What is Google My Business?
Google My Business is a tool for business owners to manage the online presence of their business across Google. This includes search and Map. Google My Business allows you to create, verify and edit your business listing information to help potential customers with finding your business.
How it Helps Your Business
Google my Business listings help increase the visibility of businesses in search results that are branded. It also allows users to find listing information that can provide them with directions without having to visit the website. A feature that is perfect for active mobile users. Google My Business is critical for local SEO, as it allows your business listing to show up in local search results for queries that are specific to your services.
Broad queries with high search volumes display in local results, which is something smaller businesses and organizations can profit from.
You Own & Control Your Information
Another great aspect of having a Google My Business page is the ability to control the information published on the page. You are able to provide your customers with access to information such as operating hours, website, phone number, street address and services provided. This makes it important to ensure your Google My Business page is fully optimized, accurate and up to date with critical information to provide your potential customers with the best experience during their search and research phase.
Google My Business also offers a range of features to attract and inform customers in your area such as menus, product lists, accepted payment methods, photos, and reviews.
Manage Online Reputation
Google My Business gives you the ability to interact with customers by directly responding to both positive and negative reviews about your business. By responding to reviews, you are demonstrating how much you value your customers and their feedback. Well-written, positive reviews from your customers give your business better visibility as well as credibility to other potential customers. It is important to encourage customer feedback and can be easily accessible by linking to the page from your website.
Learning More About Your Customers
The Google My Business platform allows access to extra analytical data, which enables local businesses to learn more about their customers and online behaviour. Google Maps allows you access to information on where requests for directions to your business originate from. This information can help you target potential customers in your area as well as pick other neighbourhoods to target.
Tips on Improving Local Visibility
- Select the most accurate and appropriate category for your business. This helps your business appear for various product/service-based keyword searches.
- Adding photos to showcase the interior and exterior of the business. Using high-resolution images that highlight key areas of your business is recommended to give the best visual impression.
- Encouraging visitors to upload images of your business or venue improves engagement and interaction.
- Encourage submitting reviews and social check-ins from your customers to help engage potential new customers. Incentivizing these customers is also a great way to bring in positive reviews.
