Maximize your Business Exposure Through
Google My Business
Maximize Your Business Exposure Through Google My Business
As a local business, gaining maximum exposure on Google has never been more important for consistent, long-term growth. In fact, 46% of all Google searches have a local intent, and 80% of all customers want their search results to be tailored to their specific location.
These stats mean that if your business does not have an online footprint, one of your local competitors surely does—in other words, you need a solid local SEO (search engine optimization) strategy. And one of the most critical elements of any successful local SEO strategy is Google My Business.
What is Google My Business?
Google My Business is a feature-rich business listing platform that lets you manage your business's presence in Google search results.
This platform is similar to online business directories such as Yelp—with the exception that Google My Business listings can be found directly in Google search (in Knowledge Panel and Local SEO-3 Pack) and Google Maps, eliminating the need to visit a third-party website.
Benefits of Listing Your Business on Google My Business
● If you do not have your local business listed on Google My Business, it may not show up on Google Maps or in the Local SEO-3 Pack. Furthermore, the Knowledge Panel could be inaccurately or sparsely populated. These are unquestionably the most prominent listings in Google search results—without a GMB listing, you are missing out on an opportunity to rank here.
● You can collect customer reviews on your listing to showcase the quality of your product or service offerings online. Online customers are constantly on the lookout for social proof—usually in the form of online reviews—that a business is deserving of their money. This means that deploying a review management plan to display high trust signals alongside your listing will go a long way toward increasing sales. Not to mention, reviews are among the most important local ranking signals.
● With Google My Business, you can gain insights into your local business and make more informed decisions. Among these insights are the number of users who viewed your listing, the search terms that users type to find your business, the demographic profile of your audience, the number of calls/emails through your listing, and so on.
● Listing your business on Google My Business is 100% free. There is no premium option either—you get unrestricted access to the platform by simply creating (or verifying) your listing!
Setting Up Your Google My Business Listing
Registering your business on Google My Business is a quick and easy process. Here's a step-by-step guide to setting up your Google My Business listing:
- To create a new listing or claim an existing one, visit www.google.com/business/ and click the "Manage Now" button in the top-right hand corner.
- Enter your business name, address, and contact information (phone number and website URL).
- Choose a category. Be as specific as possible, as the category you choose will help Google decide which search queries to rank your listing in.
- Click the 'finish' button.
- Verify your listing with an automated call or via mail—and your listing is up and running!
Optimizing Your Google My Business Listing
Simply having a Google My Business listing is not enough to rank well in local search—it is important to also optimize your listing. Here are a few things you can do:
● Double-check that your NAP (business name, address, and phone number) is accurate.
● Write the perfect description.
● Upload your best images and videos.
● Focus on customer reviews.
● Respond to customer inquiries and FAQs.
● Use Google Posts.
Maximize Your Presence In Local Search!
As a local business owner, you cannot afford to ignore the enormous benefits that Google My Business can bring for your presence in local search results. If you get the basics down and optimize your listing, you will be one step ahead of the competition, considering that many businesses register themselves on Google My Business and forget about it.
Jeff Thungc is a Digital Solutions Strategist with JLT Web Design and Digital Marketing, helping local businesses to increase revenue and reduce expense through leveraging the Internet and technology. Jeff strategizes with business owners to arrive at solutions to help them capitalize on the trend to increase brand visibility, visibility, and profitability. Schedule a free consultation with Jeff at https://calendly.com/jeff_thungc, or contact him at (206) 459-4840, jeff.thungc@JLTWebSolutions.com | www.JLTWebSolutions.com | www.GetYourFreeLeads.com |
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