10 Tips to Get the Most Out of Google My Business

Google My Business is a free and easy way for local businesses to manage their online presence. And with more than 100 million monthly users on Google Maps, there's never been a better time to get your business found. 

So why should you take the time? Here are 10 reasons: 

1. Improve your ranking in search results

When people search for your business using Google Search or Maps, your business is now eligible to show up in the map listings. With proper local search optimization, your goal is to be in the top three listings. 

2. Show off your staff

Google My Business allows you to showcase your experts, like customer service experts or technicians and sales representatives. People who search for a business can see the people behind the scenes, making them more likely to get in touch with your business. 

3. Make it easier for customers to connect

Getting contact information right on Google Search and Google Maps makes it easier for people to find and get in touch with your business. 

4. Find new customers

Encouraging customer reviews on Google My Business tells people that you're proud of what you do and lets potential customers see how others like them felt about their experiences. And when they read those reviews, they'll learn more about what to expect when they visit your business. 

5. Manage your business from anywhere

Google My Business allows you to review and respond to customers' reviews, posts or questions, update your hours of operation quickly and easily, add photos and special offers — all directly from the web or mobile app. 

6. Be prepared for emergencies

You can add detailed business information to your listing, including a phone number and address for emergencies. This can help people get the information they need quickly during an emergency, like when they are searching from their mobile phone. 

7. Get found on Google Maps

When people have questions about your business or want to know more, Google My Business can help them narrow down their search and find you. 

8. Optimize for mobile

When customers are looking up businesses on the go, they might decide to call or visit based on what they see in Google Search and Maps results. Having an updated listing to show current content helps you show up when customers are searching on their mobile devices. 

9. Get more from Google

If you have a Gmail account, you already have access to Google products like Drive, YouTube, and Calendar. It is easy to set up Google My Business from this same account. Connect it to Google Analytics and Google Ads with ease. 

10. Get your business on the local map

Google My Business lets you get more out of Google's features that help people find and understand local content, like Maps. You can use these products to promote your business, talk about what makes it unique and show off its location. And with all this good stuff about Google My Business, it's clear why your business should give it a try. 

What to do next:

• Verify your details - To get the most out of Google My Business, make sure you verify every part of your listing there. 
• Set up your profile - You can add photos, special offers, event info, and more to your Google My Business listing with a few clicks. 
• Get found in Google Search - Schedule location-specific posts for the places where you do business — whether you have a physical location, you provide services at the customer's location (service-based), or a combination of both (hybrid). And don't forget to include information about what's unique about you and your business. 
• Get listed on other sites – Google used to pull information from other websites like Yelp, Yellow Pages, etc. With the launch of Google My Business, it does pick up on your business's name, address, and phone number information. Setting up accounts on these third-party websites is recommended; make sure your information is consistent. We offer worry-free business local listing services as part of our local search optimization campaigns if you prefer not to do it yourself. 
• Share with customers - Encourage people to share their reviews and feedback by making it easy for them to do so on Google or in other places where they might post online. Reviews are vital, and Google loves companies that take good care of their customers. Make sure to ask for reviews regularly and respond to all reviews – even the bad ones. 

Google My Business is an excellent way for business owners to get their products or services in front of more customers. It offers a range of benefits that make it easier and faster than ever before to connect with your audience on Google Search, Maps, YouTube, and other popular platforms. To learn how you can leverage the power of Google My Business in your marketing strategy, contact our team today! We offer SEO consulting as well as digital marketing plans tailored specifically to meet the needs of local small businesses like yours.