Google My Business (GMB) used to be so simple. GMB listings used to basically include a business name, address, phone number, and website URL. That was about it!
Although, over the years Google has made GMB profiles so much more robust, which is very exciting. Great features and enhancements have been added, but these features have also made Google My Business much more complex for users.
Imagine a free SEO tool that helped you reach your ideal customers. A tool that allowed you to communicate with your customers and allowed them to leave a review. That is what you get from Google My Business and in this article, we will look at what Google My Business really is, why you need it, and how to set it up.
Therefore, would you rather continue with your old ways of getting customers or keep reading and learn how to use Google My Business to invite more visitors?
The goal is not to rank #1. The goal is to generate leads and sales for your business.
What is Google my business?
Google my business is a free platform created by Google and designed for all kinds of businesses. It helps various businesses provide necessary details of your business. The necessary details needed for Google my business are; your business location, photo, services and products. Having all of these details on Google my business gives your business a platform for visibility.
The majority of the businesses we have in the world today have moved online. These businesses understand the effectiveness of having an online presence. Hence the need to remain visible online. It makes it easier for customers to locate and search for various businesses online. Google My Business was originally designed to help the optimization of your business.
Asides from the optimization of your business through Google my business. It helps each business with engaging with its customers, ensuring that all needs are met. This is usually done by responding to reviews or questions. It also helps the brand gather more insight on how best to serve customers. Just as it highlights the business, regardless of whether it is a new startup or it has been in existence before.
Why do you need Google my business?
Google My Business is a free tool that every company should utilize in their marketing strategy. Google My Business is a cost-effective addition to any online marketing strategy. One of the major reasons why you need Google My Business is that it can single-handedly improve a business’s local Search Engine Optimization (SEO) ranking. That is, the search engine optimization of your website and utilization of GMB to improve your local reach on Google search. It helps customers find you and your services at the right time when they are searching for relevant businesses and services nearby.
Also, Google My Business has Google Maps integration, which makes it easier to find your business on the world’s map and direction app. When customers can find your company on Google Maps, it speeds the process of contacting you for them. Having your address on Google Maps with the proper listing makes your business more discoverable and more attractive on the search, and that can drive more sales to you. Customers can send messages directly to your company phone or email via the GMB interface.
In furtherance, Google My Business gives your business social credibility by displaying customer reviews under your Google My Business profile. Reviews also improve local SEO. More and more people are checking out customer reviews before choosing a local business. Since people love reading reviews, search engines use them to rank search results. If you can properly utilize the GMB feature, it can have a huge impact on your business. Positive reviews serve as free and reliable adverts for your products and services.
Google My Business makes it easy for local businesses to promote their products and services online by increasing visibility and improving their chances of showing up in search results. It can help potential customers to quickly find and contact you. It is a free tool that you can make use of to improve your online presence, connect with your customers and increase your business revenue. Positive reviews serve as free and reliable adverts for your products and services.
How to set up Google my business
At this point, we have talked a lot about google my business so it’s not going to sound like a new thing to you anymore. Without further ado let’s talk about the main thing which is setting up a google my business profile and how to go about it.
The very first step is, which I’m very much sure the Einsteins among us reading this article might have a guess of is actually creating a google account. I mean duh! google my business, google account.
If only makes sense you’ll need to have a google account to start. it’s only right. So if you don’t already have a Google account you should create one. Google accounts are so easy to create in this day and age. I mean everyone practically has one, but if you don’t, you get no judgement from me. But for the sake of google my business, you will need one. Follow this link to create a google account
Phew! Now that the first step is out of the way, You’re feeling like a boss with that slick new email account, don’t forget this is about google my business so continue reading this article now. Everything else should be relatively easier from this point on. Don’t fret we’re still here to guide you through the rest of the google my business profile creation steps. The second step is visiting the google business profile gateway to register your business. You can visit the gateway website and click “manage now” to get your business listed. So you go ahead and type in your business name or business title into the appropriate slot given. if the business profile or title already exists you’ll see it as you’re typing but if it does not you’ll see a side that says “add your business to google” click that.
If someone else already created a business profile for your business then don’t sweat it. You can have that profile handed over to you all you have to do is simply click “Request access” and you will be walked through getting access to the already created account on the screen.
If you’re creating a new business profile the next step is to add the business name and category. It should be the exact official name of your business without any special characters or additions. The next step is to choose a business category that accurately suits your business. You’ll have the option to edit this within the profile later, as well as to add additional categories, so don’t worry if you’re not completely sure what to select right now.
Next is to include the business location, if it has a physical location you can fill in the address. It is important you make no mistake and the address is as clear as possible so it does not confuse customers from patronizing your business if they need to. If it is a service-area business, or if the business delivers products to customers at home, then select ‘Yes’ on the next step. If you select ‘Yes’ then you’ll need to enter the areas that the business serves or delivers to. You’ll be able to come back and edit this information later, and you’ll be able to add new locations any time the business expands.
The next step is to add business contact details, you also have the option to add the business website. If the business doesn’t have a website, you can leave it blank till your business has a website and fill it in then. As an agency setting up GMB for a client, you’ll need to enter the client’s contact details, not your own. It’s a good idea to communicate clearly to your client that they’ll be contacted by Google for the verification process.
At the next step, you’ll reach the verification stage and you’ll have to verify your business address. You can do this by phone or email, or receive a mail or postcard to the address to verify the address of the business. After verification, you’ll have to add your business hours, Opening and closing hours. Then messaging. You should only do this if you will be committed to accepting and responding to messages promptly.
After all, this is done, you should then add the business description. You can write up to 750 characters within this section, so be sure to use this opportunity to put the most important information across in a clear and concise way so your potential customers can know if your business is a good fit for their needs.
Finally, you can add business photos if there are any, if there aren’t, you can add them at a later date. There you have it, your business profile is complete and you’re ready. I hope this article has been helpful to those who read it and has shed some more insight on the mystery that is GMB and creating a profile.