As a real estate agent, it is essential to have a Google My Business (GMB) page. This page allows you to control how your business appears on Google search and Google Maps. It also allows you to add extra information about your business, including contact details, service area, and social media links. GMB is a powerful and FREE tool that should be in all real estate agent's marketing toolkit. Getting started with a GMB account is easy and only takes a few minutes. Optimizing this listing can net you more leads and, ultimately, more conversions.
The days of pulling out the Yellow Pages are gone, and now people take out their smartphone to search for the business they need. Google is the most popular search engine, and your Google My Business profile is key to improving your SEO and online presence. By optimizing your GMB profile, real estate agents can increase their chances of being found by potential clients both in Google Search and Google Maps.
What is Google My Business?
Google My Business is a tool perfect for real estate agents due to its hyperlocal functionality. You often work in a singular city or general region as a real estate agent. With a Google My Business account, you can easily add your target zip codes, cities, or regions so that your listing will appear for those searching in that area. People use search terms like "real estate agent near me," When you have an optimized GMB, you'll be one of those listed on the search results page.
Google My Business is also outstanding for mobile searchers. With more and more people using their phones as their primary search devices, making sure your business information is easily accessible on a small screen is important. Google My Business listings appear prominently in local search results on desktop and mobile devices. If you're unfamiliar with GMB, take a moment to grab your phone and open your browser. Try completing a Google search for a business; you'll see a listing for that business or a few businesses that match that criteria. This is where you want your real estate company's listing to appear.
Why Should Real Estate Agents Use GMB?
You're missing out on potential clients and conversions if you're not using Google My Business as a real estate agent. Google is the most popular search engine in the world, and creating a GMB listing increases your chances of being found by searchers. When someone completes a local search, like "real estate agents in [city name]," your GMB listing may appear if you have optimized it correctly. Google My Business is a powerful and FREE tool that real estate agents should take advantage of.
How to Optimize Your Google My Business Listing
Now that we've answered the question: what is Google My Business, it's time to move on to how you can optimize your listing. Google My Business is a great tool, but it only works if you take the time to fill out your profile and ensure all your information is accurate.
Here are a few tips on how to do just that:
Use Consistent NAP
You must use the same NAP, or number, address, and phone number, across all platforms. If you have inconsistencies, Google will see that and rank your listing lower than others. You can use your business or personal address if you're an independent real estate agent. Though, if you work for a real estate agency, you may want to check with your marketing team at your company to see if they'll allow you to use the same address as the agency uses. While this may seem trivial, Google will dock listings if they feel the address is incorrect or misleading.
Use Keyword-rich Business Information
When you're filling out your Google My Business profile, be sure to include relevant keywords in your business name and description. This will help your listing show up when people search for businesses like yours. Make sure you've researched and are using only those keywords that genuinely work for your business and niche. If you're a luxury real estate agent, don't use words like "cheap" or "inexpensive." Conversely, if your niche is commercial real estate, you wouldn't want to use words involving family or home.
Add Photos and Videos
Make sure to add photos and videos to your Google My Business listing. People love visual content, and you're more likely to capture their attention by adding photos and videos. Google also favors listings with photos, so you may see an uptick in your Google Search rankings if you add some visuals to your GMB profile.
Get Testimonials from Past Clients
Google My Business reviews and testimonials are one of the first things people will see when they come across your listing, so it's essential to make sure you have some positive reviews. Google favors businesses with positive reviews, so the more you have, the better. You can increase your chances of getting Google My Business reviews by asking your past clients to leave one for you.
Respond to Reviews or Questions
Google My Business allows customers to leave online reviews of your business. Make sure you are responding to these reviews, both the positive and the negative ones. This shows Google (and potential customers) that you care about your online reputation. According to Moz, 25% of questions go unanswered. Don't leave your potential homebuyers guessing about your agency.
Google reviews carry weight, and as a business owner, it's crucial to stay on top of those online reviews. Don't forget to monitor your online reviews on Zillow and Yelp, too. This all impacts your real estate marketing efforts.
Keep Your Information Updated
Google My Business requires you to keep your business information up-to-date. This includes your hours, contact information, and real estate website. You should remember to update pictures and share relevant posts. Potential homebuyers want to see a realtor as a human first, so be personable and use that winning personality to succeed in realty.
SEO for Google My Business
Google My Business is an excellent tool for real estate agents, but it's important to remember that it's just one part of your SEO (search engine optimization) strategy. For your GMB listing to appear in search results, you need to make sure you're doing other things right, too. Google's algorithm is constantly changing, so it's important to stay up-to-date on the latest SEO trends.
To effectively optimize your GMB, use keyword-rich phrases. As part of your digital marketing strategy, you should be one step ahead of your competition by completing thorough market research, including keywords and phrases. Include those keywords and phrases in the body of your GMB listing. You'll have the opportunity to write a piece about yourself or your company that will accompany the text listing. Here, use keywords that are relevant to your niche. Get creative, don't just reuse copy from your website for your Google business profile. Google wants fresh content, and one way to boost your SEO rankings is by creating new content, including on your GMB.
Another way to effectively use SEO for Google My Business is by monitoring your competition. Keep an eye on other real estate professionals in your area and see what keywords and phrases they use to optimize their Google My Business listings. You may find some new ideas that you can use for your own listing.
Google Analytics for Google My Business
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that allows you to track your website's traffic and see how users are interacting with your site. Google Analytics can also be used for Google My Business. Google Analytics for GMB lets you see how customers find your business on Google and what actions they take after they find you.
To set up Google Analytics for GMB, you first need to create a Google Analytics account and add your GMB listing. You should be able to do this through either your Google account or simply copy: google.com/business into your search bar to navigate there quickly. Once you've done that, you can start tracking your GMB traffic. Google Analytics for GMB lets you see how many people are clicking on your listing, how long they stay on your page, and what actions they take after they leave your listing. This information is valuable because it allows you to see what's working and what's not.
Now, after all that work on your Google My Business page, it's time to take a break. Running your own business can be tiring; check out our Top 10 Ways to Relax After Real Estate Showings!