What is Google My Business?
Google My Business, or Google Business Profile, is a tool for business owners to take control of their company’s image and presence on Google. By creating a Google My Business account, you will be able to add assets such as photos, videos, and documents to promote your services and business online while increasing your chances of appearing in local search results. With Google My Business, businesses can:
- Track all of the actions taken on your profile, so you can stay on top of the changes that are being made.
- Increase visibility and reach by driving people to your Google Business Page (GBP) in local searches.
- Create a community of local users interested in your products or services
The more activity on your GBP, the more visible you are to potential customers.
Make sure you have complete and accurate information
You want to make sure that you business’s profile includes up-to-date information as this will avoid any potential confusion from potential customers. For example:
- Business name
- Business category
- Business description
- Business hours
- Business address
- Business website
- Services and products offered
Bring on the Photos
Aim to add 10 high-quality photos of the inside and outside of your business to your GMB profile. You can also highlight your products and services to help customers see why they should choose your company. Just make sure that the photos are well-lit, captured from flattering angles, and as descriptive as possible.
Go Big with Video
If you want to directly interface with your customers, you need video on your GMB profile. Potential customers are much more likely to watch an engaging video than read text, after all. Choose a video that shows why your business stands out from the crowd and keep it under 30 seconds.
Ask for Reviews
If you want Google to rank your profile higher, then you need positive business reviews from your customers. About 30 to 40 should do the trick, so start asking your clients to review their experience with your brand whenever possible. You can run an email campaign, send out requests on thank you cards, or simply ask clients outright each time they make a purchase. This will help increase trust and improve the overall impression of your business.
Pay Attention to Bad Reviews
Instead of ignoring bad reviews in your business profile, contact the client and ask him for his experience using your services. This will represent an area of opportunity to make optimizations to your business’s procedures. Once you learn more about your weaknesses, you can work on them and turn those bad reviews into positive reviews. Ignoring the problem is not going to make it go away. Closely manage your customers’ reviews and offer compensation for any inconvenience they had. Trust me, in the end, they will remember mainly how you solved their problems rather than what caused them.
Answer All Questions
GMB allows potential and existing customers to ask you questions and get an answer right on their platform. You’ll need to monitor your profile regularly to watch for questions, and then answer them as they come in for the best results. As you do that, the answers will help future customers move through the buyer’s journey and complete their purchase with your brand. Not only will your customers appreciate this, but it also allows people to learn more about your business.
Take Online Appointments
People are busier than ever these days, so help them best manage their schedules by taking online appointments through GMB. Your profile will serve as a 24/7 agent, booking appointments while you work, sleep, and play. Just be sure to sync up all your calendars to ensure customers get their services on time and enjoy an excellent buying experience.
Post relevant content
Posting content about your business’s news, services, or products will allow you to create engagement while informing users about any relevant information that might impact their customer experience with you. Creating a content plan will help you organize your content ideas and ensure you deliver valuable insights on your account.
Need Help to Improve Google My Business ranking?
Google My Business is a free tool, but that doesn’t mean that it’s easy to use. If you’re not getting the desired results or simply are unsure on how to optimize Google My Business, contact our team at Real Top for a free marketing plan. We look forward to helping you find the perfect level of service for your brand and allowing you to focus on the day-to-day demands of running your company. So, please feel free to reach out today to get the conversation started or get your free marketing plan today!
FAQs
How does Google My Business work?
Google My Business is a platform that allows you to create a profile for your business in Google. With this platform, you can add relevant details about your business and make it easier for customers to find you. When someone searches for your business’s name or address, Google will recognize the information you have provided and will display it right at the top of the results. This means that potential customers can see all your relevant business information about your business in one place. They can also click on a result to go directly to your business’s website. In addition, Google will continue to improve the quality and relevance of information it displays. With this platform, customers can find more information about your business and can contact you directly if they have any questions or concerns.
What are the benefits of using Google My Business?
Google My Business is a tool that helps businesses easily manage their online presence. Google My Business allows you to update your business’s information and connect with fans and followers who are interested in your business. That’s why you should always keep looking for the best ways on how to optimize Google My Business for your company. You can also manage your business’s reputation and appear higher in search results. Some of the benefits of using Google My Business include but are not limited to:
- Getting visibility on Google Maps
- Creating engagement between your business and customers
- Strengthening reputation and brand awareness through customers’ reviews
How often should I post on Google My Business?
This is very individual and depends on your business. If you have a busy business, I’d recommend posting at least once a week as it is unlikely that you are going to make all of your followers fall in love with you overnight. If you operate a small business, or if you operate a B2B or SaaS business, you may only need to post occasionally. However, I would still recommend posting at least once a week as this will help you build up your presence on Google My Business and will increase the visibility of your business.
Nik Tsoukales, founder of REALTOP, is an experienced digital marketer with a track record of growing businesses and sales teams. He has received multiple awards for leading fast-growing companies and specializes in organic SEO, Google PPC, and Social Media. With over 89k clients acquired online, Nik’s expertise spans various industries including finance, healthcare, and real estate.