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Local businesses and large corporations alike are investing more in boosting their online visibility, which means spending time with Google My Business (GMB).

Managing a Google Business Profile can come with a learning curve of new vocabulary and jargon for many business owners. To optimize your Business Profile, you need to know what you’re looking at and what the terms mean.

We’ve put together this glossary of standard terms to help you navigate the platform like a pro.

Attributes

Attributes allow you to add even more description to your GMB profile and are used to highlight unique or special features about your business. Some attributes can include free WIFI, delivery services, reservation features, or free estimates. Be sure to list accurate attributes that are also enticing for a customer.

Categories

Your primary category shows up underneath your reviews, right at the top of your Google Business Profile. Be sure to select a specific category, and there are many to choose from (more than 3,000)! For example, if your law firm specializes in real estate matters, you can select “Real Estate Attorney” as a category instead of the more generic “Law Firm” category.

Health & Safety

Since the pandemic, Google has added health and safety as an informational area on Google Business Profiles. This section provides customers with information on a local business’ mask policies, sanitation procedures, and social distancing policies for a local business.

Local SEO

While you may not see this phrase as you’re setting up or managing your Business Profile, you’ll likely hear it as you look for tips to improve your account. Local SEO is the process of optimizing your online presence to rank higher in local search engine results. Check out our Local SEO guide for more on this expansive topic.

Messaging

Messaging in your Google Business Profile allows searches to contact you directly through text message. You can enable messaging on your profile in the Google My Business dashboard.

Don’t worry; your personal cell phone number won’t show up to your customers. You’ll be showing a different phone number dedicated to your Business Profile. Don’t forget to turn on alerts for customer messages if you activate this feature!

Phone Verification

Google uses phone verification to confirm that your business’ phone number is valid and receives calls. You can also verify your account details through a postcard in the mail.

Services & Products

You can share product and service details directly in your Business Profile. When you add a product, include an accurate name and helpful description.

Questions & Answers

These are especially important to pay attention to in your Business Profile because anyone can ask and answer questions. You can optimize this section by making a list of FAQs you hear from customers and then ask and answer those questions on the profile.

Reviews

The reviews section is one of the most essential to your Google Business Profile. Almost every customer that finds you on Google will look at your reviews. Whether you receive good or bad reviews from customers, respond to each one with empathy, professionalism, and respect. Check out our guide for garnering more reviews and strategies for responding to reviews.

Special Hours

Don’t leave your customers wondering if you’re open on Labor Day or Christmas Eve. With special hours, you can enter hours for days when your business operates on a different schedule than usual. Your customers will appreciate the clear communication on your profile.

How M&R Marketing Can Help

Our digital team at M&R Marketing helps businesses succeed and manage their Google Business Profiles. We can help you set up your Google My Business Profile, implement Local SEO strategies, and more. Get in touch with one of our account managers, and let’s get started! Call us at 478-621-4491 or send us an email at hey@mandr-group.com.

In the meantime, check out our handy guide to optimize your Google Business Profile.

Want to Dig Deeper? Read our Free Definitive Guide on SEO Here