Google is the most widely
used search engine with
three billion daily searches
Considering the exceptional audience reach, Google My Business (GMB) should be
your first choice for listing your business online. If your store locations are not on
Google, you might as well not exist (at least in terms of online search queries).
Be relevant by claiming your Google My Business listing providing all the right
information to interested people. The process is relatively straightforward but
our checklist empowers you to further optimize your business listing. We show
you how to create GMB listings whether you have one or 20 business locations.
But first, let’s take a look at what is and why you should consider GMB
as soon as possible.
What Is Google My Business?
Google My Business (GMB) is a digital dashboard where businesses can manage
information that Google provides to anyone looking for them online. All the data on
GMB listings make it easier for potential customers to look for (and find) products or
services on offer in Google Search or on Google Maps.
If you have searched for a business on Google, you may notice a small profile window
that appears on the right of the screen. That is known as a Google My Business listing
which includes a profile image, map pin and call-to-action buttons to take visitors straight
to a website. It also often shows directions to the business address, operating hours,
phone numbers, email address and a reviews section.
Google My Business is a digital dashboard where businesses can manage
information that Google provides to anyone looking for them online.
Why Is Google My Business Important?
There is no denying that the Internet continues to grow at an incredible rate making it
increasingly important to put your business online. Google My Business is considered
as one of a select few essential tools to help businesses grow their online presence.
When setup correctly, GMB allows businesses to appear in local searches which streamlines
how customers find the information they need. Considering that Google My Business is a free
tool, it is certainly worth looking into as it will help drive your promote your online presence.
How To Create A Google My Business Listing
Setting up your GMB profile with Google Maps is relatively simple. The dashboard is easy
to use and there is only one place to edit, update and add your business information.
However, if you haven’t already, you must first sign up and verify your business online …
While this takes care of creating a new listing, what happens if you’ve been operating for
some time? If you fall into this category, you should claim your business listing immediately.
A simple way to tell whether a listing for your business exists is to type it into the block
provided for “Business Name”. If your business name appears in the list below, you need
to claim it right away.
What Information Should Be Included
In Google My Business?
The more information you add the better for your business. At the very least, you
should complete all the information that Google asks you for. Make sure you include
the following: Business Hours, Contact Information, Physical Address And Directions
and Website And Company Details …
Here you can also add a 750-character description of your business and remember
to use relevant keywords you rank for. This is essential considering that there aren’t
many opportunities to add content you wish to rank for. The description will help Google
understand your business better and what type of search queries it should show in results.
Google My Business Categories
The categories section in GMB can also help your business listing on Google Maps.
The biggest advantage of Google My Business is on local searches. If someone searches
for ‘Marketing agency in Eastbourne’, all of the relevant businesses labelled within that
sector will appear in that search result. This is where Google adds the information into a
detailed Map of the location where users can compare travel locations, distances and times.
Google Reviews and Requests
You may think that the job is done after confirming the correct information but there is
more you can do. A nifty feature of GMB is that you can encourage visitors and customers
to leave online Google Reviews. You can also use it to monitor what other reviewers are
saying about your brand. Simply download the Google My Business App to get
notifications, manage reviews and messaging at anytime and anywhere.
Create Google My Business Posts
GMB posts can be seen as ‘mini ads’ for your company’s products or services providing
a great opportunity to use keywords you want to rank for. These posts appear in your
GMB profile when someone searches for your brand on Google or when they view your
Google My Business profile on Google Maps. There are various posts to choose from
such as ‘What’s New’, ‘Event’, ‘Offer’ or ‘Product’.
Conclusion
A Google My Business profile is the information that appears in Google Maps or Google
search results when visitors use certain keywords relevant to your business. The more
information you provide while encouraging customer engagement will greatly benefit
your brand. GMB has proven itself time and time again as a powerful marketing ally
and getting the basics right is just the beginning.
