Have You Created A ‘Google My Business’ Listing?

Before we dive into the how’s and why’s of ‘Google my Business’, let’s start with a short introduction to the tool and what it does for businesses (and small businesses, this is for you too! Google isn’t just for the big dogs!)

What Is ‘Google My Business’?

Whenever you head onto Google and see a business appear on maps and in the search bar to the right of the Google results page, you know that business has created a Google My Business listing – especially if you happen to live nearby! What this does is allow all of their crucial business information to be displayed for consumers and browsers to see, from their opening hours to reviews, their address, business information and more.

Google My Business is an excellent tool for local businesses in particular, as it tends to draw on the location of the searcher and present businesses near to them geographically – supporting them at that crucial point of sale moment when they make a decision. This is why opening hours are such an important aspect of a listing as they let the consumer know whether or not they can head to the business premises immediately.

Why Is ‘Google My Business’ Crucial For Businesses Of All Sizes?

Having a Google My Business account is what gives you management and ownership over your business listing. It allows you to control the information presented and optimise your content so that this in turn increases your visibility in front of potential customers.

As an overall tool, Google My Business supports great customer engagement by presenting them with the businesses that provide a solution to their imminent problem. If a consumer searches for gift cards, Google My Business presents all the gift and card shops nearby. It also lets them know what you do and how good you are at it through Google reviews, and should ideally show up some images of your business too for credibility. With a proper account you can answer questions, respond to reviews and ensure that all the information displayed is accurate and up to date, as well as SEO optimised and easy to understand for customers.

We particularly like the way that businesses are able to answer questions presented through Google My Business, clearing up common queries and helping businesses respond to the reviews and comments being added by customers.

Other benefits of Google My Business include its accessibility for businesses through the mobile app as well as the desktop dashboard, its free user interface meaning that all the functions are available free of charge, and the insights it offers so that businesses can track engagement and the search result success of their business listing.

How To Create A Listing

A Google My Business listing starts by creating an account. Creating an account takes minutes and, once on the right page, invites you to enter your business name and fill out various information to let Google know that you are genuine. Some of the information required includes:

• Business address
• Business website
• Business category (as specific as possible)
• Delivery area for product-based businesses

Once you have filled out all the important information, Google will need to verify your account. This can be done in a number of ways, though email and instant verification are the most common. Follow the verification process and voila – you have an account!

Now for the fun bit – it’s time to make sure that when that target customer in your top demographic comes looking, yours is the business they see.

Optimising Your Google My Business Listing

Inside the Google My Business dashboard, you will notice a series of sections which require information. This is where you add all that information that will appear alongside your business on a Google search page, including those important opening hours, your business premises, your number and website address, and delivery information. Remember that this is most likely going to prove valuable to your local customers so keep it as community friendly and enticing as possible.

You will also be invited to fill in some advanced information which touches on things like an Ad account and Store code – things you may not yet be familiar with depending on where you are at with your marketing strategy. If you have this information then populate it – if not, don’t worry! You can come back to it. 

Adding images is another crucial part of the Google My Business profile as this helps to establish credibility and gives customers something to picture – whether it’s a great office space for your service business, or a delicious plate of food in your restaurant. Your cover photo is the most important, with the more photos the better when it comes to drawing in customers and making sure they are able to easily identify and find you.

Once your account is live, remember that any user can suggest an edit to your listing – so keep the information as accurate and up to date as possible, and check it regularly to make sure that nothing has been changed without your knowledge.

From there, it’s simply a case of monitoring your profile and keeping up to date with reviews, new photos, and new information as much as possible. Business who respond to reviews are more likely to entice customers to leave new reviews – and with consumers more driven than ever before by recommendation and word of mouth, reviews are an integral part of a successful marketing strategy.

The Takeaway

If you aren’t already using Google My Business, now is the time – especially for businesses looking to draw themselves towards the local customer crowd. And as we’ve proved, it doesn’t take long to establish a valuable and effective profile!

Follow the steps above to get yourself set up, and remember that you can add to and update information as you go – either from your desktop dashboard or the app.