Google My Business is one of those tools that is both easy to use and very useful. It’s like a Facebook page, but only for businesses. What’s great about this platform is that it shows up in Google searches and uses local keywords to help meet a searcher’s needs.
Did your tire go flat on the way to see your friends? A quick search can find tire shops or towing services near you. Are you going to spend the night in a new city and want to know where to get the best coffee in the morning? Google can assist you with that.
Are you trying to find a local roofer? By searching Google, you can find listings for roofers in your area. But because Google My Business is well-made doesn’t mean that every business owner knows how to use it well. We’ll show you how to make the most of your Google listing for your business to make most of your space.
6 Ways to Improve Your Google My Business Listing
One of the greatest things about the various tools Google makes is that they are easy to set up and maintain. This means you can spend more time optimizing your page and less time figuring out how to set it up.
Claim your page.
We’re starting at the beginning, but you can’t optimize your listing if it’s not set up. Google will send a postcard with a code to the address of your business to verify your account. Once you get this card, you can put the code into Google My Business to finish making your listing.
Fill in your profile information.
Everything you put in your profile should be as precise and up-to-date as possible. Your contact information and address should be written exactly on your website. (Google’s spiders will crawl both, and any distinctions between the two will be a red flag for the search engine.) You will have to choose a business classification when filling out your profile.
Choose carefully since this helps Google decide which results to show on search result pages. You should also make sure you’ve used words that talk about where your business is. These will help you do better with local SEO and connect with potential customers in your city.
Choose your keywords carefully.
Google doesn’t like it when you try to put keywords in every part of your Google My Business listing. This will hurt your performance. But your page must have some keywords. The trick is to use them on purpose, just like your customers do.
Maintain your pictures and videos up to date.
Give the people what they want: photos of your business and products that are clear, interesting, and true to life. Getting good videos and photos of your business is worth every penny, and second, it costs.
Not only can you frame them to freshen up a room (we kid), but you can also show them off on your search list like a proud father, and your users will love it. These pictures and videos assist them in figuring out if they want to do business with you or not.
Read Also: How Should You Plan Your New Website’s SEO Strategy
Encourage reviews and answer them.
In the past few weeks, we’ve discussed building a brand. One important part of building a brand is getting your clients to leave reviews. Online reviews act as virtual social proof and help people decide if they want to work with your business or not.
Consider putting a link to your Page google on your receipts, giving users a discount if they leave a review, or sending out a one-time email asking customers to share their experience with your business. All of these will encourage more prospects to leave a review.
But it’s not enough to ask for reviews. It’s essential for your audience and your legitimacy that you genuinely respond to them. If someone departs a review with an inquiry or a complaint, don’t just let it hang out in cyberspace. Recognize it, fix it if you can, and be kind when you respond.
Keep an eye on your page.
Also, it’s important to answer comments and keep up with your page. Answer questions, help people, and respond to comments. Update your photos and videos often and, if necessary, change your holiday hours.
When a business’s Google My Business page is just a “set it and forget it” listing, it’s embarrassingly obvious. The photos are old, the information is old, and there are no responses to the reviews. None of that gives your future customers a reason to trust you.
Your listing and how you get leads as a whole
On the other hand, a well-kept Google My Business page shows potential customers that you take your business seriously and are worth their time. Because of this, visitors are much more likely to be interested in your company and become leaders and then a customer in the long run.
Your Google listing is a key part of a bigger plan to get new customers and earn their trust. Here are some things you can do to optimize your Google My Business listing: If you haven’t tried to claim your listing yet, now is the time to do so. Look at your photos and videos if you’ve already claimed your listing.
Are they true and interesting? Or is it time to add some new photos to your profile? If you’re happy with where your checklist is and ready to start a bigger lead generation plan, we’ve got you covered. Click on the picture below to get a free copy of our ebook, all about getting leads.
