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Home digital marketing

Why is Google My Business so important for small businesses?

by Muhammad Asad
October 6, 2021
in digital marketing
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Despite the rise of social media, the value of having a small business Google search presence cannot be overemphasised. Google is used for more than 90% of all online searches. Whether it’s a search result or a map result, over 5 billion searches are done on Google every day, making it incredibly powerful for boosting your business’s online presence. 

Google My Business (GMB) listings are a simple and practical tool for helping your business stand out online. If you’re not already on GMB, you could be missing out on some serious traffic from purchase-intent users. So let’s find out a little more about GMB and how it can benefit your business from some of the Google partners at one of Melbourne’s premier digital agency. 

What is Google My Business?

Google My Business is a free, easy-to-use platform that lets any business serving consumers at a physical location have a presence on Google Search and Google Maps. 

According to a 2019 study of more than 45,000 listings, Google My Business is an important channel, with 83% percent of local companies being viewed at least 25 times per month in search results and 34% percent receiving attention more than 1000 times. 

With your GMB account, you can tap into some of this traffic, connect with your customers, roll out exclusive offers for customers, and track how users interact with your business on Google. 

Is Google My Business worth it? 

Google My Business for Small Businesses

GMB is essentially a free advertising platform from Google. And who’s going to turn down free advertising? By focusing on the right keywords, small local businesses and vendors can leverage this feature to raise awareness about their location, products and services to attract nearby customers. 

Google My Business for Medium and Large Businesses

GMB is an effective marketing tool for large corporations with numerous branches and locations. With GMB, you don’t have to search through other sites and pages to get information, and it also provides zero-click results. 

Its visibility on Google Maps and local listings aids in increasing traffic to the company. It helps you keep in touch with past clients by regularly posting your business on your social media accounts and highlighting positive customer feedback. Therefore, Google My Business can be the simplest marketing strategy that is affordable and easy to maintain, making it practical and worthy to use. 

How can businesses profit from having a GMB Listing? 

Google My Business can help you grow your business with its unique features. 

  • It enhances your local search engine optimisation

When it comes to local SEO, one of the best tools to use is Google My Business. When you search, a panel near the top of the page displays three nearby businesses. Ensuring your Google My Business listing is fully optimised and verified is the only way to appear in these local search results.

  • Customers can locate your company on google maps 

Nowadays, almost everyone makes use of location-based services like Google Maps.

GMB helps you get paying customers by making it easy for your online viewers to find you. Adding your business address to your Google My Business listing enables your customers to get directions to your business by simply clicking on your company name. 

  • Allow customers to leave reviews on

Despite the rise of social media, the value of having a small business Google search presence cannot be overemphasised. Google is used for more t

To get referrals and feedback, it is critical to have positive Google reviews. Before making a purchase, most people will research a company’s products and services online, paying particular attention to reviews. Your positive online reviews will go a long way to building trust with potential customers. When potential customers look up your local business listings on Google and find out that you have a good reputation, they will know that you are a reliable company.

  • Customer relationship management 

Another advantage of having a GMB listing is that it makes it easy to communicate with customers. You have the opportunity to respond to customer reviews and, if handled delicately, you have the potential to turn a negative customer experience around and encourage them to come back. Responding to reviews, especially bad ones, demonstrates serious attention to customer service and satisfaction. You can also use your reviews and your competitors’ reviews to learn more about your clients and their expectations.

Where do GMB listings appear online? 

  • Google’s Knowledge Panel

In the SERPs, Google presents your information in a snippet-like format to make it easy for users to find the information they’re looking for. When someone performs a brand search, the Knowledge Panel will display your Google My Business listing data. As a result, your company will be seen by more people.

  • Google Maps 

Google Maps is a desktop and mobile app and browser-based service for getting directions and discovering businesses and locations. Google Maps is well-known to most customers, who have probably used it at least once to locate a residence or local landmark. On the other hand, it can be a valuable tool for promoting small businesses in the area.

  • Google’s Local Pack

Google My Business can also be found in the Google Local Pack, a collection of local business listings that appear beneath the map in search results. This occurs after a user conducts a local Google search. You’ll see three profiles at a time, but you can expand the view to see more.

How do customers use Google My Business? 

Google My business gives customers a variety of options for using the service. Most people use it to find local businesses and vendors that offer the products they need and check the hours of operation and contact information without going to its main website. Further information can be found on the website. GMB uses Google Maps to provide directions. Customers have the option to ask and answer questions about the business, make online reservations, and read and write reviews.

Do’s and Don’ts of Google My Business

  • Add your industry keyword to your business name 

Your business title in GMB doesn’t need to be your actual business name. While a business title should have your business’s name, you can tweak it a bit to add a keyword that people commonly search for related to your business, products or services. For example, a business named Max Stitch and Sew can also have a name like Max Tailoring or Max Stitch and Sew – Tailoring Shop. By including the most searched keyword into your business name, you ensure you’re found on the top when a potential customer searches for it. 

  • Add high resolution photographs

This is a great way to optimise your GMB listing and drive more traffic. According to Google, businesses with pictures get 42% more queries for services than those who do not put up any photos. Add pictures of your business premises, products or services to increase your GMB click through. 

  • BTS builds trust  

An image or two of your staff and the behind-the-scenes shots of your work adds further credibility to your online business image. You can also put up happy customers’ images with your staff, showcasing that you celebrate your work and value the people who come to you. 

  • Add a finishing touch to your GMB profile 

It’s important to keep your GMB profile accurate and up-to-date. Complete every one of the primary fields on GMB resources, including business name, phone number, working hours, variable working hours for weekends or curfews, questions and replies, and photographs.

  • Pull in potential customers 

After you complete the essential data for your GMB listing, it will be easier to draw in new customers. Potential customers will also be better educated about your business and can settle on better choices. To garner more reviews on your GMB listing, you can provide discounts to customers who show the code mentioned on your GMB profile. Posting regular updates will assist with drawing in new clients and enhance your web presence; however, ensure that the customer isn’t disappointed with your service or staff attitude. 

  • Acquire GMB reviews

Google My Business reviews are an essential positioning element, especially if you’re targeting your area with Google’s local 3-pack. Businesses with good reviews will quickly gain the trust of potential customers. To get reviews, ask customers to leave reviews online or give them incentives, like discounts, to provide a review. 

  • Complying with terms and conditions 

Google My Business is about commitment, which implies posting photographs, answering questions, and clarifying your services. Set up a frequently asked questions segment where leads can learn the necessary information about your business and choose if you’re the right fit for them. 

DON’Ts

  • Ignore negative reviews. 

Some negative reviews are inevitable and each negative review has the power to impact your business. It’s important to always respond to negative reviews in a timely and polite way. Try to rectify the situation and use it as an opportunity to turn an unhappy customer into a happy one. 

  • Misrepresent your business 

Ensure that all your business information and images are correct, up to date and legitimate. Trying to present your business in an unrealistic light may seem like a good strategy for bringing in the customers, but it’s a bad idea. Give potential customers an honest and transparent view of your business and your products/services so they know exactly what to expect.  

  • Try to use unacceptable pictures 

Small and medium businesses often fall prey to notorious customers who upload unacceptable pictures, which may show up as your photos on the GMB listing. If you have a person looking after your online reputation, ensure you’re removing unwanted images to maintain the credibility of your business. 

  • Forget to update the facts and Information

This is a typical issue that can be baffling for potential clients. Set the preference to change and update your business’s facts and figures regularly to avoid any misunderstanding. 

With great power comes great responsibility. Optimising your GMB listing and ranking on top of SERPs may make you feel like you’re on top of the world; however, maintaining consistency with a sea of competitors is difficult. You don’t have to be on Google My Business the whole day and address client queries; an hour or two should be enough. However, dedicate some time to your online reputation and quality of service as well. In no time, your business will come out with flying colours. Learn more about how business owners can do themselves to promote their Business Online.

 

Muhammad Asad

Muhammad Asad

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