Google Business Profiles (formerly known as Google My Business) powers local search engine optimization (SEO) by seamlessly integrating an interactive business directory into search results. Visibility in these searches is not a given as businesses must engage digital marketing techniques to get higher rankings in search results such as Google Business Profiles (GBP) optimization. How to add keywords to “Google My Business” is a core component of GBP optimization. This article will share tips on how to use the magic of keywords to boost the performance of business profile on Google.
Enhancing Your Google Business Profile with Keywords: 6 Tips
Why should businesses care about how to add keywords to Google Business Profiles? In short, adding the right keywords to your Google Business Profile can help you better compete for top rankings on Google. The “local pack” is a bundle of three businesses who are featured first in Google search results, giving them the most visibility. There are multiple factors at play to get one of these few top spots, adding keywords to Google Business Profiles included.
Google is constantly digesting information so that it can best match search engine users with what they are looking for. By enhancing your GBP with frequently searched keywords, you can increase your chances of being found by potential patients.
1.) Keyword Research: Understanding Your Target Audience and Their Search Intent
Knowing which primary keywords to add to Google Business Profile begins with research. What are commonly searched phrases related to your medical services? Aligning your keyword strategy with what your target audience is searching for ensures your practice appears in relevant searches.
You can do this by using tools such as Google’s Keyword Planner, Semrush, or any other keyword research tool to gather keyword ideas based on your practice and specialty.
2.) Optimize Your Business Description
Your business description is a prime spot to add keywords to your Google Business Profile. Use this section to explain clearly and concisely what your practice offers, while integrating relevant keywords in a natural manner. Being concise is key as packing all possible keywords into a short description is counterproductive. This not only helps potential patients understand your services but also improves your visibility in search results.
3.) Integrate Keywords into Your Service Descriptions
Service descriptions is an ideal place to incorporate more descriptive keywords. Using strategic phrasing, you can help Google understand how your services relate to particular user searches. Google Business Profile keywords in descriptions can help your medical practice turn up in search results when patients are needing specific services.
4.) Update Your Posts Strategically
Not all businesses will utilize the “posts” feature, but for those who do, it’s a ripe opportunity to follow trending keywords that fall outside your core keyword strategy. Like social media posting, the GBP posting is a way to show the public that your medical practice is actively involved in engaging the community. Posts should cater to what would benefit your target audience. Adding relevant keywords to Google Business Profile posts also gives Google additional context on your practice’s services, aligning you with even more relevant searches.
5.) Encourage and Respond to Customer Reviews
Customer reviews play a significant role in local SEO and ranking, the local pack especially. While you have no control over how keywords are added to Google Business Profile reviews, user-generated content still provides more context about your medical practice. Encourage your patients to leave detailed reviews about your services. As they describe their experiences, they’re likely to use terms related to keywords that help your search visibility. For example, if several parents leave reviews saying that your pediatric clinic is, “the best,” your business listing is more likely to show up in search results for, “best pediatric clinics near me.”
6.) Optimize Your Q&A Section
While it’s impractical to put highly specific keywords in your Google Business Profile’s core business description, the Q&A section is ideal for integrating valuable search terms that are more exact. Outlining frequently asked questions with answers that include high search volume keywords can increase your chances of being found when potential patients are searching for services. Again, these keywords provide Google additional context about your medical practice so that it can match your services to more search terms.
Summary: How to Add Keywords to Google Business Profiles for Optimization
Keyword strategy is essential for optimizing your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) and Google Maps. Adding the right keywords to your Google Business Profile enables algorithms to better understand the services your practice offers, enhancing your overall online visibility. Optimizing every aspect of your business listing in Google’s interactive directory helps your local search engine optimization (SEO) to direct more quality web traffic–that is, patients in your area–to your medical practice website.
Regularly monitoring performance and updating how to add keywords to your Google Business Profile helps maintain your local SEO health. Refining your keyword strategy encompasses both your GBP and your website. By proactively responding to shifts in search trends, you help your medical practice remain visible and attractive to potential patients in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
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