How to Use Local Schema to Enhance Your Google Business Profile

Having a strong online presence is essential for local businesses of all sizes. To improve your online presence as a local business, you need to use local business schema. Basically, local schema helps search engines better understand your business information - which means getting more eyes on your profile, website, and content. In this article, we will explore what local business schema is, how it can help customers find your business, how it relates to Google Business Profile, and how to optimize it. Let’s jump into it!

These days, searchers are interacting more with search engines than they are with businesses themselves. After all, 67% of searches on Google result in zero clicks. What does this mean? Basically, two-thirds of users are staying on Google after they search for something - whether it’s a product, a service, a question, or a local business.

This means you need to start focusing on what data search engines have about your business. You could have the best website in the world and a killer social media presence, but if the 90% of consumers who use search engines to find products and services can’t see what you have to offer, you’re not going to see many conversions. Adding local business schema helps search engines better understand the content on your website.

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Here’s an example of what a typical searcher will see when searching for cupcakes:

Local business schema provide additional information about your business to search engines and helps them display more relevant results to users.

Local schema help customers find your business. 90% of customers use search engines to find new local products and services. To ensure that you show up in local search, you need to signal to Google that your business is what customers want to see.

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Local business schema provides search engines with additional information about your business, so they can:
1. Identify it as a local business

2. Display it in relevant search results

By using local business schema, you can increase the visibility of your business online, making it easier for potential customers to find you.

So how does this relate to your Google Business Profile? Local business schema is closely related to Google Business Profile. By using local business schema on your website, you can provide Google with more detailed information about your business, which it can then use to populate your Google Business Profile. Specifically, ensuring that your business information is consistent from your website to your Google Business Profile is essential for showing up in search results!

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Here, you can see the local schema in practice. A search for vintage stores shows relevant stores in the searcher’s area, providing business details like location, business description, store hours, and more - directly on Google!

Here’s how to optimize local business schema for your website::

1. Identify the information you want to include in your schema markup. This may include your business name, address, phone number, hours of operation, reviews, and other details.
2. Use a schema markup generator to create the schema markup for your website. There are several free tools available online, such as Google's Structured Data Markup Helper.
3. Add the schema markup to your website's code. You can do this manually, or you can use a plugin or extension if you're using a content management system like WordPress.
4. Test your schema markup using Google's Structured Data Testing Tool. This will help you identify any errors in your markup and ensure that it's working correctly.

Local business schema is a valuable tool for local businesses looking to improve their online presence. By providing search engines with additional information about your business, you increase your visibility online, making it easier for potential customers to find you. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can optimize your website's local business schema and take full advantage of its benefits!

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