Blog Google My Business Importance: Should Your Business be Using A GMB?
The tides of marketing are constantly shifting, especially in the digital era that we have entered. If you are a business owner, learning any cost-effective advertisement methods possible can only translate to further success. Out of every free and low-cost advertising platform out there, few can match the benefit of Google My Business for storefront businesses.
What Is Google My Business?
Google My Business is one of the most beneficial listings that you can create for your business. As the world’s largest search engine, Google has more reach than any other engine and they have also developed a convenient platform to list your businesses attributes (your GMB), making it a centralized source of information that can be used to display your services to customers. When customers search for a product or service on Google, relevant businesses with a GMB will appear. Businesses are then listed and displayed in a map version with the order of listings depending on their relevance (according to Google). Essentially, the GMB will serve as a free listing that shows your business profile to people searching for your product or service.
How To Appear At The Top
The initial setup of your Google My Business is the easy part, now it’s time to ensure that customers see your profile. To do this, you must appear to be more relevant to the search term than other businesses in the area. Some Factors that can increase your Google listing position are:
Having a Physical Location
One of the most advantageous pieces of information to add is your business address. Google typically gives businesses with a physical address priority when it comes to their search position. It is possible to rank without an address, but adding a physical location to your business will surely speed up the process.
Add Products & Services
Many businesses neglect to add any products and services that are offered to their GMB. At a minimum, services should be listed but for the best effects, you should add descriptions, pricing, and any additional information possible.
Posting
Providing updates to your customers on the business GMB shows activity and gives customers something to click. Not only are you “showing face”, but you’re also giving customers additional information, and that’s what Google looks for.
Provide Photos
Pictures receive views and that’s exactly what you want. Your customers want context when they are looking at your profile, and a portfolio of pictures related to your business will showcase your professionalism, cleanliness, and give a visual introduction that puts viewers more at ease.
Linking Your Website
Google pulls information from your website to calculate the relevance of your business. That means if you have a site, it needs to be linked to the GMB. This will let Google link any SEO efforts on your site to the account, boosting your search rankings.
Keep Info Relevant
Google My Business accounts are constantly monitored to ensure accurate information is being used. If you are posting false or irrelevant information to your GMB, there’s a good chance that it will be suspended. This is a large risk to take, as suspensions are rarely lifted and your business profile will essentially be deactivated. Make sure that everything from the services listed to reviews posted are legitimate, relevant, and match whatever your website says.
Summary
Regardless of your current marketing strategy, setting up or taking ownership of your Google my Business will be advantageous to your company’s traffic and sales. The worst that can happen is you end up lost in the search results or you may end up with substantial traffic growth. Keeping all of your information accurate and up-to-date while expanding on each service using your business’s website will be an effective way to start appearing for relevant terms.
GMB Management Service
While setting up your GMB and adding some info is a great way to start advertising on Google, working with an SEO specialist can amplify your results. Our Google my Business management handles everything to keep your profile active, accurate, and engaging. We analyze your local competition and enhance your site content to effectively generate traffic. Whether you are a small business who is looking to start marketing or a growing company with several locations, our GMB management can help you reach customers more effectively.
