As a business owner, you know how important it is to be visible online. After all, potential customers are searching for your products and services on the web every day. But did you know that nearly 80% of those searchers never look past the first page of results?
That’s why it’s so important to claim and optimize your Google My Business listing. GMB is a free listing that allows businesses to control how they appear in Google Maps and Search. By taking advantage of GMB’s features, you can make sure your business stands out in the search results and attract more customers.
In this guide, we’ll show you everything you need to know about Google My Business, from creating your listing to tracking your performance over time.Â
What is Google My Business?
Google My Business is an essential tool for small businesses. It allows you to manage your online presence and reach new customers.
GMB provides a platform for you to share information about your business, such as your hours, location, and contact information. You can also post photos and videos, write reviews, and respond to questions from potential customers.
Having a GMB listing makes it easier for customers to find you online and can help improve your search engine ranking. Claiming and verifying your listing is free, and only takes a few minutes.
Is Google My Business Expensive?
Google My Business is a free tool that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps. However, some businesses feel that the service is too expensive and choose to opt-out.
There are a few reasons why businesses might find Google My Business expensive. First, the service requires ongoing effort to maintain your listing and keep it accurate. This can be time-consuming, especially for businesses with multiple locations. Second, businesses must continually monitor their reviews and respond to negative feedback in a timely manner. Finally, Google may make changes to the service that require businesses to invest additional time or money (such as adding new features).
Overall, Google My Business can be a valuable asset for businesses that are willing to invest the time and effort required to use it effectively.
Where Can I Find My Google Business Listing?
If you’re wondering how to find your Google Business Listing, never fear! The process is actually quite simple.
First, open up Google Maps on your computer or phone. Then, search for your business by name. If your business comes up, it means you already have a listing! If not, you can create one by clicking on the “Add a missing place” option.
Once you’ve found your listing, take some time to update the information and add photos. This will help potential customers learn more about your business and what you have to offer.
If you’re still having trouble finding or creating your listing, you can always contact Google My Business support for assistance.
The advertisements section is at the top of Google, which we are all quite familiar with. The Ads section is always at the top of a Google search result. It displays paid advertisements for businesses that are interested in you as a customer.
The Local Pack is located just below the advertisements section. This is the first part where your GMB listing may be found. The Local Pack displays the top three ranked local listings. This is the most important section. Your aim as a business owner and our goal as a digital marketing agency is for your GMB listing to rank in this section.
Just beneath this is a “more places” link that expands the Local Pack to provide local business listings for pages 1 through infinite based on the query entered. This is the second location where your GMB listing may appear.
The Organic results section is located beneath the Local Pack, which is distinguished by a wall of text. Websites fight for ranking placement here, not in Google listings.
This brings us to the end of our tour through the Google search page. However, your GMB listing can show in one extra location. If your company dominates the market for the searcher’s location, your listing may display alone on the right-hand side of the Google search, providing you 100% local visibility.
What Information Does a Google My Business Listing Display?
In addition to helping customers find your business on Google, GMB also provides insights about how customers are interacting with your listing. You can see how many people have viewed or searched for your listing, called your business, or requested directions to your business. GMB also provides data about the types of searches that led people to your listing. This information can help you understand what customers are looking for and how they find your business.
If you’re not already using GMB to manage your business’s online presence, now is the time to get started.
It is critical for both SEO and client satisfaction that your GMB listing is as complete as possible. If it is not completely filled out, Google’s ranking system may punish you. Customers are also less inclined to believe the information on a local listing if it is incomplete. Your list should include:
- Name of the Company
- Address or Service Area
- Phone Number
- Website
- Business Hours
- Photos
- Reviews
Let’s go through these aspects in more detail to discuss their respective importance to the overall health and optimization of your GMB.
Company Name
The GMB will prominently display your company’s name. It is critical that you do not try to “keyword stuff” your company name on your GMB. That is a direct violation of Google’s guidelines, and you will be penalized, if not suspended.
Keyword stuffing is the act of stuffing your business name with needless words that are not legally part of your business name. “A Cut Above Tree Service – Landscapers, Tree Trimming, Stump Grinding, and More in Phoenix, AZ,” for example. Isn’t it amusing? People, in fact, do this. Don’t allow it happen to you.
Location/Service Area
As a business owner, you want to make sure your customers can find you—and that starts with having an accurate and up-to-date location service area. Your location service area is the geographic area where you provide your services or products. It’s important to keep this information updated in your Google My Business listing, so customers know whether you serve their area.
If you have a physical storefront, potential customers who search for your business on Google Maps will see your location service area, along with other important information like your hours of operation and contact information. If you don’t have a physical storefront, or if you serve customers at their locations, your Google My Business listing will show your service area instead of your street address.
Telephone Number
A telephone number is one of the most important pieces of information for a business. It’s how customers can reach you to ask questions, place orders, and make appointments. It’s also a vital part of your Google My Business listing.
Including a telephone number in your Google My Business listing makes it easier for customers to reach you and can help improve your visibility in search results. If you’re not sure how to add or update your telephone number, our Definitive Guide can help.
Website
As the number of internet users continues to grow, so does the importance of having a website. A website is a powerful tool that can help you reach a larger audience and promote your business. Here are three reasons why you need a website:
1. It gives you a professional online presence.
2. It helps you reach a wider audience.
3. A website allows you to showcase your products and services.
If you’re not convinced that you need a website, consider this: nearly 60% of consumers say they won’t recommend a business that doesn’t have a website. So, if you want to stay competitive, it’s time to create a site for your business.
Hours of Operation
Your GMB will display your working hours. It will even tell folks if you are open, closed, or about to close. There are several reasons why it is critical to appropriately mention your company hours.
Someone may decide not to call you if they are unsure whether you are available.
If it indicates you’re open and a customer comes in and you’re not, you may lose that consumer.
The more complete your GMB listing, the more Google trusts it.
Photos
If you’re running a business, it’s important to have photos that show off your products or services. People are visual creatures, and seeing photos can be a major factor in whether or not they decide to do business with you.
Google My Business is a platform that allows you to upload photos and manage them all in one place. This can be a huge time-saver, and it also gives you more control over how your business is represented online.
In addition to product photos, Google My Business also allows you to upload photos of your team, your store or office, and even customer testimonials. All of these can help give potential customers a better idea of who you are and what you’re all about.
Reviews
Reviews are an important part of any business’s online presence. They provide valuable feedback for businesses and help customers make informed decisions about where to spend their money.
Google My Business makes it easy for customers to leave reviews. All you need is a Google account. Customers can rate your business on a scale of 1 to 5 stars and leave a written review.
Reviews can have a major impact on your business.
Posts
Google Posts is a Google component that allows business owners to post updates, deals, photographs, events, and so on. Google Posts, when used effectively, may be a strong tool for converting views into paying clients. Even better, there has been speculation that Google Posts can influence ranking placement for related terms. At the end of the day, it’s crucial since it’s another way to include keyword-rich content in your Google My Business profile.
Description
The description part of a GMB is where you place all of your company’s information. You want to give as much useful information as possible, including location and keywords, without appearing to be “keyword stuffing.”
Conclusion
A Google Business listing provides a consolidated location for all of your Google contact information. Yes, you need a Google listing since you would be missing out on literally thousands of potential consumers in your city who are looking for services like yours.
According to a Nifty Local Pack click-through survey, on average, 24% of consumers click on the Local Pack when searching for services. You would be missing out on a large number of prospective clients if you did not have a GMB listing.
Furthermore, according to Entrepreneur magazine, ranking your Google local listing has a higher long-term ROI than pay-per-click (PPC) ads. As a result, it is critical to put time and money into optimizing and ranking your GMB listing.
Want to know how to improve your GMB using Local SEO Strategies? You can find more information on why local SEO is important for your business