Google My Business 101

As a business owner, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by how many different platforms are out there, and it’s difficult to know where you should spend your time.

Well here’s something you need to hear - if you run a business that has an address, and you want to grow your business, you NEED to have a Google My Business Account.

Why is Google My Business (GMB) so important?

In this article we are going to show you why Google My Business is so important, how you can grow your business with it, and how to easily set it up with 7 simple steps.

What is Google my Business?

Simply put, Google My Business allows you to register and create a listing for your business on Google’s local search results.

By registering for GMB, it becomes significantly easier for customers to inquire, read about, and contact your business.

Sure, most of this information is also available on your website, but not everyone wants to go to your website. Some users prefer to stay on Google, and getting your business registered on GMb is a great way to increase engagement with those customers.

Why is Google My Business so powerful?

Here are some of the reasons why Google My Business is so crucial for business owners…

It’s free

Google My Business is free, and we expect it to remain a 100% free resource.

This by itself is a huge incentive for business owners. Not only will GMB help your business, but it will do so at zero cost to you.

This fact alone makes registering your business for GMB a no-brainer.

It’s better for user experience

There’s no denying Google’s intentions with GMB. They want to keep their users on Google and off of your website.

But love it or hate it, GMB is a great user experience for people searching on Google, and because of that it will help generate leads and engagement.

Speaking of which...

GMB can help generate leads

Because of GMB’s amazing user experience, it will absolutely increase your leads.

This is because Google My Business is directly tied to Google Search and local business results. This means that if you own a Thai restaurant and someone searches ‘Thai food near me’ - your business will show up.

This is easily the most important aspect of Google My Business, and is why it’s so crucial to have great reviews. The better your reviews, the better you will show up on local search rankings, the more leads you will generate.

GMB can help with local SEO

While it should be obvious, it’s no longer debatable. Google has officially announced that better reviews of your business means higher rankings for your business.

This means that by putting your business on GMB you are opening yourself to more great reviews, which in turn will generate more traffic.

If you want to be the #1 search in Local SEO, you have no choice but to register your business with Google My Business.

Access to insightful analytics

The data you have access to on GMB can be quite powerful. Some examples include…

  • Overall engagement rates of your GMB profile
  • Which search queries your customers are using to find your business
  • Your overall number of views on your profile, photos and posts
  • General information about your audience
  • How many actions GMB has provided you (calls, clicks and other inquiries)

How to set up Google My Business

Setting up your GMB account is painless and only takes a few minutes. Here’s how to get started…

Step #1 - Go to the Google My Business create page

Simply follow this link, then once prompted type in your business name.

This will show you whether or not you already have a GMB listing. Assuming that you don’t, you can move on to the next step.

Step #2 - Add your business name

Keep this simple - don’t try and stuff any keywords. Simply type in your business name as you want it to be displayed to your audience.

Step #3 - Pick you business-category

Type in a keyword that best suits your business and a drop-down menu will appear. Try and pick the keyword or category that best describes your business, but don’t worry if you aren’t sure if you picked the correct one - this is something you can easily change later.

Step #4 - Add your location

Be sure to add your physical address in its entirety so that your customers can easily find your business.

Step #5 - Choose where your business operates

Some types of businesses (like a barbershop or car repair service) are restricted to one area. Other types of businesses (like a restaurant that delivers) can serve a greater range of customers. Be sure to include this information.

Step #6 - Add your contact information

The business that offers rewards or lottery is notably more successful on Weibo.

This information is required. Either a personal phone number or a business phone number will suffice.

Step #7 - Verify your business

The last (but most important) step is to verify your business. You will not be able to use GMB until this step is complete.

The recommended way is also the fastest way - a quick phone call. In the situation that you don’t want to make a phone call, other verification options exist such as sending a letter, email verification or video chat information.

Final thoughts

If you need help setting up your GMB, or SEO in general, give us a call at First Page Digital today.

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