Do you own a brick-and-mortar business with no online presence? Do you sell your business online yet aren’t selling much? A strong online presence is a must for every business in today’s cut-throat competitive market. Of the several tools, Google My Business is one of the most powerful tools to boost your online presence.
The blog emphasises Google My Business importance and how you can leverage it as a business to your best.
What Is Google My Business?
Google My Business (GMB) is an efficient tool for business owners to manage their business profiles on Google and related websites. Businesses can create, verify and edit their brand listing in Google without doing any additional work on your website. With GMB, you can list your business on websites like Google Maps, Google Search, Local Search, and Mobile Search.
The best thing about GMB is that it’s entirely free. Further, if used correctly, it can help increase your revenue and get valuable insights about your customers.
Developed by Google, it aims to make online searchers' lives easier. They can get the information they need quickly, conveniently, and anytime.
Businesses can add their address, contact information, and opening hours to their Google My Business Profile. This saves searchers’ time visiting your website and looking for your information. Put simply, GMB is a way to allow users to find you more quickly and contact you.
As a business, Google My Business Profile is a one-stop solution for you. It prevents you from keeping up with a whole bunch of online real estate that needs your attention: your website, your Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
What Can You Do With GMB?
Google Business Profile allows businesses to bring in customers through a simple yet effective search mechanism. With GMB, you can:
- Create and update your company profile at any time. All you need to do is visit Google My Business, create your business profile and edit it whenever required.
- Display your offerings using attractive visuals. Add numerous engaging photos and videos of your products and services to attract potential customers.
- Get in-depth insights into what GMB brings to your company. You can track website visits and calls, including many others.
- Win customer interest by encouraging them to write their reviews. Businesses with positive reviews on their GMB profile can benefit from increased click-through and conversion rates.
- Share your company’s latest offers through texts, photos or videos.
- Increase gains for your business by regular Google My Business optimisation.
Let’s now dig deeper into Google My Business importance.
Importance of Google My Business (GMB)
Google My Business (GMB) is not an option but an essential part of any business's online presence. It’s today the first place customers look for the latest information about your company.
Here’s why most digital marketing agency Melbourne and across the world emphasise Google My Business importance.
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Helps Your Website Rank Better
GMB profile is crucial for Local SEO as it allows your business listing to appear in specific local search results. Users can find your business through queries specific to your products or services. Further, queries with large search volumes show local results in the three-pack. This is something startups and small businesses can capitalise on.
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Boosts Your SEO Effort
As GMB boosts your online visibility, it results in driving more customers to your business. It does this regardless of whether your business is online or a brick-and-mortar store.
Keeping your GMP up-to-date with location and other information makes it easier for customers to find you. Also, it offers you additional opportunities to be seen in the 'map pack', which shows potential customers where to find you.
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Control Your Information and Offerings
Google My Business not just puts basic business information into Google’s local search index, but a lot more than that. It also offers a range of extra tools to help you entice and inform local customers.
For instance, you can add information like product lists, menus and prices, accepted payment types, and interactive photos and reviews. Further, you can also add special offers and coupons for your visitors.
In short, with GMB, you have complete control over what information you want to showcase to your audience and which you don't.
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Manage, Display and Respond to Reviews
User Reviews are one of the most important elements of a Google My Business listing. Recently, Google started a campaign to recruit users as "local guides", rewarding them for rating and reviewing local businesses.
Top-quality, positive reviews will help you improve the online visibility of your business. It also increases the chances that a potential customer will visit your company.
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Get To Know Your Customers Better
Knowing your customers, their likes, and their interests is crucial for businesses to grow and improve. The GMB platform offers many analytical options that businesses won't find anywhere. These options enable companies to know their customers more.
For example, you can access information on Google Maps, where requests for driving directions to your location originated from. You may use this information to target new customers in the area. You may also target a new suburb to expand into for your business growth.
Google My Business Optimisation
Optimising your GMB is essential if you want to leverage its benefits and prevent customer turnover. For instance, if you've changed your working hours, you must also immediately amend them in your GMB.
To make changes to your GMB account:
- Sign in to your Google My Business profile.
- Go to "Info" then "Edit."
- Change your business hours for each day.
- If you want to dedicate specific hours to certain types of services, add these under the “More hours” box.
- Click “Apply” once finished.
Note: When adjusting your business hours, make sure your GMB listing reflects the changes. This will allow you to have a reference in case a customer complains that you're not open at a specific time. Also, as you update the hours, GMB will notify your customers of the change via orange text in your GMB panel.
When optimising your GMB, change your business's description as well. You can do this by adding one or two lines about the amendments you are making as a business for your customers. Be specific.
For instance, if you have decided to accept only contactless payments, mention it. Further, if you've included a new service for a specific set of customers, mention that too.
Remember, GMB is a brilliant way to build trust with your users and mitigate concerns. As such, don't ruin the opportunity.
What's next? Periodically update your business's photos. For example, if you've changed your building's interior for any reason, have your photos reflect these changes. Let's say, you can include a photo of the new waiting area if you have any. Do not forget to delete the old ones.
Lastly, make sure you categorise your business properly for a better local ranking. In your GMB control panel, go to "Primary Category" and choose the category that best describes your business (i.e., "casual dining restaurant", or "marketing agency"), and add a secondary category if needed.
The Takeaway
Modern tools like Google My Business have changed the way businesses promote themselves today. The benefits that GMB offers are essential to business growth and success. Hence, ensure to have an up-to-date and detailed Google My Business page for your business. Because if you fail to do so, you're missing out on one of the best free ways of appearing in Google search results.
It just takes a little time and knowledge to optimise your GMB page, and you can see the benefits instantly. Still unsure about how to do it? Get in touch with the best digital marketing agency Melbourne and let them take care of your GMB profile creation, optimisation, and maintenance.
