Google My Business for Small Businesses
As a small business owner, you’re probably always looking for ways to reach new customers and grow your business. One way to do that is by creating a Google My Business listing. Google My Business is a free tool that allows you to manage how your business appears on Google Search and Maps. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the key reasons why Google My Business is important for small businesses.
Boost Your Online Presence
Having a Google My Business listing is a great way to boost your online presence. When people search for businesses on Google, they often look at the listings that appear in the search results. By creating a listing for your business, you can ensure that your business is included in those search results. This can help you reach more potential customers and increase your online visibility.
Increase Trust and Credibility
When people are looking for a business, they want to know that they can trust that business. By having a Google My Business listing, you can provide potential customers with important information about your business, such as your address, phone number, and hours of operation. You can also include photos and customer reviews, which can help build trust and credibility with potential customers.
Improve Local SEO
Search engine optimisation (SEO) is the process of optimizing your website so that it appears higher in the search engine rankings. Local SEO is a type of SEO that focuses on optimizing your website for local searches. By creating a Google My Business listing, you can improve your local SEO by providing Google with important information about your business, such as your location and the services you offer.
Engage with Customers
Google My Business allows you to engage with your customers in a number of ways. You can respond to customer reviews, post updates about your business, and even message customers directly. By engaging with your customers, you can build stronger relationships and increase customer loyalty.
Gain Valuable Insights
Finally, Google My Business provides you with valuable insights into how people are interacting with your business. You can see how many people are viewing your listing, how many people are clicking through to your website, and even how many people are calling your business directly from the search results. By using this information, you can make informed decisions about how to improve your business and attract more customers.
How to create a Google My Business listing
Go to the Google My Business website: Start by going to the Google My Business website (https://www.google.com/business/). If you’re not already signed in to your Google account, sign in now.
Enter your business information: Once you’re signed in, enter your business information, including your business name, address, phone number, website URL, and category. It’s important to provide accurate and up-to-date information, as this will help potential customers find and contact your business.
Verify your business: Google will then ask you to verify your business by mail, phone, or email. The verification process can take up to a week, so be patient.
Optimize your listing: Once your business is verified, you can optimize your listing by adding photos, a business description, hours of operation, and other details. You can also add products and services, and respond to customer reviews.
Keep your listing up-to-date: It’s important to keep your Google My Business listing up-to-date by regularly adding new photos, updating your business information, and responding to customer reviews. This will help ensure that your business stays visible to potential customers and that they have the most accurate information about your business.
By following these steps, you can create a Google My Business listing for your small business and start reaping the benefits of increased online visibility, trust, and engagement with customers.
Google My Business integrations
Google Ads
Google My Business can be integrated with Google Ads to create local ad campaigns that target customers in your area. Here are some of the ways that Google My Business integrates with Google Ads:
Location extensions: Location extensions allow you to display your business’s location and contact information in your Google Ads ads. By adding location extensions to your ads, you can make it easier for potential customers to find your business and contact you.
Local search ads: Local search ads are a type of ad that appear in Google Search results when people search for businesses in their local area. By creating a Google My Business listing and linking it to your Google Ads account, you can create local search ads that target customers in your area.
Local inventory ads: If you have a physical store and sell products, you can use local inventory ads to promote your products to customers who are searching for products in your area. By linking your Google My Business listing to your Google Ads account and providing inventory data, you can create local inventory ads that show customers what products you have in stock.
Google Analytics
Google My Business can also be integrated with Google Analytics to track how people are interacting with your business online. Here are some of the ways that Google My Business integrates with Google Analytics:
Google My Business Insights: Google My Business Insights provides you with data on how people are finding your business, what actions they’re taking, and how they’re engaging with your business online. By linking your Google My Business listing to your Google Analytics account, you can track this data and use it to make informed decisions about how to improve your business.
Referral traffic: Google Analytics allows you to track referral traffic to your website from your Google My Business listing. This can help you understand how people are finding your business and which channels are driving the most traffic to your website.
Conversion tracking: By setting up conversion tracking in Google Analytics, you can track how many people are calling your business, requesting directions, or visiting your website after interacting with your Google My Business listing. This can help you understand the ROI of your Google My Business listing and make informed decisions about how to allocate your marketing budget.
By integrating Google My Business with Google Ads and Google Analytics, you can create more effective local ad campaigns, track how people are interacting with your business online, and make data-driven decisions to improve your business.
Google My Business to reach new customers
Beacon Plumbing and Mechanical
Beacon Plumbing and Mechanical, a plumbing and HVAC company based in Seattle, used Google My Business to increase their online visibility and reach new customers. By optimizing their Google My Business listing and responding to customer reviews, they were able to increase their online engagement and attract more customers. In just one year, they saw a 112% increase in website visits and a 60% increase in phone calls.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, a Texas-based barbecue chain, used Google My Business to promote their daily deals and attract new customers. By using Google Posts to share their daily specials and encouraging customers to leave reviews, they were able to increase their online engagement and drive more foot traffic to their restaurants. They also used Google Ads to target customers searching for barbecue restaurants in their area, resulting in a 30% increase in online orders.
The Little Market
The Little Market, a nonprofit fair trade shop based in California, used Google My Business to promote their products and drive more online sales. By optimising their Google My Business listing with high-quality photos and customer reviews, they were able to increase their online visibility and attract more customers. They also used Google Ads to target customers searching for fair trade products, resulting in a 15% increase in online sales.
These are just a few examples of small businesses that have successfully used Google My Business to reach new customers and grow their business. By following best practices for optimising your Google My Business listing, engaging with customers, and using other Google tools like Google Ads, you too can achieve similar results and take your business to the next level.
Common mistakes to avoid
Providing inaccurate information
One of the most common mistakes businesses make when using Google My Business is providing inaccurate information. This can include things like an incorrect address, phone number, or website URL. Providing inaccurate information can confuse potential customers and harm your business’s online reputation. Make sure to double-check all of the information on your Google My Business listing and update it as necessary.
Not responding to customer reviews
Another common mistake businesses make is not responding to customer reviews on their Google My Business listing. Customer reviews are a valuable source of feedback and can help build trust with potential customers. Make sure to respond to all customer reviews, whether they’re positive or negative. Responding to reviews shows that you care about your customers and are committed to providing excellent customer service.
Neglecting to update your listing
Google My Business listings need to be regularly updated with accurate information, photos, and posts. Neglecting to update your listing can make it less appealing to potential customers and harm your business’s online reputation. Make sure to update your listing with new photos, information, and posts on a regular basis to keep it fresh and engaging.
Violating Google’s guidelines
Google has strict guidelines for businesses using Google My Business. Violating these guidelines can result in your listing being removed or suspended. Some common violations include creating multiple listings for the same business, using fake reviews, and adding irrelevant keywords to your listing. Make sure to read and follow Google’s guidelines to avoid any issues.
Not using Google My Business to its full potential
Finally, a common mistake businesses make is not using Google My Business to its full potential. Google My Business offers a variety of features, such as Google Posts, messaging, and appointment booking, that can help you engage with customers and attract new business. Make sure to explore all of the features available to you and use them to their full potential.
By avoiding these common mistakes and following best practices for using Google My Business, you can improve your business’s online presence, attract more customers, and grow your business.
Tips for responding to customer reviews
Respond promptly
One of the most important things you can do when responding to customer reviews on your Google My Business listing is to respond promptly. Customers appreciate a timely response, and it shows that you’re paying attention to their feedback. Make sure to respond to all reviews, whether they’re positive or negative, within a few days at most.
Be polite and professional
When responding to customer reviews, it’s important to be polite and professional. Remember that your response will be visible to everyone who visits your Google My Business listing, so you want to make sure that it reflects positively on your business. Thank the customer for their feedback, address their concerns, and offer a solution if necessary.
Personalise your response
Another way to make your responses to customer reviews more effective is to personalize them. Use the customer’s name, reference specific details from their review, and show that you’re listening to their feedback. Personalizing your response can help build trust with the customer and show that you value their business.
Don’t get defensive
When responding to negative reviews, it’s important to avoid getting defensive. Remember that the customer is entitled to their opinion, and your job is to address their concerns in a polite and professional manner. Avoid arguing with the customer or dismissing their feedback, as this can make the situation worse.
Encourage customers to update their review
If you’re able to resolve a customer’s issue, you can encourage them to update their review to reflect their positive experience. Thank them for their feedback and let them know that you’re glad you were able to help. This can help improve your business’s online reputation and show potential customers that you’re committed to providing excellent customer service.
By following these tips, you can respond to customer reviews on your Google My Business listing in a way that shows you’re listening to their feedback, addressing their concerns, and committed to providing excellent customer service.
Google My Business to promote offers
Use Google Posts
Google Posts are a great way to promote special offers and events on your Google My Business listing. You can create a post with a title, description, and image, and add a call-to-action button that links to a relevant page on your website. Make sure to include a clear description of your offer or event, and add any necessary details such as dates, times, and locations.
Create a special offer or event category
Google My Business allows you to create a special offer or event category on your listing. This category will appear alongside your regular business information and can help draw attention to your offer or event. Make sure to provide a clear and concise description of your offer or event, and include any necessary details such as dates, times, and locations.
Add photos and videos
Adding high-quality photos and videos to your Google My Business listing can help promote your special offer or event and make it more appealing to potential customers. Make sure to use high-quality images and videos that showcase your offer or event, and add captions and descriptions that highlight the key features and benefits.
Encourage customer reviews and feedback
Encouraging customer reviews and feedback can help promote your special offer or event and build trust with potential customers. Make sure to respond promptly to customer reviews and feedback, and thank them for their support. You can also ask customers to share their experience on social media and tag your business.
Use Google Ads
Google Ads can be a powerful tool for promoting your special offer or event to potential customers. You can create a targeted ad campaign that reaches customers in your local area and directs them to your Google My Business listing or a specific landing page on your website. Make sure to include a clear and compelling call-to-action that encourages customers to take action.
By using these tips, you can effectively use Google My Business to promote your special offer or event and reach new customers. Make sure to provide clear and concise information, use high-quality images and videos, and encourage customer reviews and feedback to maximize the impact of your promotion.
Impact on mobile search results
Increased visibility
Google My Business listings are displayed prominently in mobile search results, making them a powerful tool for increasing visibility and attracting new customers. When people search for a business or service on their mobile device, Google My Business listings appear at the top of the search results page, above the organic search results.
Convenient information
Google My Business listings provide convenient information to mobile users, such as the business’s address, phone number, website URL, and hours of operation. This makes it easy for people to find and contact your business on the go, without having to navigate to your website or search for your contact information.
Mobile-friendly features
Google My Business listings are designed to be mobile-friendly, with features like click-to-call and click-to-directions that make it easy for mobile users to take action. By making it easy for people to contact your business or find your location, you can increase the likelihood of them becoming a customer.
Increased engagement
Google My Business listings can also help increase engagement with mobile users. By using features like Google Posts, you can share timely and relevant information with potential customers, such as promotions, events, and updates. This can help keep your business top of mind and increase the likelihood of mobile users engaging with your business.
Reviews and ratings
Google My Business listings also feature customer reviews and ratings, which can be a powerful tool for attracting new customers. Positive reviews and high ratings can help build trust with potential customers and increase the likelihood of them choosing your business over a competitor. Make sure to respond to all reviews, whether they’re positive or negative, to show that you care about your customers and are committed to providing excellent customer service.
In summary, Google My Business can have a significant impact on mobile search results, by increasing visibility, providing convenient information, offering mobile-friendly features, increasing engagement, and showcasing customer reviews and ratings. By optimizing your Google My Business listing and using its features to their full potential, you can attract more customers and grow your business.
Conclusion
Overall, Google My Business is an essential tool for small businesses looking to reach new customers and grow their business. By creating a listing for your business, you can boost your online presence, increase trust and credibility, improve your local SEO, engage with customers, and gain valuable insights into how people are interacting with your business. So if you haven’t already created a Google My Business listing, now is the time to do so!
FAQ
What is Google My Business? Google My Business is a free tool offered by Google that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including search and maps. It provides businesses with a listing that includes important information, such as the business’s address, phone number, website, and hours of operation.
How do I create a Google My Business listing? To create a Google My Business listing, you can visit the Google My Business website and follow the instructions to create and verify your listing. You’ll need to provide information about your business, such as your address, phone number, website, and hours of operation.
Is Google My Business free to use? Yes, Google My Business is completely free to use. Businesses can create and manage their listing for free, and there are no fees or charges for using the service.
Can I edit my Google My Business listing after it’s been created? Yes, you can edit your Google My Business listing at any time. You can update information such as your business’s address, phone number, website, hours of operation, and photos.
How can I optimize my Google My Business listing for better visibility? To optimize your Google My Business listing, you can provide accurate and up-to-date information, add high-quality photos, encourage customer reviews, and use features such as Google Posts and messaging to engage with customers.
Can Google My Business help me attract new customers? Yes, Google My Business can help businesses attract new customers by increasing their visibility in Google search and maps, providing convenient information to potential customers, and showcasing customer reviews and ratings.
What other Google tools can I integrate with my Google My Business listing? Google My Business can integrate with other Google tools, such as Google Ads and Google Analytics. By integrating with these tools, businesses can gain insights into their online presence, target potential customers with ads, and track their online performance.
What are some common mistakes to avoid when using Google My Business? Some common mistakes to avoid when using Google My Business include providing inaccurate information, not responding to customer reviews, neglecting to update your listing, violating Google’s guidelines, and not using all of the available features to their full potential.
How can I use Google My Business to promote special offers and events? To use Google My Business to promote special offers and events, businesses can use features such as Google Posts, create a special offer or event category, add photos and videos, encourage customer reviews and feedback, and use Google Ads to target potential customers.
What advanced features does Google My Business offer, and how can I use them to improve my business? Google My Business offers advanced features such as online booking, appointment scheduling, messaging, menus and product lists, and insights and analytics. By using these features to their full potential, businesses can manage their appointments more efficiently, provide more information to potential customers, and make data-driven decisions to improve their online presence.
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