Firstly you might be wondering, what is Google My Business?
Google My Business is a free tool for business owners to manage their online presence across the Google suite of websites, including Google Search, Mobile Search, Local Search and Google Maps. It allows you to create, verify and edit a business listing in Google without needing to do any extra work to your website or to implement a search engine optimisation strategy.
Why you need a Google My Business account
- Google My Business makes it easier for customers to find your physical location.
- Creating a Google My Business account can drastically increase your search visibility.
- Google My Business lets you display useful information and makes it easy for your customers to leave reviews.
- A Google my Business account is completely FREE
How to set up a Google My Business account
Step 1 – Simply sign-in to Google My Business
Step 2 – Add your business name and hit NEXT
Step 3 – Choose the category that fits your business best and hit NEXT
Step 4 – Edit whether you would like to show up on Google Maps and hit NEXT
Step 5 – Add your address and hit NEXT
Step 6 – Advise if you also serve customers outside of this location. Choose the category that fits your business best and hit NEXT
OPTIONAL – Add the other areas you serve
STEP 7 – Add your business contact details to show customers and hit NEXT
STEP 8 – Finish and manage this listing hit FINISH
STEP 9 – Select how you would like to verify your business
NOW YOU’VE DONE THE BASICS!
To make sure your Google listing is effective, it’s important you put in as much information as possible.
From your Google My Business dashboard, you will have a variety of options to explore. I’d suggest going through each area and making sure you have compiled as much information as possible.
Ensure you have:
Verified your business as soon as you receive notification from Google.
Under INFO – Add your operating hours, appointment links, products, services, highlights, business description and photos!
TIP – Consistently adding photos and getting customers to add photos helps improve your listing.
Get as many reviews as you can. Google reviews are one of the BEST ways to improve your Google ranking and your Google My Business profile is more likely to show higher on the map listing the more reviews you have.
My advice is to set up your profile and add as much information as possible and then have a strong focus and strategy on how you will increase your customer reviews!
Tip – In your business description focus on including some of your key search terms!
If you have any questions, or need a hand setting up your Google My Business listing give us a call at Digital Marketing Cairns, we set-up and manage Google My Business listings.
