Small Business Guide to Local Website Traffic: CBD Local SEO for Noobs

Here are some steps to help your neighborhood CBD SEO work.

Step 1: Set up your Google Business Profile and make it as good as it can be.

Since your Google Business Profile is the most important part of good local results, it's important to make sure it's set up right.

Here's a list of things you can do to make sure yours is set up for success.

1. Claim your name

Go to your Google Account and sign in with your main email address to start setting up your Google Business Profile. 

Click on the Google Apps tab in the upper right spot. Click the third choice, which is called "Business Profile." That will open up a new tab. Once you're there, you can click the Sign in or Manage now button in the top right area.

If you've already set up your Business Profile, you can type in your business name and log in. Click the "Add your business to Google" button if you're new. 

2. Fill out all the parts of your Google Business Profile.

After you hit "Add Your Business," you'll see a window where you can type in the name of your business and the general business area.

Click Next when you're ready. Then, you'll be asked if you want to add a real place for your business, like a store or office. If you choose "Yes" and click "Continue," you'll be taken to the next window, where you can add your country, store/office address, city, state, and ZIP code. After that, a few business names might come up, and Google will ask if you own any of them.

But if this is your first time putting up your page, choose None of these and move on.

At that point, you'll have to tell Google Maps exactly where you are. Google will also ask if you deliver or make house calls. If you say yes, you can describe the places you serve.

Once that's done, you can move on to the next step. If you tell Google "No" when it asks for the address of your business, you'll see the next box.

Here, you can list all the people you want to reach. For better aiming, it's best to be as clear as possible. After that, you can go to the next step. 

Advice on your company name and area 

The name you put in your Google Business Profile has to be the official name of your business. It must say exactly what your business name says in the real world. The hack is to change the name of your business or brand so that it works well with Google. Here are some things to do and not to do when picking a name: 

Add a term to niche down, but don't use too many keywords.

Don't use words you don't need.

Make sure the name is unique.

For example, "Nick Realty — Tampa Real Estate Agent" has things that a Google user might look for, like your area and the service you offer.

You can change your name on a page you've already made if you want to. Also, you can make a Business Redressal Complaint form with Google if someone is wrongly using the name of your business in your area. If you can show that it is the name of your business, you can get it back. 

Here's what you need to know about the groups:

• There are more than 4,000 different types of Google Business Profiles. You can choose up to 10 groups, but only 1 will be the main one. 

• Be as detailed as you can with your groups; find as many niches as you can. 

• To explain your core business, you should only use your main category and one additional category. This will help you reach a larger group of people.

• Don't talk about the services and benefits you offer. Instead, use your divisions to describe your business. For example, if your hotel has a gym, don't put "gym" in the list of groups.

You can always add or change one of your groups, but Google may ask you to prove your business again. So, choose your groups before you set them in stone. 

3. Add your contact info.

At this point, you'll need to put in the contact information for the business. This includes your main phone number and the address of your website.

If you don't have a website, hit Next and check the box that says "I don't have a website." 

Then you can decide if you want Google to send you regular suggestions and changes. 

4. Verify your mailing address 

The next step is to type in your shipping address.

To finish off your business page, you need to add an address. But you can choose to check this information later if you want to.

You'll have to do it soon because, as a real business, you'll need to be able to get a letter in the mail to prove your address. Other businesses need to be verified by giving a five-digit code that will be sent to their email address. 

In any case, the next box will take you to where you can change your identity.

5. Make changes to your page.

Once you've verified your business, you can start making changes to your Google Business Profile. You can start by choosing if customers can send you messages.

If you don't want your business to get texts, you can slide the button back. This step can also be skipped for now.

6. Write a full description 

After that, you can add a statement of your business to tell people what you sell, give, or offer.

This business information will be put immediately to Maps, Search, and other Google products.

Remember that the description of your business can only be 750 characters long.

This step can be skipped and done later.

How to write an introduction for your Google Business Page 

Users will first look at your GBP description to find out more about your business. It's a ranking factor for CBD Local SEO because of this. 

So, keep these things in mind if you want to write a well-written description.

Include USPs. One or more unique selling points (USPs) that your business offers should help you stand out. Since you probably have a few rivals, this gives the customer a reason to choose your business over the others.

Add the main business category. You can add the business category in a different window, but it's best to add it again in the description to be sure. 

Mention your business area. It's best to include the places you want to reach and the area where you sell goods and offer services. This gives people another way to confirm where you are, so you get leads that are more likely to be useful.

Mention high-value services and products. It's a good idea to say exactly what services and products you offer. Some of the Google Business sections are not clear. If you sell a product or service that only a small number of people want, saying what it is will make you more relevant.

Include your business's past. Adding the date your business was started, showing your business's accomplishments, or adding other forms of social proof will help build trust and trustworthiness.

Use phrases with a lot of value. Focus on using 1-3 high-value keywords that you want to rank for. Make sure they are long-tail terms if you have a niche business.

Other than that, here are some things you shouldn't do: 

• Don't put in any URLs or links.

• Stay away from sales pitches and deals.

• Make sure there's nothing that could confuse people.

• Don't spam or use too many keywords.

• Don't say things that aren't important, and cut down on filler.

• Don't write in all caps.

• Most importantly, you should stick to Google's rules. 

7. Add pictures of your company. 

You can now start adding pictures of your business and services. Photos of your store or office can be used. It could also be pictures of your goods or services in use.

When someone looks for your business on Maps, Search, or another Google service, the pictures will show up. 

You can skip this step for now if you want to.

After that, you can choose to use Google Ads to get $500 in advertising credits. 

Which pictures you should add 

Google suggests that you use pictures that are related to your business to show off your goods, services, or place of business. Here are some business-related pictures that you can add: 

Photos of the outside of your business help people know it as they get close. It's best to include at least three pictures of the outside, taken from different angles and at different times of day.

Interior photos: These show buyers what the atmosphere is like inside your business. Try putting at least three pictures of the inside of your business that show what it's like to be a customer there.

pictures of your products: If you sell things, add pictures of at least three of your most popular items.

Photos of your services in action: If you have a service business, you should show at least three photos of your services in action. You can also add pictures of any unique services you provide.

Food and drink pictures: If you own a restaurant, putting photos of your food and drinks that are well lit will help buyers get an idea of the quality and range of your food.

Common areas: Traveling customers will be drawn to your business if you have at least one picture of a common area.

Rooms: If you run a hotel, adding at least three pictures of your rooms will help people decide whether or not to stay there. Make sure to show a variety of places and to keep it real.

Team photos: These show that your business has a human side. Because of this, it's best to keep these less official and let the pictures show off the characters of your employees.

Also, stay away from stock pictures, screenshots, and GIFs. Try to follow Google's rules for pictures to get the most out of them for your business.

8. Put in your goods or services. 

Remember that you'll need to prove your business before you can continue making changes to your business page. 

When that's done, open your Business Profile Manager and click on Products on the left tab.

Here is where you can start putting your goods and services, along with their names, pictures, descriptions, and prices.

You can also add a CTA button, a category, and a product category.

It is best to give as much information as possible. This is also your chance to target terms for which you want to rank.

9. Start to post

Now you can start making posts to keep your users up to date. You can use these posts to share statements, news, or deals.

When someone looks for your business or a related product or service, the posts show up on Google Maps and Search.

You can put a special offer in a post and set a date for the deal to end. You can also add coupon codes, terms and conditions, and links to use the coupons. 

How to make a post for your Google Business Profile

When you go to the menu and click on Posts, you'll have to do these four things: 

Choose the type of post. There are four types of posts to choose from. 

What's New: This is where you put news about your business and any other general information.

Events: This is where you can list any online or in-person events that have a start date and a finish date.

Offers: Choose this type if you want to have sales, deals, or freebies that are only good for a short time. 

goods: This type of post can be used to show off one or more goods.

Add text – Add text to start making your post. You can only use 1500 characters. But readers can only see the first seven or eight words before they have to read more. The best number is about 250 characters.

Add pictures and videos. Pictures and videos help your post look more natural. These images should be very good quality and look like they were made by professionals.

Add a call to action. You can choose from a list of CTA buttons on Google. Buy Now, Learn More, and Order Online are some of the staples. Connect it to your home page or a trusted site.

Include a set of times. If you're talking about an event or making an offer, say when it starts and when it ends.

Publish your post. After reading your post, make any changes that are needed, improve it, and then publish it.

Check your stats to find out how well your posts are doing. 

10. Answer the reviews 

It's important to answer reviews because they help people trust your business. The better your scores and reviews are, the more different they are.

Reviews also help your Google score as a whole.

Try to answer negative reviews to help your business. Also, try to react to good reviews and thank the people who wrote them for their business.

It's important to reply professionally and in the style of your brand. Google says that customers are 1.7 times more likely to believe a business when they answer reviews often.