Story Based Question
Imagine you’ve just opened a small café in a bustling downtown area. You’ve heard about the power of local SEO and want to ensure your business appears when people search for “cafés near me” or “best coffee spots.” As you’re setting up your Google My Business (GMB) profile, you notice a field asking you to select categories for your business. You’re not entirely sure what these categories mean or how to pick the right ones to attract the right customers.
Exact Answer
Google My Business categories are labels that describe your business and help Google match it to relevant searches. You should select categories that best represent your primary services, with the most specific category as the primary, and additional ones for secondary services.
Explanation
GMB categories are the backbone of your local SEO strategy. Think of them as keywords for your business profile—they help Google understand what you offer and connect your business with potential customers.
- Primary Category: This is the most critical. It tells Google the core of your business. If you own a café, “Café” should be your primary category, not something vague like “Food and Beverage.”
- Additional Categories: These cover secondary services. For example, if your café serves baked goods or offers free Wi-Fi, you can add “Bakery” or “Internet Café.”
Why does this matter? When people search for something specific, Google pulls results based on these categories. If you’re too generic or miss key categories, your business might not show up in searches, even if you offer exactly what the person is looking for.
When choosing categories:
- Be specific. If the category exists in GMB, use it instead of general terms.
- Think about your customer’s intent. What are they searching for?
- Avoid stuffing categories. Adding too many irrelevant ones can confuse both Google and potential customers.
Example
Let’s go back to your café. Here’s how you’d select the right categories:
- Primary Category: You choose “Café” because that’s your main business focus.
- Secondary Categories: You also serve pastries and host live music on weekends. So, you add “Bakery” and “Live Music Venue” as secondary categories.
- What to Avoid: Don’t add irrelevant categories like “Restaurant” if you don’t offer full meals, or “Co-Working Space” just because you have tables and free Wi-Fi.
Now, when someone searches “Café with live music near me,” your business has a better chance of appearing in the results.
Always focus on categories that match your core services. Specificity matters. Think like your customers and make it easy for them to find you.