potential. In this final lesson, discover why even top-ranked businesses need to stay active and up to date.

Watch as I unveil the final action sheet and walkthrough the steps on it. I’ll show you exactly what I uncovered and my exact action plan on how I intend on ranking ThinkTank even higher.

In This Lesson, You’ll:

• Understand the importance of continuous GBP optimization

• Discover strategies for maintaining a top ranking position

• Learn how to leverage data-driven insights for optimization

Remember: The more steps you implement from this section, the better your results will be. Don't be afraid to experiment and test different strategies to find what works best for your business. You can also use these methods to research your competitors’ and learn some of their best practices you can choose to model.

By following these principles, you can solidify your position as a local leader and drive long-term local business growth.

Resource: Feel free to use the attached action sheet as a reference