Remodelers: How to Optimize Your Google My Business Listing

Google rewards companies that have completed their listing and provide regular updates by showing them more frequently in the local pack and search rankings. I’ve pulled together this checklist for remodelers from my experience with clients, what I’ve come across while combing hundreds of remodelers’ GMB listings and from Duct Tape Marketing. I constantly see how much opportunity there is for remodelers to stand out from their competition by leveraging their GMB listing. More than a few times have I seen a killer website with gorgeous project photos only to see that they have no Google reviews. Or a respected contractor with 15 projects on Houzz but they haven’t added a single photo to their GMB listing. So, here’s a list of things you can do to have Google My Business help instead of hamper your efforts to show up and get noticed.

Complete your profile. Be sure you have all the following covered in your listing:

  • Gain access to your listing from someone who manages it by having them add you

  • Claim your GMB listing or Create and Verify your business if no listing exists

  • Clean up any duplicate listings (suggest and edit or close)

  • Choose location or Service Area (for businesses where clients don’t come to you)

  • Ensure NAP (name, address, phone) is identical to NAP on website

  • Add Description

  • Set up Primary and Additional Categories

  • Add Service offerings

  • Enter Hours of Operation

  • Make sure all information is current

  • Load up photos, logos and images

  • Create a Short Link or Short Name to share for Reviews

  • Add Questions and Answers

WEEKLY & MONTHLY ACTIVITY CHECKLIST

  • Set up process to request client reviews regularly

  • Respond to reviews, including negative ones

  • Add project photos and short videos to keep listing fresh

  • Create posts

  • Edit Hours of Operation for holidays

  • Monitor messages, questions and reviews

  • Add more Questions (and Answers) to show activity

NEW OPTION - Request a Quote button.

I’ve seen several remodelers’ GMB listings with this button in the late summer 2019. I’m not sure if this is worthwhile yet because it’s still new and questionable whether it’s even a good idea to solicit an inquiry without them figuring out if they are a good fit for your company. On the positive side, the button may help you stand out. On the negative side you may find yourself fielding inquiries for business that doesn’t match what you do or for someone looking for a cheap price and unrealistic timeframe. I wouldn’t suggest that a remodeling contractor turn on this feature unless you’re willing to put the resources behind it and have the process to respond quickly and effectively. And take into consideration that a comprehensive quote isn’t able to be compiled without asking a lot of questions and visiting the home. In a worst case scenario, I could see someone writing a bad review simply on a perceived poor experience they had with the quote process. That’s just not fair. (Note that to use this feature, you have to have opted in to the GMB messaging feature.)

 

Online PresenceAnn GusiffGoogle My Business, GMB