If you’re running a business, you’ll know that your online presence is a greater imperative now than it ever has been. Most people rely on their smartphones to help them find goods and services. When your name doesn’t feature in an online search, you’re losing out on potential income.
Enter Google My Business, the ideal tool to get your business noticed. But what is it, and how does it work?
Google My Business explained
Google My Business is a free tool offered by Google that allows you to register your business in an online directory. It works across different Google sites, including Google Search, Mobile or Local Search, and Google Maps.
When you start using Google My Business, you need to create a business listing on Google. After that, you complete a verification process, and you can edit the profile when necessary.
To make the most of Google My Business, you need to complete the listing in as much detail as possible. This includes contact numbers, operating hours, and a link to your website. With Google My Business, you’re making your company more accessible to the broader public.
The benefits of Google My Business
One of your primary concerns should be the business description. Here, you can use SEO keywords to help people find your business. To know which keywords to use, roofer marketing companies are listed on seoforgrowth.com and offer expert advice and assistance.
To take advantage of the use of local SEO, Google My Business becomes a powerful tool. Using it allows your business listing to feature in a local search result or a search that includes the phrase ‘near me.’
Taking advantage of such services has allowed rainscaperoofing.com to feature more prominently in a Google search of ‘roofing contractor in Kansas City’ than it did before.
Why is Google My Business valuable?
While it’s your goal to get your business included in a list of search results when you use Google My Business, your aim should be more specific. If you type in a search phrase and the results come up, you’ll notice the ‘three-pack’ that appears first. That’s where you want to feature.
If you don’t place in that top three, the user has to tap on ‘more places’ to find you. Think of your search behavior: how often do you go as far as looking for more places after seeing the top three.
Google My Business and your customers
The rankings in Google My Business hinge on several factors that the algorithm is programmed to look for in the database. The obvious ones include distance and relevance to the search. Business prominence refers to how much Google knows about your business. This is where your website and the content you post become so critical.
Something not many people may know is that the reviews your business receives can also impact how Google determines which businesses will feature in the top three. The ratings appear prominently on the top three displays.
What is the Google promise? To deliver search results in seconds and give you access to the best, most accurate information. People wouldn’t rely on Google if it recommended businesses that have multiple poor review ratings.
Make sure that you give your customers the chance to rate your business. You should make the experience of doing so as simple as possible. When leaving a review is a complicated process, the client is likely to abandon it. You should also prompt a review as soon after a sale as possible, while the experience is still fresh in the customer’s mind.