Maximizing Your Online Visibility: The Importance of Verifying and Managing Your Business Profile Beyond Google
In today’s digital age, having a strong online presence is critical for businesses of all sizes. While Google reigns as the dominant search engine, overlooking other popular search platforms could mean missing out on valuable opportunities to connect with potential customers. That’s where verifying and managing your business on sites like Bing, Apple Maps, Yelp, HERE, Nextdoor, TripAdvisor, MapQuest, Foursquare, and others come into play.
1. Diversifying Your Online Footprint
Verifying and managing your important business information on multiple platforms diversifies your online footprint, therefore making it easier for new customers to discover your business through a variety of channels. Google is obviously essential, but different search platforms attract different user demographics. With this in mind, we’ll verify your business listings on 5-8 search engines to expand your presence beyond Google and increase your chances of reaching a wider audience.
2. Improving Local SEO
Every day more search engines are investing in local search engine optimization (SEO) to make sure search results are targeting local customers. Search engines like Nextdoor, Yelp, and Apple Maps can significantly improve your local SEO rankings with a properly verified and managed business listing.
As search sites increase their use of location-based algorithms, it is more important than ever for your business information to be accurate and up-to-date across all sites. AMP’s team of in-house experts have a deep understanding of the verification process, and with OPTIMA™, we’ll partner you with one of our experts to help you get found on these important platforms.
3. Building Trust and Credibility
When potential customers search for businesses online, they usually turn to sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, Facebook, or Foursquare to read reviews and find recommendations from other users. By verifying and providing accurate, consistent content about your business on these platforms, you gain control over your online reputation and can respond to reviews, address customer concerns, and showcase your commitment to customer satisfaction. This proactive approach helps you build trust and credibility with potential customers, and will ultimately drive more business your way.
4. Enhancing Visibility on Niche Platforms
Depending on your industry, there are likely niche platforms that cater specifically to your target audience. For example, restaurants may benefit from verifying their business on platforms like HERE or TripAdvisor, whereas contractors may find value in being listed on Angi or Nextdoor. By identifying and verifying your business on these niche platforms, you increase your visibility within your industry and make it easier for interested customers to find and engage with your business.
5. Are more search platforms always better?
AMP’s OPTIMA™ program selects the 5-8 search engines that make sense for each business. In addition to verifying your business, we’ll add images and information to each platform and keep that information fresh, consistent, and attractive throughout the year across each of the selected sites.
Some online programs may offer to manage 30, 40, or even more search platforms. OPTIMA™ is designed to maximize each business’ online presence while keeping our programs affordable for independent businesses. In fact, we have found that the costs and challenges associated with keeping dozens of search platforms fresh and consistent do not lead to better online performance for our customers. For this reason, we focus on targeting the most relevant sites for your business to keep costs affordable and give each AMP customer the biggest bang for their marketing dollars.
