Surrey, BC is certainly a unique city, and not only because it’s home to the man with the Guinness World Record for the longest beard. The town centre, Cloverdale, was the filming site of the hit TV show Smallville and the cult classic movie Hot Rod. It also features a historic monument: The Peace Arch, which commemorates 100 years of peace between Canada and the USA. Since it’s built on the border, one side of it is in each country. 

When it comes to business, you want your brand to be as unique as the city it’s in. But it isn’t easy to set your company apart from the rest. How do you show customers that your products, services, and reliability go far beyond the competition’s? 

You can start by setting up a GMB.

A Google My Business listing is a must-have for any company that wants an online presence. Without it, customers will have a much harder time finding your website in search results. To learn how to create a listing and why it will benefit your business, keep reading:

How do you set up a GMB?

You may not be the most tech-savvy person, but don’t worry; we’re going to break it down into simple steps so that this process is easy. Let’s get started:

• The first step is creating a Google account. We recommend not using your personal email address; instead, make an account that you want to be associated with your business (for example, one with your company’s domain). 

• Visit this page to start managing your business. You can search the name of your company to see if a listing already exists—if it does, you can start the process of claiming it. Otherwise, you can create the listing yourself. 

• You’ll need to provide some basic information about your business to start building your profile. This includes your name, location, and whether you have a physical storefront and/or delivery services. 

• After you’ve created your account, the next step is verifying it. After all, you don’t want just anyone to be able to change your listing. While there are a few verification options, most businesses are eligible for the postcard option. Google will mail a code to your business address; once you enter it in, your listing will be verified.

• Once your listing has been created, claimed, and verified, you’re ready to start adding more information. It’s time to optimize your listing to get the best results. Add photos, attributes, and an FAQ to give customers more information about your business. You can use categories to make your listing more specific; for example, if you own a restaurant in Surrey, you can indicate what type of cuisine you serve. 

Why is a GMB good for local SEO?

Search engine optimization is designed to help websites rank higher in search results. You want to make it as easy as possible for customers to find your website and contact you. When your business appears on the first page of search results, you’ll see greater organic traffic. Here’s how a GMB will help your SEO:

• Google Reviews influence customers.

Google has confirmed that positive ratings are a ranking factor. Managing your online reputation is imperative for your local SEO strategy. With a GMB listing, you can read and respond to reviews as soon as they come in. Even if you get a negative review, it’s important to draft a thoughtful response. In a recent survey, 70% of consumers reported that they’d be more likely to use a business that replies to negative feedback.

• You could appear in the Google 3-Pack.

If you’ve ever searched “dentists in Surrey near me”, then you may have seen Google’s 3-pack come up. Since these businesses appear above other search results, it’s the most visible spot on the page. You can’t hope to rank here without a GMB listing. 

• When your listing is claimed, you can correct misinformation. 

Customers don’t like it when they’re misled by inaccurate results. Imagine if you called a business only to realize their listing had the wrong number—how will you trust them with anything if you can’t trust their GMB? When your listing is verified, you can correct any errors, whether that’s your hours of operation or your address. Doing so will prevent consumers from clicking away to your competitor’s website.

• You’ll have increased visibility in search results. 

When your GMB is optimized for your targeted keywords, it’s more likely that you’ll rank above your competitors who aren’t. CTR (click-through rate) is an important metric for SEO, and it can be greatly influenced by a GMB. Think about two GMB listings side-by-side: one is full of photos, reviews, and information, while the other is totally sparse. Which one are you more likely to click? 

When you need search engine optimization services in Surrey, contact First Rank. We’ll help you manage your GMB listing, along with your website design and more.