By Maverick 
In local SEO, Google My Business Categories are of great importance as they determine the person’s ranking search results of a business regarding competition. This is because choosing the wrong categories can lead to ineffectiveness in capturing the audience possible here. This content will take you through the major aspects of GMB categories, how to choose them, and how to manage them.
What are Google My Business Categories? 🏷️
Google My Business category is are type of labels that assist Google in classifying the activities and operations of the business. There will be one primary category assigned to each regional listing since it is the main category that illustrates the primary activity of such a business. Apart from this, they may choose up to 5 standard categories to illustrate the range of offered services or the diversity of products.
The right categories should be chosen. If for instance the wrong one is awarded, it may lead to low ratings or a worse selection of the audience that would be interested in your listing. This may affect the health of one’s business on Google than it helps. For this reason, every local business owner should know how to choose the relevant categories.
How to Access and Edit Your Categories ✍️
Changing your Google My Business categories is a simple skill to master. Here’s how you can do so:
Log into your Google account associated with the business listing.
Now search for ‘My Business’ on Google.
Find the business listing in the search results and click the ‘View Profile’ button.
On your profile, click on the ‘Edit profile’ option.
Scroll down to locate the ‘Business category.’
As soon as you click on it, your primary category also can be entered or modified. However, Google does not create an entire list of categories from the start. Instead, once you start typing, you will see suggested categories. This has helped people search for suitable categories.
Choosing Your Primary Category vs. Additional Categories 🎯
Correct categorization is vital to making improvements to the listing. It is important to note the distinction between the primary category, which should contain the main activity of the organization, and additional categories, which serve to specify other aspects of the activity of the organization. Here’s how to differentiate them for you:
Primary Category: This category must be dominated by the service or product that is more frequent in the business. For instance, a customer will locate your clinic virtually if your primary category is “Dental Clinic.”
Additional Categories: This is for other services which can be teeth whitening, emergency dental services, dental radiology, and the like. It is also possible to indicate nine additional categories that also help to concern the business scope.
Only use such categories to indicate the locatiojudgmentnt which is a locked legal structure such as a clinic, rather than an individual such as a dentist. There are penalties for providing misleading information, including removal of the listinaltogetherer.
Best Practices for Category Selection 🛠️
To help you choose your categories effectively, consider the following best practices as outlined:
A primary category should be selected that genuinely represents the core activity of the business.
Select additional categories that would be related to your business and thereby include descriptions that do not deceive the audience but rather are truthful.
Misleading unrelated categories should be avoided since Google does not look kindly on this.
Check on the categories periodically and edit them whenever necessary in order to keep up with the changes in the services offered by the business.
Observing these rules will help you keep the listing of your Google My Business healthy in terms of the ideal customers you wish to attract.
The Risks of Misusing Categories ⚠️
Proper categories for your listing should be selected with utmost caution owing to their adverse effects on your business listing. Some risks that may arise include the following:
Suspension: Google may remove your listing from the map if categories are found to inaccurately categorize the business.
Loss of Visibility: Incorrect categories will result in getting lost in search results which makes it impossible for customers to find you sharply.
Reduced Trust: There will be a missing desire to do business because the user cannot find all the services that they had expected from the categories provided. To avoid these problems, it is important to pick the appropriate categories that best fit the nature of your business.
Practical Exercise: Check Your Listing Now! 🔍
There comes the moment of practice for you. So, open your Google My Business profile and check the following:
Is the primary category field filled incorrectly?
Do the additional categories fit in and present the list of services offered correctly?
If so, make changes and do it without delay.
Regular updates and revisions of your categories help to maintain the online presence as strongly as possible. Just watching this article will not be enough; you really have to do something!
Conclusion: Stay Informed and Optimise Your Listing 📊
Understanding and correctly using Google My Business categories is a vital aspect of local SEO. By following the guidelines and best practices outlined in this article, you can enhance your business’s visibility and attract the right audience. Remember, your primary category should reflect your main business activity, while additional categories should accurately describe your services.
As you continue to manage your Google My Business listing, stay informed on any updates or changes to Google’s guidelines. Regularly review your categories to ensure they remain relevant, and always strive for accuracy in your listing. This proactive approach will help you maintain a robust online presence and achieve your business goals.