Hey ! You are here means; you want to know about Google My Business (GMB). Before that lets understand what is Google My Business and why it is important for local business.
Smartphone, Tablet, Computers are became a normal thing for today’s life. Whether rich or poor, Teen ager or Old Age people everyone is using mobile phones for their convenience. Ultimately we can say Information is in our fingerprint.
People are using Google for their needs, to search about a place, to collect some information about the stores.
Let’s think about this same scenario but from your perspective as a business owner.
What the people are finding on Google while they search about your Business?
What Information you want your customer get when they search about you?
When they search your business name, do they get it easily, or can get your proper address & phone number?
So many questions are there, it’s very necessary to provide accurate information to your customer for their convenience.
You need to make sure this information is available to consumers before they even reach your website.
Are you thinking, How to Do That?
Don’t Worry…..
A complete Guide is waiting for you ahead.
What is Google My Business?
Google My Business is a free tool that allows you to promote your Business Profile and business website on Google Search and Maps.
When used correctly, Google My Business is a powerful tool that can increase your revenue and provide valuable insights about your customers.
How To Create Your Account In GMB?
Search Google My Business on the internet a listing of your business’ operating information, reviews, posts, and so much more.
1. BUSINESS NAME: –
This is the first step of listing your business in Google My Business. Add you Local Business Name here. It is necessary that the name of your Business is similar with what you have written.
2. CATEGORY: –
Then the next level of the process is category. What is your business category? It’s necessary to choose exact Category of your Business.
3. ADDRESS-
Its second vital step of listing the business. People can go to during business hours; you should add the business address next. Make sure every thing should be perfect.
4. LOCATION ON MAP-
After adding the address, Locate it on the map. So that it can easily visible to your customers.
5. PHONE NO–
It’s the third Vital Step of Google My Business. Give your active number, which you want to reach you when your customer call you.
6. FINISH-
The last step is finishes the process and allows Google to put your listing under verification. This is done via Postcard by mail, which takes up to five business days. It’s important to know that Google won’t display your business or its edits until the business is verified.
After, all these your local business is now listed on Google. Google My Business is very important for your local business now days. It’s not only helps in rank your business but also improves your reach among your customers.
Use all resources offered by Google My Business within its listing details to get the most out of your business locations.
Tips for Optimizing Google My Business:
1.Enter complete data for you listing
A complete detail of your business will help your customer to get you. Don’t leave anything to be guessed or assumed. Make sure your listing communicates what your business does, where it is, and how they can acquire the goods and/or services your business is offering.
2.Include Keywords
Including important keywords and search phrases to your business listing will be helpful to your business, especially since your business website is listed directly within your GMB listing. So you need to add some keyword in the Title & others in the descriptions. It will helpful to reach you by your customers.
3.Business Hours
Keep your business hours accurate on your local listing. Google offers the ability to customize hours for holidays and other special events. It should always be updated to keep your site accurate and users happy.
4. Add Photos
According to Google,” Businesses with photos on their listings receive 42% more requests for driving directions on Google Maps and 35% more click-throughs to their websites than businesses without photos. Add your business photos to your listing.
Keep reading for more GMB photo tips below.
5.Manage & Respond to Customer Reviews
Interacting with customers by responding to their reviews illustrates that your business values its customers and the feedback that they leave regarding it.
Positive reviews are going to have a positive effect on potential customers when researching your business. They also increase your business’s visibility in search results. Encourage your customer to give positive feedback.
6.Let Customers Message You
It can be somewhat inconvenient at times but messages to and from customers are solely enabled through the Google My Business app.
To do so, tap Customers, then Messages, then Turn on through the app.
Once enabled, customers will be able to message businesses through their Business Profiles with the Message button that appears. Messages can have customized automated responses to welcome customers for incoming messages.
This helps with the responsiveness and visibility of the business since response times won’t suffer as badly.
7.Use Local Posts
You can publish offers, events, products, and services directly to Google Search and Maps through posts on Google My Business.
Posts let you engage with your audience and keep your presence fresh on Google. And they can be sent on-the-go from either a phone, tablet, or a computer.
8.Stay Connected During COVID-19
If stores operate differently than normal due to COVID-19 restrictions, mandates, or safety guidelines, businesses can update their profiles on GMB to provide the most accurate information to customers.
Recently added features make communicating with current and potential customers easier in the time of the pandemic. Just like:
- Mark store temporarily closed.
- Manage delivery options.
- Add healthy and safety attributes.
9.Use the Product Catalog On Your Listing
Most business types are eligible to showcase products, so long as they are small- and medium-sized businesses; and a few business verticals.
Larger businesses need to use Local Inventory Ads to showcase their products.
Offering information about products including pricing, details, and photos, allows customers to get a better idea of products offered and interact more with businesses.
These product details also allow Google to better understand a business.
Conclusion:
GMB is became the key of success of Local Business now a days. Proper optimization of GMB gives additional value to your business on the aspects of users as well as Google. As I mention above Google My Business is completely free and easy to use.
If you are running a local business, you must go for GMB.
It’s an opportunity to manage interactions with your customers and present key business updates in a place your customers are already looking.
You need to take control of it today.
