Running a business is no easy feat. You’re constantly on the go, making sure that your customers are happy and coming up with new ideas to make them even happier.
But have you ever thought about what happens when someone searches for your business online? If not, then it’s time to get started! You’d be surprised at how many clients you are losing because of not having your Google My Business (GMB) set up.
With Google My Business and this blog post, you’ll learn how to set up your GMB profile, as well as some tips on how to rank higher in Google Maps search results. They offer a lot of benefits that can help grow your company – so don’t miss out!
So if you’re interested in taking your online business presence to the next level, keep reading.
What Is Google My Business?
Google My Business is a free suite of online tools that helps you easily manage your business’s presence across Google.
It offers more than just a listing on Google Maps; it also provides rich content, such as photos and videos, to help people find the best information about your company from all angles.
Furthermore, you can connect your GMB account to Google’s advertising platforms, such as AdWords and DoubleClick.
So you have the opportunity of reaching potential customers right when they’re searching for goods or services like yours on a device that suits their needs – all from one convenient location!
If someone searches for your company in their browser or on their phone, they’ll be able to see this detailed page with everything they need to know – without ever having to call! So what are you waiting for? Get started today by creating an account at google.com/business/.
How to Setup Google My Business?
All you have to do is go to google.com/business. Next, you should input the name of your company and click “Get Started.” Now, let’s take a look at the following steps.
Step One
You’ll be asked some questions about your business for GMB to understand better what it does. Be sure to answer these as accurately and truthfully as possible!
For example, if you’re an insurance provider, make sure that Google knows you provide this service; otherwise, they won’t show up on searches.
On the other hand, if someone types in something like “car services,” then there’s no need for you to mention any category at all – leave it blank so GMB can pick one from their own list. And don’t forget to go through your responses before you click “next” – you don’t want any mistakes!
Step Two
You’ll then be asked about the type of business entity. If it’s an LLC, LP, or other legal structure, ensure that this is reflected in all areas. To complete step two and move on to three, follow these steps as they are given without changing anything else.
Remember that if a question does not apply to your company (e.g., “Do you have employees?”), then skip over it for now; there will be room later on where you can fill out more information later down the line depending on how many questions were answered up until this point.
If preferred, however, one can change some options afterward on your company’s GMB page.
Step Three
You’ll then have to add a phone number and address for the business. This is important because Google will show these details when someone searches for your company!
If you don’t want them showing up, select “Don’t publish this information.” Remember that customers won’t know how to get in touch with you if it isn’t published, so think carefully before making any changes here!
Steps Four & Five
Finally, input some basic contact info about the business owner(s). Be sure to include things like email addresses; otherwise, people may not reach out or send messages, which could prevent them from continuing their search process altogether.
The final step of the setup process will be to fill out your company’s hours of operation – this is important because Google will show these when someone searches, too.
And that’s it! Happy creating! You’re now on the GMB platform and can start managing your profile any way you please by adding photos, videos, contact information, as well as operating hours if applicable.
The Benefits of Using Google My Business
There are many advantages of using Google My Business for your business. Some benefits include:
- Improved search engine rankings
- Ability to reach customers on the go, even without a website
- Added reviews from customers and other sources
Reviews also help get more attention for what you do best so that people don’t have to struggle with trying to find out about your company’s offerings – it’s all right there waiting for them! And if someone leaves a review? That means everyone who uses GMB can read their feedback, too!
In addition, by adding photos or videos to your GMB profile, you’ll be able to define your business better and what it’s all about. This is a great way for potential customers to get an idea of who they can trust or reach out to when needed – plus, it will help build up the company’s reputation with these more personal touches!
And lastly, updates are easier than ever before, thanks to Google My Business’ new online dashboard. With this innovative tool, not only does one person have the ability to manage their entire account from just one login, but if changes need updating on things like operating hours or contact information? It takes no time at all!
And once that update has been made? All people in charge of managing the profile receive notifications so that there’s no confusion and things can continue smoothly.
How to Optimize Your Google Maps Listing
To optimize your Google Maps, you should first look into the map’s settings. To get to these, all you have to do is follow the menu on the left-hand side of your screen – click on “Manage this page” and then select “Edit info.”
This will lead you to a new window where you can edit things like business hours (if applicable), phone number, address, etc.
Additionally, there are other ways that one can optimize their Google Maps listing:
- Add reviews from customers or sources such as Yelp; remember that each review helps potential customers feel more confident about what they’re doing!
- Add photos or videos, so people know who they’ll be dealing with before coming in for an appointment or meeting up entirely. Plus, it will also help build up the company’s reputation, too!
Additional Optimization
It’ll take no time at all with Google My Business’ new online dashboard and once it’s updated? Update operating hours and contact information if need be. All people in charge of the profile receive notifications, so there is no confusion or questions about what needs to happen next.
To avoid doing this often, make sure to regularly update any changes in hours of operation or contact information – it’s better than trying to go back after something has been published!
If there are certain features about your company that might be too far off from what Google thinks they should show, try adding them as another category within your profile so people interested in those services will have more opportunities to find you when searching online.
For example: if someone searches “dog training” but all you provide is boarding & daycare services, add both categories under different tabs; otherwise, they won’t appear in the map search results.
GMB Done Right
This one’s for all the entrepreneurs and business owners out there – Google My Business is a great way to promote your company!
Whether you’re just getting started or are seasoned in what it takes, these tips will help those who use GMB reach their goals.
Whether that means ranking on Google Maps more easily with all the helpful resources we’ve discussed today (or using the online dashboard as an additional resource) or giving customers peace of mind when they come into contact with your firm by adding reviews from other sources (e.g., Yellowpages), everything helps make every customer feel important and appreciated while building up trust between them and your organization.
And last but not least, this article has given others some insight into how to optimize their Google Maps listing for free. Not only can this save time, but it also saves a lot of money.
If you’re interested in full-scale marketing services, get in touch with us, and we will happily accommodate your needs.
