What Is Google My Business? 5 Things to Know
Approximately 46 percent of Google searches have local intent. That means people are looking for businesses in their area to help them find specific products or services.
One of the best ways to get your business to show up in these searches is to create and use a Google My Business (or GMB) profile.
Do you have questions like “What is Google My Business?” or “What are the benefits of using Google My Business?” If so, keep reading. The top 5 essential things you need to know about claiming your Google business profile are explained below.
1. What Is Google My Business?
Google My Business is a tool that helps businesses and organizations to easily manage their online presence across all Google platforms, including Google search and Google Maps. Businesses can use this tool to draw in new customers, tell their company’s story, and share basic information like addresses, phone numbers, and operating hours.
2. How Google Can Help Your Business
There are lots of reasons to utilize Google My Business, no matter what kind of company you run. The following are some of the greatest benefits it has to offer:
Manage Company Information
Your GMB profile makes it easy for you to control the information that’s available about your company online. That way, you can feel confident that people are getting accurate details about your business. This includes operating hours, your address, your phone number, and more.
Increase Customer Engagement
When people can find your business easily through a Google search, they’re going to be more inclined to interact with your business. This might mean visiting your website, following you on social media, or coming on down and paying you a visit in person.
Increase Audience Size
Google is the most popular search engine in the world. If your company is easy to find via this search engine, you’ll have a much easier time growing your audience and getting more people interested in learning about what your business has to offer.
Build Credibility
Being able to find your business on Google is good for your company’s credibility, too. If people can’t find you with a simple Google search, they might be wary of working with you. They might even wonder if you’re a real business.
Increase Conversions
Increased audience size, increased engagement, and increased credibility all lead to one thing: Increased conversions. If you want to make more sales and boost your business’s bottom line, you need to start using Google My Business.
3. Common Google My Business Mistakes
Google My Business has a lot to offer companies and organizations like yours. However, you need to use it correctly if you want to enjoy the benefits described above. The following are some common GMB mistakes that might get in the way of your progress:
Unclaimed Listing
Lots of businesses don’t even know that they have a free Google My Business listing waiting to be claimed. If you haven’t claimed your listing yet, you need to stop reading and go do that right now!
Missing or Incorrect Information
The next step is to make sure all of your information is accurate. It doesn’t help to have a GMB listing if your address is wrong, you don’t have a phone number listed, or you have new operating hours.
Ignored Reviews
It may be tempting to ignore negative Google business reviews. However, this can actually hurt your business’s credibility and turn people off from visiting and checking out what you have to offer.
No Photos
Photos add credibility. They also help you to make a good impression and show potential customers that your business is worth visiting.
Ignoring the Q&A Feature
The Q&A feature is a relatively new addition to Google My Business. This feature is great for answering common questions about your business and helping people to learn more about what you offer, what your mission is, and whom you aim to serve.
4. How to Claim Your Google My Business Profile
The biggest mistake businesses make is not claiming their Google My Business profile in the first place. If you’re not sure how to do this, here are the steps you’ll need to take:
- Find the Business Profile by going to business.google.com/add and typing in your business’s name
- Click Continue
- Click Request access and fill out the form
- Click Submit
It’s that easy. With a few clicks and a bit of information about your business, your profile will be up and ready to edit in no time.
5. How to Manage Your Google My Business Profile
The fun doesn’t end once you’ve set up your Google My Business profile. You’ll need to continue managing it if you want to see long-term results and benefits.
The following are some important management tips to keep in mind moving forward:
Add Photos, Products, and Services Regularly
Make sure you’re regularly adding new photos, listing new products, and highlighting new services on your GMB profile. The better you are about adding these things, the easier it is to ensure customers are always getting the most up-to-date information possible.
Respond to All Reviews
Respond to all reviews, both positive and negative. This helps you control your reputation, and it shows potential customers that you are an attentive business owner who cares about your customers and clients.
Work with a Professional
Finally, don’t be afraid to work with a professional.
There are lots of experts in Google My Business and Google ads management who can help you to navigate the complexities of GMB and get the most out of it. Reaching out to them frees you up to manage other aspects of your business.
Start Using Google My Business Today
At this point, you can answer questions like “What is Google My Business” and “How can I manage my Google My Business profile” with ease. The next step is to follow through with the tips listed above so you can set your business up for long-term success.
Do you want to learn more about local SEO and promoting your business using Google? If so, head to the Tech section of our site today for more digital marketing advice.