Many wealth advisors rely on classic strategies like networking and client referrals. However, those who have taken advantage of the power of Google My Business Optimization are seeing impressive gains. This platform will strategically position your firm where potential clients are already searching.
Optimizing Google Business Profiles can improve your chances of appearing in local search results and enable prospective clients to easily access crucial information like your contact details, services, and client reviews.
In this guide, we'll explore why Google My Business Optimization will boost your visibility and establish you as the go-to wealth advisor in your local area.
If you're a wealth advisor looking to attract more clients and build your reputation, creating a Google My Business (GMB) profile is crucial. Here's why:
People search for services online. They grab their phones, type something like “top rated wealth advisor near me”, and hit search.
When potential clients are looking for a wealth advisor in their area, you want to be the one they find. A GMB profile puts you on Google Maps and search results page.
When someone searches for financial advice or wealth management nearby, your profile can pop up in their search results, making it easy for them to discover and contact you.
First impressions matter. A well-maintained GMB profile makes you look professional and trustworthy. Clients can immediately see your address, phone number, and business hours.
They can also read reviews from other clients who've worked with you, which adds another layer of credibility.
GMB is more than just a business listing; it's a platform for engaging with your clients. You can share updates, post news about your services, and even respond to questions directly on your profile.
It's a great way to show potential clients you're active, responsive, and committed to keeping them informed.
GMB's insights allow you to see how clients find you, their actions on your profile, and which posts or photos get the most attention. This data helps you understand what works and what doesn't so you can fine-tune your marketing strategy.
A GMB profile gives you the edge by highlighting what makes your services unique from other local businesses in wealth advisory. Whether it's a special certification, a unique approach to wealth management, or exceptional customer service, your GMB profile can showcase it all.
Let's not forget one of the best parts—it's free! You get all these benefits without spending a dime. It's an affordable way to boost your online presence and reach more potential clients.
Ready to get your wealth advisory firm noticed online? Let's set up your Google My Business (GMB) listing. Creating one is quick and easy. Follow these steps:
First, go to the Google My Business website. You can use your personal Google account, or if you don't have one, you'll need to create a Google business account.
Once logged in, click the "Manage now" button to get started.
Now, you'll need to provide some basic information about your firm. This includes your business name, physical location, and phone number.
Make sure to use a local phone number—it helps with local SEO and makes you more accessible to clients in your area.
Pro Tip: Ensure your business name matches your name on your website and other online platforms to keep everything consistent.
Choosing the right category is crucial. Since you're a wealth advisor, look for categories like "Financial Consultant" or “Financial Planner”.
This helps Google show your business to the right audience.
You'll be asked if your business has a physical location. Selecting "Yes" will display your firm's address on Google Maps, which is crucial for clients seeking local financial services.
For most financial firms, confirming your physical presence is a good idea. Whether operating from a commercial office or meeting clients in a designated area of your home, showing your location can boost your visibility and make it easier for potential clients to find you.
However, if you have privacy concerns or your business model doesn’t involve client visits, you might choose "No" instead. This keeps your address off the web while allowing you to benefit from a Google My Business listing.
It’s a common choice for financial advisors or consultants who primarily work online or wish to keep a low physical profile.
If you choose “Yes” in the previous step, Google will ask you to type out your firm’s physical address. You can skip this step if you select “No.”
Google wants to ensure your business is legitimate, so they'll ask you to verify it.
They'll request that you provide a video recording of your business premises. This step is part of their verification process to confirm your company's physical presence and operations.
Occasionally, you may have the opportunity to receive a verification code via a call or text from Google's system to your phone number.
Fill out your business profile with as much detail as possible. Add your business hours, a compelling description, and high-quality photos.
This is a great feature to help you monitor the performance of your GMB listing. Enable "Call History" to track the calls you receive through your GMB profile. It's an excellent way to measure how well your listing works and ensure you're not missing any potential client inquiries.
List all the services you offer. Be specific and detailed. Potential clients want to know exactly what you can do for them. Services might include:
If you've confirmed that all the information entered in the previous steps is correct, feel free to click the blue “Finish” button on this screen.
If you're uncertain or wish to review your entries, simply click the left arrow to go back and double-check your inputs.
Customers can’t see your business information if you’re not yet verified.
Typically, they’ll send a postcard with a verification code to your business address. Once you receive the postcard, log back into your GMB account and enter the code to verify your business.
Note: Verification can take a few days, so keep an eye on your mailbox.
Once your Google My Business profile is set up, the next step is optimization. This ensures your profile appears in Google search results and stands out to potential clients. Here's how to make the most of your GMB profile as a wealth advisor:
First, ensure all your business information is accurate and up-to-date. This includes your business name, address, phone number, and website. Double-check everything because even small errors can confuse potential clients and hurt your local SEO.
Your business description is a great opportunity to tell clients who you are and what you do. Make it clear, concise, and packed with useful information.
Photos can make a big difference in how potential clients perceive your business. Add high-quality images of your office, team, and any events you host. This helps build trust and makes your profile more engaging.
Keeping your business hours up-to-date is essential. This helps clients know when they can reach you. Additionally, you can set special hours for holidays or events:
Make sure your business hours are accurate. This helps clients know when they can reach you. If you have special hours for holidays or events, update those as well.
Example:
Monday - Friday: 9 AM - 6 PM
Saturday: By Appointment Only
Sunday: Closed
GMB attributes allow you to highlight specific features of your local business. Attributes like "Appointment Required" and "Free Consultations" can be appealing to wealth advisors.
List all the services you offer. Be detailed and specific. This will help clients understand what you can do for them and improve your search engine optimization.
SEO is crucial for financial firms as it helps build trust and authority in a highly competitive market. Essential SEO strategies include optimizing your website with relevant financial content, securing backlinks from reputable finance sites, and ensuring your site has optimal loading speeds.
Regularly updating your blog with insightful articles on financial topics can boost your organic search rankings, making your firm more visible to potential clients.
Reviews are a critical component of your Google My Business profile. They influence your local SEO rankings and build trust and credibility with potential clients.
When it comes to local search rankings, Google loves reviews. The more positive reviews you have, the higher your business is likely to appear in search results. This is crucial because most people don't scroll past the first page of Google. So, having a lot of good reviews can help you climb the ranks and get noticed.
Additionally, positive reviews act as endorsements from your clients, showing potential clients that you're trustworthy and reliable.
Responding to good and bad reviews shows that you truly value your clients' feedback and are committed to providing top-notch service. Thank clients for their positive comments and address any concerns from negative reviews.
The simplest yet most effective way to get reviews is by asking directly, especially after a positive interaction. When a client expresses satisfaction with your service, it's the perfect moment to request a review.
Sending a personalized email after your service is a gentle reminder for clients to leave a review. Include a direct link to your Google Business listing to make the process as simple as possible.
Including a gentle reminder on your business cards can be an effective nudge. This approach works well because it reminds your clients to leave a review.
Add a dedicated "Leave a Review" button to your GMB review page and prominently place it on your homepage and contact page to make it easy for clients to leave reviews.
Encourage reviews regularly through your social media accounts. A friendly reminder can prompt clients who follow your pages to leave feedback.
Always thank your clients for taking the time to leave a review, whether positive or negative. This shows your appreciation and encourages others to post their thoughts.
Your Google Business Profile serves as the groundwork, and your website is the towering structure built upon it. Building a strong online presence through website optimization is a strategic, long-term endeavor that can take months or even years to realize its full potential.
At AUM Growth Marketing, we specialize in helping wealth advisors improve their online presence and reach more clients. Our expert team ensures that your Google My Business (GMB) profile and other online assets are optimized for maximum impact.
Ready to attract more clients and grow your business? Contact us today to explore how we can improve your online presence and achieve the results you're aiming for.
Google Ads is a powerful tool to increase your business’s visibility on search engines. Creating targeted ad campaigns can appear at the top of search results for relevant keywords related to your firm.
This pay-per-click advertising ensures that you only pay when someone clicks on your ad, making it a cost-effective way to attract more traffic to your website.
While Google Shopping is primarily used for retail products, financial firms can creatively utilize this tool by advertising financial books, software, or seminars that they offer.
This could include financial planning guides or subscription services for financial insights. This positions your offerings directly in the Google Shopping feed to attract interested individuals.
It's a good practice to check your GMB Insights at least once a month. This will help you understand trends in how potential customers interact with your profile, what's working, and what might need tweaking. Regular monitoring allows you to adjust your strategies to improve performance quickly.
A Husband, Father, and Business Owner. He is also a Digital Marketer and Finance Nerd with over a decade of lead generation experience managing a results-driven marketing agency for Wealth Management Companies. Aaron loves studying marketing, markets, video production, and strategy to better serve his clients.
Learn more about Aaron Watson
