Thread by @DarrenShaw_

🚨 Big news in local SEO: the Services section of your Google Business Profile now impacts your rankings 🤯

New research from @SterlingSkyInc shows that selecting Google's predefined services can improve rankings.

Here's how to make the most of GBP Services 🧵

#localseo #seo

Until now, services have NOT been a ranking factor ❌

In fact, they were the #4 local SEO myth in the 2021 Local Search Ranking Factors survey.

But, Services were still valuable because they drove more conversions and they triggered eye-catching justifications 👀

However, Sterling Sky's findings reveal a new local SEO tactic for improving rankings.

In this example, prior to adding "NJ DUI Attorney" to their GBP services, this business only ranked in their immediate area.

But after, they started ranking quite well in a wider radius.

Here's an even more extreme example.

Previously, this business was not ranking at all for "vampire facials", a pretty obscure term 🧛

But when they added the predefined service that Google was suggesting, BOOM 💥 look at that huge ranking boost.

Here's how you can apply this new tactic:

1. Go to your Profile and click the "Edit services" button.

This will take you to the Services section.

NOTE: If you have any pending services suggested by Google, you have to edit/accept those before you see the predefined services.

If you choose to accept any of the pending services, you should edit them, add pricing, and add descriptions.

2. After that, you get this magic button: "Add more services".

When you click on it, you'll see all the predefined services you can add to your Profile.

As you add all of these to your Profile, you are potentially improving your rankings for those terms (your mileage may vary depending on the term).

Click "Save" after you've selected the ones you want, and then add descriptions to them.

3. For some categories, you'll have the option to add custom services.

Type in any additional services that your business provides.

The jury is still out on whether adding custom services has any impact on rankings 🤷

@JoyanneHawkins and her team are currently testing custom services, so keep an eye out for their follow-up.

But hey, you might as well add custom services because they definitely help with conversions, and may even help you rank for extra terms 📈

I recommend checking your GBP for new suggested services weekly.

Accept/edit/remove the ones that make sense, then choose the predefined ones in each category.

Add services = cast a wider net = rank for more terms = 🤑

Plus, get additional "Provides" justifications 🔥

📢 Shout out and a huge thank you to @JoyanneHawkins and the team at @SterlingSkyInc for giving us a new local search strategy to add to our tool belt.

Read their full post here:
sterlingsky.ca/services-in-go…