Google My Business is a straightforward but effective tool that allows local business owners to have their company information displayed alongside search results on Google's search engine.
Even though you may not have heard of it, you are almost certain to have used it at some point.
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| Guidelines for Getting the Most Out of Google My Business |
Consider the following scenario: However, you do not have the restaurant's contact information on hand and are ready to place an order for takeout. You turn to Google for assistance. Fill in the blanks with the name of the restaurant and... Voilà! A widget appears to the right of all Google search results, condensing the restaurant's physical address, phone number, photos of its food, and website URL into a single, easily accessible package. That, my friends, is the profile for a Google My Business account.
An Overview of Google My Business:
Aside from the fact that it makes the lives of customers ten times easier, what makes Google My Business so great from the perspective of a business owner?
There are numerous advantages to having a Google My Business account, including the ability to be found more easily by customers and potential clients, as well as the ability to promote specials and other news about your company. However, none of this happens on its own accord. You must use your Google My Business account to its full potential, taking advantage of all of its available features, for it to be effective for you.
This blog is for anyone who has a Google My Business account and wants to learn how to make the most of it, or who hasn't even started setting up their account yet and wants to learn how to do so. In this blog, we'll go over the fundamentals of getting started with Google My Business, and then we'll dig a little deeper into how exactly you can take full advantage of everything the service has to offer.
What is Google My Business, and how does it work?
Let's start at the beginning:
This feature, also known as the Google Business Profile, allows business owners to be found more easily by customers and potential clients when they search for their products or services using Google search. It is a tool that allows businesses and organisations to manage their online presence across the Google network in a straightforward but effective manner. However, just as with any tool, you get out what you put in it. You must complete your Google Business Profile with all of the necessary business information for it to be successful.
What you need to know to get started with Google My Business:
Now that you have a basic understanding of what Google My Business is and how it can benefit your company, let's take a look at the steps to getting started. In this section, we'll start with the basics of creating your profile, and then we'll go over some tips and tricks for making it stand out.
Must-Haves:
To get started with Google My Business, you'll need to have the following items on hand.
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Business Name Verification:
Getting started with your My Business Profile requires you to complete several steps, the first of which is verifying your company's existence. This entails demonstrating to Google that you are the business's owner, and the verification process is typically completed through the use of traditional mail.
Google will send a physical postcard to the business address you provide as part of the process of setting up your profile on the site. If the postcard is delivered to your address, you'll complete the verification process online by entering the valid verification code that was provided on the postcard.
Once this is completed, you will be verified and will be able to proceed with the completion of your Google My Business profile!
Primarily: Business Category:
A brief but clear overview of who you are and what you can do for customers is provided by displaying your business category on your website. Consider this scenario: you own and operate a digital marketing company, but your primary service* is web design. You would select 'web design' as the service to be displayed on your GMB profile. This allows viewers to determine whether or not they will have what they are looking for in a matter of seconds.
*You have the option of listing all of your services on your Google My Business profile, but your business category should be representative of your most prominent service. Consider the broadest possible description of what you do and stick with it!
What is the address of your website?
Making your website URL accessible from your Google Business Profile makes everyone's life a little bit simpler and more convenient. Make certain that your website's URL is accurate and that it is in its simplest form. This allows viewers to get a quick and easy glimpse into your working environment.
Ticksol Going Above and Beyond with Your Google My Business Profile
Now that you've mastered the fundamentals, let's work on elevating your profile and making it stand out from the crowd.
Photos That are Up-To-Date:
It is a great way to connect with potential clients almost instantly through Google My Business by having up-to-date photos of your staff, products, and environment. Check to see that your profile is up to date with high-quality photos and that you are continuing to update it as needed over time.
Provide a List of Your Services:
Adding all of the services listed on your website to your Google Business Profile is perhaps one of the most straightforward yet effective ways to optimise your Google Business Profile. The use of tags to categorise your services, and even products if you sell them, is an excellent way to provide prospective customers with a detailed list of what you have to offer.
Maintenance and Repairs in General:
Once you've created your profile, it's critical to keep it up to date as your company grows and changes over time. Here are a few important tips for keeping your Google Business Profile up to date as time goes on.
Refresh the Necessary Information:
Whenever you make a change to your business information (address, phone number, website, or business hours), you must update your Google My Business profile. You can do this via desktop or the Google My Business app. Possessing the most current business information on your website will save you time and frustration in the future.
Respond to Customer Reviews:
Responding to all customer reviews (both positive and negative) is an excellent way to demonstrate to the rest of the world that you take customer service seriously and appreciate the feedback. Reviews, as well as responses to reviews, have a significant impact on potential customers' decisions about who to do business with. Keep up with your review responses to ensure that you're demonstrating that you genuinely care!
People directing their attention to a business's Google My Business profile
How to Unleash the Full Potential of Google My Business
Now that your Google My Business page is fully operational, here are some basic guidelines to keep it in peak operating condition in the future.
Use Google My Business Posts to your advantage:
Google My Business listings now include a micro-blogging component, referred to as 'business posts,' which allows customers to interact with the company. A post on Google My Business provides business owners with the opportunity to promote sales, featured products, special offers, and other promotions among their customers and prospects. Posts on the Google Business listing are only visible for 7 days, but they can be a lot of fun to create!
Ideas for Google My Business Posts:
Here are some suggestions for potential GMB posts to get your company started on its social media marketing journey.
- Demonstrate a recent project that you're particularly pleased with.
- Send a recent link to a relevant blog post, complete with an image and text preview, to your network.
- Showcase any recent awards you've received.
- As you continue to develop your business, provide updates on new services you are offering.
- Inform others about current job openings.
- Make sure to end each post with a call-to-action, and you'll be golden.
Configure the Messaging System:
The messaging feature on your Google Business Profile is a great way to communicate with customers who are looking for answers but don't want to call your company directly. For simple communication with customers, you can set up a messaging system by selecting the "Customer" card from the Google My Business Home menu and entering your mobile phone number.
The Bottom Line:
Google My Business is an essential tool for any business owner's digital marketing tool belt, and they must take full advantage of it. For those of you who haven't yet invested the time and effort into creating your My Business Profile and optimising it for success, we hope this article has persuaded you to do so.
If you have any general questions or are looking for a professional team to audit and optimise your digital marketing strategy, please get in touch with us right away. We look forward to receiving your message.