Improve Your Local Ranking With the Right Google My Business Category

When it comes to setting up and maintaining the Google listing for your business, there's a lot to consider. The name, address, and phone number must be correct, of course. You've got to ensure the hours of operation are accurate, and update those hours for upcoming holidays. Then there's special offers, menu items, and location attributes. But there's one element of the listing that many brands don't pay enough attention to — the Google My Business category.

The Google My Business category is a top ranking factor for local packs, yet many businesses will simply choose the most relevant-sounding category that's available when they initially set up their listing. They'll set it, then forget it. Google, however, frequently removes categories, adds new categories, and changes the names of existing categories.

Don't get boxed in by your Google My Business category.

By scrolling through the available category options every so often, you may find Google has added new categories that more accurately describe what you do. Making that simple change — either replacing your primary category or adding more secondary categories to your listing — could dramatically improve your rank.

And since the location attributes you have to select from are determined by your business category, updating your category may also enable you to get even more specific about your store's unique, searchable characteristics (enhancing your Google listings with location attributes like dogs allowed oroutdoor seatingnot only makes it easier for consumers to discover influential details about your business, you also help Google to more clearly understand what each of your locations has to offer — so it can better match your listings to relevant searches).

For a deep dive into the many myths and little known facts about this important tactic, check out Search Engine Land's recent article, 7 things you might not know about Google My Business categories.

Download The Yext Guide to Google My Business to discover how to claim and verify your Google My Business listings, leverage Google Analytics, and much more.