Google My Business, now formally known as Google Business Profile, is a way to get more traction from Google searches and it is also key when it comes to locating your business on Google maps. The great news is that a Google Business Profile (Google My Business) is absolutely free.
Before we continue: Google My Business is also referred to as GMB, Google Local Places, and Google Maps – so you don’t get confused.
Among the information that shows up on profile: hours of operation, contact information and address, and any essential details that people searching for a brand within your niche might need. Think about your Google My Business profile as an elaborate business card that shows up in the search engines when triggered by relevant keywords.
You might also use your GMB profile to provide updates such as the announcement of a temporary closure or any Covid related updates that your business might want to convey.
Google My Business and Customer Reviews
We live in a review driven world–this is a fact. Before people do anything, from getting their pets groomed to purchasing a new mattress, they are going to check the reviews first. They want to know about others’ experiences with the brand. They will then base their buying decision upon what they read and see.
A GMB profile provides people with access to user reviews. There’s a combination of a star rating as well as a comment section. People can also upload pictures highlighting their experience with a business.
Often, if you do go ahead and google a business, you will probably find a combination of both positive reviews as well as some negative. How your business handles Google reviews is also quite telling to a potential customer.
If for example, you come out swinging and attack someone who has left a negative review, this is only going to reflect badly upon your brand. You have to handle all reviews tactfully. Take some time to think about how you wish to answer a disgruntled customer. Make sure you are helpful and you fully address the concern.
Also, don’t hesitate to respond to positive reviews as well. When people see that a business genuinely interacts with past customers, they tend to form a more positive perspective of that company.
Creating Your Google Business Profile
A profile is relatively easy to set up. If you don’t already have a Google account, you will need to create one in order to access the GMB profile manager.
Within the Google Business Profile manager, you will enter your business name. You may have to add your business to Google if it cannot be found. They will also ask you to select a relevant category for your company.
You’ll then go about entering the pertinent details for your business. This will include inputting your physical location if relevant. You will list your service areas. And then you’ll fill in your contact information where customers can reach you. While you don’t have to enter a phone number, if you do have one that is accessible to users, you probably want to go ahead and enter that as well.
After you’ve created the GMB profile, you’re going to have to verify the business. At this point, you will be prompted to enter a physical address. If your company has a physical location, you are going to have to supply a mailing address (not a PO box) where you can receive a postcard that will be sent to you for verification purposes. If your company does not operate out of a physical address, you will need to verify your account through an email address.
You also have the option to then optimize your Google My Business profile. Such optimizations include adding a logo, uploading photos, you can also add a video. The more you flesh out your Google Business Profile, the more attractive it will be to potential clients.
How to Use Google My Business
Many people may not realize that you can actually use Google My Business for promotional purposes. Meaning, it’s not just a static business card, it’s a dynamic one. Marketing firms will frequently utilize a Google Business Profile to promote various links. For example, perhaps you’ve created an informational article for your brand. You could promote this link on your Google My Business profile. This in turn helps to expedite SEO results. And when it comes to the search engines, SEO is imperative.
The key is to be consistent in your Google My Business strategy. That is to say, if you are going to use it to promote links or for any other such promotional purposes, doing so frequently helps to exponentially increase brand exposure.
A Google Business Profile works primarily at the local level. So let’s say you are a contracting company, you can post photos of completed projects, you can promote links to developments in which you are working. When people in your community or region are searching for a construction company or contracting company for their remodel or new build project, your Google Business Profile is going to come up.
What are they going to see contained within this profile? How is your Google My Business account going to stand out from your competitors? And how will it ultimately entice people to reach out and contact your company versus someone else’s company?
Make no mistake about it, a Google My Business profile is very much a key strategic tool in your marketing and advertising arsenal. It’s about frequency of updating, ensuring that you provide as much information as possible, and adding attractive and professional photos to create the optimal Google Business Profile.
The Benefits of Using Google Local Places
So what are some of the key benefits of having a Google My Business account:
- You will appear in maps when people are searching for a company within your industry. This certainly helps your business to stand out.
- There is also the review factor. People are able to read reviews about your company. This enables them to make a more informed decision. Users like to be informed. They like to have all data at their disposal prior to working with a certain brand or business. Obviously, you are going to want to have positive reviews. And you are also going to want to interact with those who leave reviews for your business.
- Having photos of your business provides a big impact. We live in a visual culture. Sure, people can search for your company and see a Google listing, but what is even more dynamic is when they see photos accompanying that listing. With Google My Business, you have the option to upload photos directly to your profile. Keep in mind, users can also upload their own photos highlighting their experiences.
- This is a great way to boost your SEO. The more you optimize your Google Business Profile, the better your chances of ranking. Obviously, Google wants to see all of the pertinent information in terms of business name, phone number, and address. If you add things such as a cover photo and a logo, this gets you even further in terms of an overall SEO strategy.
There are a ton of tools out there and online venues available for you to help highlight your company. Google My Business, now known as a Google Business Profile, is perhaps one of the most important. And again, it’s completely free to set up a profile. We can help. We understand how to optimize your GMB profile. We understand how to get you to the top of the search rankings. Call today and let’s get started together.
