More and more businesses are discovering the benefits of Google My Business for sales, conversions, and organic online presence. Let’s explore what this tool is and why you should be using it today to complement your other digital marketing efforts.
What is Google My Business?
Google My Business is a tool that Google provides for free to any business. If you sign up and “own” your business listing on Google, you can appear in search results and on Maps. Google My Business shows the most important information about your business to searchers, including your hours, your address, reviews, and updates that you choose to share. You can also link to your business website. Online presence through this tool can be very positive for your business.
Why Should I Use Google My Business?
Increase Your Online Reputability
If you own your Google My Business profile, you increase your authority online. To an internet user, having the profile (and keeping it up-to-date) makes you and your information even more trustworthy than if they had to navigate to your website to find you. Google says that “Businesses that verify their information with Google My Business are twice as likely to be considered reputable by consumers.” That’s a big number.
Make it Easier For Customers to Find You Through:
Direct Calls
Customers who searched for you can use the Google My Business profile to call you directly. If you include your business’ phone number in your profile, they can click on it and call your business for more information, to make a reservation or appointment, and more. Not only does this increase your potential clients’ engagement with your business, but you can also track which calls came from your Google My Business profile.
Website Visits
Your Google My Business profile can be another organic way to get click throughs to your website, even if you’re not ranking #1 on Google. A great Google My Business profile will now appear at the top of relevant searches as a “local listing” — above organic results. By linking your website to your profile, you can capture even more visitors and convert them on your site.
Maps and Directions
By providing an internet user with your business’s street address quickly and simply, as well as linking directly to Google Maps, Google My Business allows customers to visit your business more easily.
Manage Your Reviews
Customers can leave your business reviews on your profile, making it easy to respond to them and also making them accessible to future customers. If you have a restaurant with good reviews on Google My Business, someone searching for a restaurant like yours can easily find those reviews and make the decision to visit your restaurant.
Engage With Customers
Posts and photos make it easy for you to engage with your customers. You can post updates, sales, special offers, events, blog posts, and more so your customers stay connected to your business. Make sure to include photos, as this increases engagement.
Verify Your Account Now
You can verify your business’ profile today, and then discuss ways to optimize and improve your Google My Business profile with Alive Media for more leads and sales. Contact us today!