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Google Adds Business Descriptions In Google My Business & Local Knowledge Panel

 
Are you a local Carlsbad business owner concerned with what your Google My Business listing says about you?

Not the descriptors, reviews, office hours, categories, or other such important attributes of your Google My Business listing, no.

We’re talking about the ‘Descriptions‘ field that disappeared back in 2016, but has been reappearing in some Google My Business listings in the past week or so.

It wasn’t that long ago when Google removed the capability to describe your business in Google My Business, that was back in 2016.

And don’t think that this Description field can possibly disappear from your Google My Business listing in the future. Google is notorious for launching, then removing many things….which positively & negatively affect your local business digital footprint.

Business owners will likely soon have – if you don’t see it already – the option to write and edit descriptions that show up in your Google My Business listing, and in Google’s local knowledge panel.

If you’re not into the DIY Local SEO, then send this to your website company, or whomever is tasked with getting your business higher rankings on the SERPs. (search engine results pages).

From what I’m seeing, a lot of local Google My Business listings are a little slow to adapt.
 

What Is The Description Field On Google My Business?

 
According to Google, (they haven’t even formally announced the recent addition of business descriptions), there are two types of short business descriptions you might see on Google: business descriptions and review snippets.

Here is a desktop search screenshot of both:

 
Google Knowledge Panel Search Description for Carlsbad Businesses
 

Here’s a mobile screenshot:

 
Mobile Google Knowledge Panel Search Description for Carlsbad Businesses
 

Local business owners – or the people managing (hopefully not owning) your Google My Business listing – can once again write these short descriptions, that give people searching for your products & services (or your name), a quick snapshot of your business.

These descriptions are phrases or sentences (such as the example on the screenshot above) that people see when searching for your or your business on Google.

Do you think these business descriptions are beneficial?

You bet your ass they are! At least until they disappear once again.
 

Why Are Google My Business Business Descriptions Important for Carlsbad Business Owners 

 
Redundancy aside, these business descriptions allow you to tell people what separates you from the competition.

You know, that competition that ranks higher than you in the SERPs, and the competition Google lists right under your Google My Business listing.

To quote the Big G:

“Enter a brief description of your business — what you offer, what sets you apart, your history, or anything else that’s helpful for customers to know. Descriptions must be no longer than 750 characters and can’t include URLs or HTML code.”

Here’s another reason why it’s important for local Carlsbad business owners, your competition probably is slow to the draw.

Meaning, much like Google My Business Posts, you can not only set yourself apart with your words, but set yourself apart from any other local competition who doesn’t even bother to complete the description attribute in their Google My Business listing.

Here’s one more reason…

It won’t hurt your rankings or click thru rate. And it takes about 2 minutes to do.

OK, that’s three reasons. So why haven’t you done it yet?

To be fair, maybe it hasn’t been rolled out to your listing yet…but I doubt it.
 

Describe Your Business…On Google My Business

 
In case you’re one of those business owners who prefer to DIY your Local SEO, or have the unfortunate luck of being victim of a less than quick on the draw website company, here’s how to add a description to your Google By Business listing.

Login to your Google My Business listing.

Then click on either the blue “EDIT” button or the “Info” button on the left-hand side navigation menu.

 
Google My Business Descriptions Are Back
 

Scroll down to where it says, “Description,” and fire away!

 
Google My Business Descriptions Are Back
 

You’re limited to 750 characters, but that’s plenty of room to sprinkle in some keywords, locations served, and what sets you apart.

 
Google My Business Descriptions Are Back
 

It probably behooves you to include keywords, and your location but it also probably doesn’t matter too much….especially if Google sends this description field to the scrapyard again sometime in the future.

Either way, you might as well do it.

Complete every available attribute on your Google My Business listing to separate yourself from the local competition and give Google every single ranking signal you can.
 

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