Google rolled out its Google My Business feature in 2014, transforming the way companies can be found online. It’s a free resource that brings a multitude of benefits. If you don’t have a Google My Business account yet, you could be leaving money on the table and reducing your visibility on search, maps and more.
In this article, we’re going to show you how you can leverage Google My Business to create leads, build opportunities and get better exposure on Google Search.
How to set up Google My Business
Creating your Google My Business profile is quick and simple. Firstly, you must create an account on Google, but you may have already done this if you use Gmail, Google Drive or any other of Google’s services.
Next, go to google.com/business and click Start Now. You’ll be taken through a series of steps where you enter your business name and location. This is the minimum amount of information you can enter; of course, the more information you offer, the better your profile will be. Your Google My Business profile will now go through a verification process.
You can set up your Google My Business account on your computer. However, there is also a mobile app that makes the process even simpler.
Once your account is verified, you’ll immediately see a difference. When you type your business name into Google, your details will come up on the right-hand side of the screen, with photos, contact details, reviews (if possible) and more. You’ll also receive a link to an online dashboard where you can improve your profile and examine your analytics.
For multi-site businesses like florists or car NSC (national sales companies), it is important for you to create multiple locations on the suite. You can group these sites into cohorts or groups. For example, if you have locations in different countries with different marketing managers managing these sites, they can be focused and assigned to specific regions.
Calls to action
One of the best things about having a Google My Business profile is that it makes it easy for people to contact you. For example, if you put your phone number on your profile, a potential customer can find you online then call you with only one touch. They can also find your business premises or visit your website, straight from the search results.
There is also a handy ‘get directions’ button so your customers can avoid getting lost!
Make sure you enter as much information about your business as possible. Write a detailed description of how you help your customers, state your business hours and the geographical areas you serve.
These are all calls to action that will bring leads into your business.
Leverage SEO
Google My Business should be an integral part of your SEO strategy. If you are a business serving your local area, it should be essential.
Google uses the data from your Google My Business profile to display results when people search terms such as ‘local electrician’ or ‘web designer near me’. If you don’t have an optimized Google My Business profile, you’re missing out on business derived from these searches. Google data shows that 46% of all searches have local intent.
Aside from local, your Google My Business profile will also boost your search presence. When someone searches for your business, rather than just be one line on a page, you get to dominate the entire screen.
Build your brand with images
When setting up your Google My Business profile, make sure you add as many images as you can. Whether it’s logos, pictures of your premises, your products, even yourself, the more images the better. You can also add video content.
Think of what your potential customers may want to see when they’re searching for you or the services you offer. Not only does this make your business more appealing in the age of Instagram and Facebook, it can also boost your SEO score. Research from Search Engine Land identified a strong link between the number of photos on your Google My Business profile and search performance.
Pricing showcases
A new feature on Google My Business is the ability to add products to your profile, showing what you have in stock, with photos, descriptions, and prices. You can even add an order online button which will integrate it with your online store if you have one. Your profile gets customers to your store and gets them buying.
Reviews
Perhaps the most important part of your Google My Business profile is your reviews. It can certainly be the most effective if you use it correctly.
When people are searching online, they want to see third-party opinions to help them separate the best from the rest. Google will display your reviews on your search page, with an all-important star rating. Encourage your customers to leave positive reviews on Google. Engage with reviewers to thank them, or if they are not 5-star, address their problem.
Google will feature companies with better reviews higher in the rankings, including in the ‘three-pack’, the three highest-scoring or most appropriate recommendations at the top of the page.
Open your account today
With all the benefits that having a Google My Business account offers, as well as the fact that it is free to set up, there is no reason not to start your Google My Business profile. It will help:
- Bring in leads
- Boost your brand
- Differentiate yourself from your competition
- Celebrate your success with great reviews
- Deepen the connection with your customers
Try it today. If you need help setting up Google My Business account book a call with our team here.
