When was the last time you saw someone browse through a Yellow Pages looking for a product or service? It’s more likely that you saw someone browsing a search engine on their smartphone or laptop. Today, your potential customers are looking for you online, which means you need a strong online presence to attract your target audience.
And what better way to start than with an online directory listing on the internet’s most-searched search engine? Google processes 3.5 billion searches per day and 1.2 trillion searches per year. And you have the chance to show up in some of those searches for free with a Google My Business listing.
If you’re not taking advantage of free advertising with Google My Business, then keep reading to learn why you should be.
What Is Google My Business?
Google My Business (GMB) is a modern directory tool that’s free to use. A GMB listing is an online business profile that appears on Google Maps and local searches on Google. Your profile is a space where you can list your contact information, website link and other helpful information about your business, products and services. Having a GMB listing will help web users find you when they’re searching for the products and services you offer.
We highly encourage putting as much information as possible into your GMB listing. Optimizing your profile gives Google more credible and accurate information about your business, which can result in higher rankings in Google Maps and local search. What can you include? Quite a bit, as you may be surprised to learn:
- A business description (containing relevant SEO keywords)
- Contact information — phone number and email address
- Location address
- Location hours
- A website link
- Photos and videos
- Products and pricing
- Service offerings
- Payment methods accepted
- Booking/reservations
- Reviews and ratings
- Q & A section
- Posts highlighting upcoming events, sales or special deals
After you’ve created a GMB listing, don’t just post it and forget it. Update your business profile regularly with new information, changes and different pictures or videos. Make sure to stay engaged with customers who reach out to you through the reviews and Q & A sections. Having a fresh and up-to-date GMB listing will help users see you as more credible and trustworthy when they’re researching their options.
Why Your Business Needs a GMB Listing
1. Appear in local search and Google Maps. When customers are looking for a business or service, proximity is a primary consideration. If you have a GMB profile, your business listing will show up when web users search for local or “near me” services. Your listing will also populate on Google Maps, a tool many searchers use to find businesses. An optimized GMB listing increases your chances of landing a spot in the coveted Google local 3-pack, which shows up before organic results for local searches.
2. Generate more website traffic. A GMB listing is free advertising. According to Google, customers are 70% more likely to visit businesses — on the web and in person — that have a complete Google My Business profile. Make sure you have a link to your website in the listing so that browsers can easily learn more about you with a simple click.
3. Improve visitor engagement. Your GMB listing offers several places where you and your customers can engage. Visitors can leave a review or ranking, ask a question or direct message you from your profile. Additionally, you can include links for visitors to call, book a reservation or schedule an appointment directly through the listing. Make sure you’re responding to reviews and questions on your GMB profile to establish trustworthiness and showcase your amazing customer service.
4. Gain valuable insights. One of the most valuable (and underrated) tools on GMB is the analytics dashboard. Here, you can see valuable insights into your search audience, the actions taken on your listing and the keywords web users are searching to find your listing. You can use this performance data to help improve your business profile and increase search visibility.
Need Help With Your Marketing? Contact NewGen Marketing Today.
At NewGen Marketing, our executive team has spent decades driving marketing and sales initiatives for industry-leading health care brands. We offer broad-spectrum marketing services, including strategy and investment, analytics, paid media, social media, remarketing, content marketing and acquisition. We rely on performance marketing strategies to ensure you’re not wasting a single dollar that you’re putting into marketing spend.
Ready to hire a marketing agency who can drive more to your bottom line? Contact NewGen Marketing today for a free consultation.