Google My Business is a powerful platform designed to help local businesses maximize their online visibility and reach their target audience more efficiently. As a free service, it offers a range of features that allow businesses to provide more information about their services, products, location, and business hours when they appear in search results.
Your Google My Business (GMB) profile is the most important starting point for getting found in local searches. It's created with your Google account and is what shows up in the knowledge panel on the right side of the search results page when you search for your business on Google. It's also the source of the information that shows up for your business in the map pack, which is the group of three listings at the top of organic search results, as well as your information that's surfaced on Google Maps.
By optimizing your Google My Business profile, you can reach a wider audience in less time, with a focus on what matters most - your customers and clients. So if you're looking to improve your local search rankings and get your business noticed, read on for our expert tips and advice.
How to Set Up Your Google My Business Account
If you don't have a Google My Business account yet, don't worry, it's easy to set one up. Follow these simple steps:
Go to google.com/business.
Click "Manage now."
Enter your business name and click "Next."
Enter your address. If you're a service area business that doesn't have a physical store, click the "I deliver goods and services to my customers" and "Hide my address" checkboxes.
Choose your primary business category.
Add your phone number and website URL.
Verify your business by receiving a postcard from Google with a verification code. Alternatively, you may be eligible for phone verification.
If you're experiencing issues with verification, you can reach out to Google My Business support for assistance. Once your business is verified, you can start responding to reviews and making edits to your business information.
Google my Business Features
If you're looking to boost your local business's online presence, Google My Business is the place to start. To get started, you'll need to create your own Google Business account, which will give you access to all the features that Google My Business has to offer. From there, you'll be able to take advantage of a range of tools that can help you succeed in any industry. Whether you're looking to increase visibility, drive traffic, or connect with customers, Google My Business has got you covered.
Category Selection and Descriptions
One of the critical features of Google My Business is the ability to select the right category for your business, along with a description of your business that can act as keywords for users. This information helps Google understand what your business is all about, making it easier for potential customers to find you online. We will explore how you can choose the right category and craft a compelling description to improve your online visibility.
Google Maps Location
If you're a locally-owned business, it's crucial to have your location and contact information visible online. Google My Business allows you to display your location on the map, making it easier for customers to find you. We will discuss the importance of accurate location information and how Google My Business can help improve your business's visibility in local search results.
Google My Business Reviews
Online reviews can make or break a business. With Google My Business, your company's reviews are displayed automatically, allowing potential customers to get a sense of your business's reputation. We will talk about how to respond to reviews, how to encourage positive feedback, and how to handle negative reviews to maintain a positive online presence.
Google My Business Photos
Visuals play a significant role in how people perceive your business. With Google My Business, you can showcase your products, services, and location through photos and videos. We will explore how to select the right visuals for your business, how to optimize them for search, and how to encourage user-generated content to enhance your online presence.
Attributes and Details
Google My Business offers the ability to add attributes to your listing, providing more specific details about your business. We will discuss how to leverage attributes to attract your target audience, differentiate yourself from competitors, and improve your online presence.
Product Catalog
The opportunity to exhibit a diverse range of product categories and individual items directly on your listing. This functionality is particularly advantageous for physical establishments that stock branded retail merchandise they wish to highlight and promote.
Google My Business Advantages
Using Google My Business is a great way to attract new customers, spread the word about an existing business, or find your way into any market, even highly saturated and competitive ones. Some of the most notable advantages of using Google My Business for your own business include:
Maps to Enhance Your Business
One of the most significant benefits of using Google My Business is the ability to provide visual maps and GPS coordinates directly from Google Maps. Integrating your business into Google My Business helps customers find your business quickly and easily, even in highly competitive markets.
Boost Your SEO Ranking
Google My Business is also an effective way to improve the SEO ranking of your website. This platform allows you to optimize your listing for local searches, which is especially important for local businesses. By creating a complete and accurate listing, you can make it easier for potential customers to find your business online.
Boost Your CTR
When your business appears within the top search results of search engines like Google, you can make a positive and professional impression on potential customers, resulting in a higher click-through rate (CTR) to your website. With Google My Business, you can maintain a steady and climbing company ranking, ensuring that your business is not forgotten.
Gain Valuable Insights with Google My Business
Google My Business provides even more valuable data and insights into your online users and customers. Use this platform to learn more about how users find your business and whether they are doing so via search engines or via the Google Maps maps themselves.
Increase Engagement with Potential Customers
When customers trust your business, they will be more likely to engage with your links, promotions, and even your products or services. With Google My Business, you can increase overall engagement and improve your chances of converting users to customers.
Your Profile is Your New Homepage
Your GMB profile can be your first impression with potential customers. Unlike in the past where websites received significant traffic from people looking for business information, customers now only need to visit your GMB profile for essential information like your address, phone number, testimonials, and photos of your locations. It's crucial to complete and optimize your listing so you can make the best first impression and increase your chances of converting those users to customers.
How to Optimize Your Google My Business Profile
Now it’s time to optimize your Google My Business profile. Sign in to your GMB dashboard and click on your business. Here are some tips on how to make the most of this powerful tool.
Fill Out Everything You Can
Your GMB profile provides important details about your business to Google. The more information you supply, the better. Make sure to use your actual business name, provide a local phone number, and list your hours of operation. When writing your business description, make it compelling and avoid keyword stuffing. You can also upload high-resolution photos and videos of your business.
Get Google Reviews from Happy Customers
Reviews are a key factor in getting more visibility in local searches. They not only provide insights into what your customers want and need but also give you an opportunity to engage with your customers, even those who are unhappy. By responding to reviews with transparency and a willingness to resolve issues, you can win back customer loyalty.
Answer Customer Questions
Your GMB profile's questions and answers section allows anyone to ask questions about your business or answer them. As the expert, you should be answering every question that's asked. This gives you even more control over the conversation around your business. Make sure to ask your own questions, too, and vote for your answers. This ensures that your answers are displayed as the primary responses.
Get Attention with Google Posts
Posts are like free display ads for your business. Use them to promote your business and offer discounts or special deals. Posts display a thumbnail image and brief description that pops up to a full-sized image and more text when clicked. Make sure to select an eye-catching image that's at least 1200x900 pixels. There are four Post templates you can use when creating your own. Choose one that best suits your needs and add a call to action if you want to encourage users to take action.
Now that you know how to claim, verify, and optimize your Google My Business listing, you can make that great first impression. Whether you’re setting it up for the first time or optimizing a listing that already exists, you’ve got a guide to help you show up more often in local searches and find new customers.
Ready to maximize your local visibility and drive more customers to your business? Our experienced marketing professional OPIIA specializes in creating the perfect Google My Business profiles that stand out. Let us help you take your online presence to the next level. Contact us today to get started on the path to local success.