When was the last time you, or someone you know used the hard copy of a phone book to track the number of a store? What about an encyclopedia, or even a hard copy dictionary? These days information is at the touch of a button, after all, we’re in the information age. People are using Google for everything they need, including to search for a business like yours who can solve their issues.
According to a study put together by Go Globe, 87% of smartphone owners use a search engine every day. The same study concludes that 60% of Americans use smartphones and tablets to search for local products and services.
With a large number of people looking for solutions on the internet, it should be a priority for you to be listed in Google My Business.
Take a look as we explore this in the sections below, don’t worry, you’ll know exactly how to get it done and why you should by the end of this blog.
First of all, it’s important for you to know what we are talking about when we say Google My Business.
Let’s say you are traveling around the South of France. You’ve been touring all day long and it’s almost time for lunch so you Google search something like this ‘where to eat in Marseille.’ Google pulls up a bunch of amazing boutique restaurants within the 5 mile radius of where you are located. You click on one, and it lists all the details you could possibly need. These details are listed inside Google My Business, which is why it is one of the best tools for SEO, especially when you’re on a budget.
Aside from a slick website optimized for search engine approval, we highly recommend you list your business, shop or products within Google, so that people will find you when they search your keywords.
Setting up your Google My Business profile is possible in a few quick steps:
First of all you’ll want to visit GMB to set up your business profile. If your business has been around for a while, you might find that it already appears in the searches, so click here to claim your business instead.
Secondly, if you find and claim your business, it’s time to edit and update all the details such as your location on the Google map, open hours, name and more. If you’re setting up your business that’s great! You’ll have the opportunity to fill in all the details as you follow the prompts through the process.
When filling in your details you’ll need to select a business category. There might be a couple of options that would work, but it’s best to choose the one that is most true of your business DNA.
Put in your company logo, a cover picture, as well as any videos that explain or relate to what you do.
It’s important to verify your business through the email option available. If you don’t verify then Google will assume, you’re not serious about listing your business. Remember, the web is becoming increasingly discerning when it comes to credibility online, verification is your safety net.
Ask friends, family and customers to hop online to review your business. This is a great way to establish trust with potential new customers. Nothing works better than a rocking testimonial or two of how you solved someone’s problem and did a good job.
There are a few things you need to avoid in order to be deemed credible on GMB.
Unfortunately, spam pages can take away from the impact of having your business listed on Google and there are a few things you need to watch out for when you create your listing.
Avoid using too many keywords or using them too often. Keyword stuffing can be SEO suicide, the algorithms think there’s something wrong with you and they may sanction your pages if you overdo it.
Nobody likes a fake review, and many people online can smell the scent of them from a mile away. Make sure you get genuine reviews onto your listing, and we recommend you don’t buy shady reviews. If you get fake reviews, you can report them, or otherwise respond to them so the public can see that this review is fake.
This might sound crazy, but report spam accounts or fake profiles if ever you see them. You can also leverage other social media platforms to spread the word if something is going wrong.
At the end of the day, we feel it is important to make use of the powerful tools that are out there. The digital realm is not so scary, it just takes a little getting used to and a whole lot of learning. If you’re ever in doubt, give one of our experts a call on 1-877-816-2259, we are a full-service digital marketing company with deep roots in SEO, website design and development and we’d love to help you out!
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