This helps consumers to find the business near them and it also helps the businesses to increase its awareness among all the users of google my listing. So, Google my business is a free tool that helps all businesses to manage their online visibility by sharing their information with potential customers. Its functions include the combination of online databases and social media. It is essential for businesses to create their account and provide all the necessary information. they can publish posts and these remain for 7 days and after that, they get automatically deleted. Just like social media, they can upload photos of their businesses and consumers can share their experience on their website.
You can enhance your online presence, for this, you have to add and verify your business information so that people can find you online. You can also increase your SEO through google my business. Your GMB listing makes it easy for customers to find your website, phone no, mail address at no cost.
Why is it important to have Google My Business Profile
It is essential to have to google my business account because it enables you to have a maximum online presence. You can maintain immediate credibility with potential customers because your website is shown on google maps and google search and people have a tendency to trust on google. It gives you the opportunity to make your listing interactive so you can engage more with the customers. you also learn if your customer chose you or your competitor and can analyze why and make improvements to your business. It provides you with numerous opportunities to do your best and show how much creativeness you can add to your business. it helps you to improve organic traffic to your website and facilitate you to reach customers around the world.
The distinction between Google My listing and Google Maps
The biggest factor that makes google my business different from google maps is that Google my listing is for business owners and google maps is used by general customers. Business owners need to create google my business account to appear in the search results. They can also use tools to get greater access to gain customers’ insights. Customers simply use google maps and search to explore the businesses around them. They don’t have to create a business listing account.
BENEFITS OF GOOGLE MY BUSINESS
It is absolutely free
Google my Business is free to use. You need to add your business information in front of your targeted customers online. Whenever customers search for you online, your business appears. It is absolutely free and every business can use this tool for their benefit,
Helps you to list in Google Maps
Google my business help you to appear you on the google map whenever customers try to look for you. It is very helpful for a local business because customers prefer those businesses which are near their location. A lot of businesses appear when customers browse, if your business is near to customers, then you are actually cutting down your competition. This will increase more chances that customers will pay you a visit. You can improve your ranking by building location authority.
More Opportunities to engage with customers
Google my business provides you numerous opportunities to engage with the customers. One of the most effective ways is to upload visuals like images or videos. You can upload images of your surroundings that depict the location, your employees, your CEO, any event, etc. When customers see so many pictures of your business then they gain trust and confidence in your business. You can also grab customers’ attention by offering various discounts.
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Customers reviews
GMB allows customers to post reviews. Positive reviews can help your business a lot because it creates an impact on other potential customers. When other people see previous customers have posted good reviews on your business then they will get influenced and would want to give a try to your business. You should make sure that your business renders good services to customers. Existing customers will come again and new customers will visit too.
Can create First Impression of your business
The photos and videos you upload are actually the first impressions of your business that customers get. By uploading some great visuals of your business, it will create a good impression. You can allure a lot of customers to your business.
Convenience in managing your business
You can provide all the information about your businesses to targeted customers. This is done with the help of my Google Listing. You can monitor the activities of your business.
Help in driving traffic
One of the major challenges that local businesses face is that they are unable to maintain traffic. You cannot completely eliminate the obstructing factors, but with the help of Google My Business listing, you can easily boost your traffic. It has been observed that if your business comes up in the local searches then your business will see a boost in visits and more the leads.
Gain trust from the potential customers
To gain trust of the potential customers is still the biggest problem. Customers don’t trust easily in the local business. It is the inherent trait that customers trust google more. If your website is listed in google my business so automatically you are going to get customers who already have gained some trust in you.
Help you gain customer insights
You can get to know about your customer insights with the help of your GMB listing. It focuses on how customers discover you on google search and Maps, and what is their activities after that. you can get various information like how many views your listing had. From where visitors find your listings. What are the actions of your customers after seeing you on your listings? And what are the customers interact with your website?
Your google profile gets completed
Google provides you with many opportunities in digital marketing for your business. So, by creating your google my business account, you are able to complete your online profile. You also get access to Google Maps, Google AdWords, Google Analytics, etc.
Helps in online Marketing
With Google my list you are able to get access to some amazing tools. By using such tools your website is able to rank and you can improve your brand. It also enables you to update your business with the new trends taking place. Google is frequently upgrading and brings new features for its users. It also helps all types of businesses to increase the sales and increasing the online awareness of your brand. So, it is very essential for your businesses to increase your online presence. If you want to reach more people then you need to start by registering with google my business account.
Helps in updating your business
As you expand or diversify your business or make certain changes, then you would be able to keep your customers informed about the update through the GMB listing.
You can keep your customers informed about certain changes such as phone numbers, addresses, websites, and social media. So if you want to change your business location or if you change your business number, then you can update that too in google.
who are eligible to create google my business account
Businesses with physical location
Businesses with physical location mean they are located physically so that consumers can visit there. It also means that there must be face to face interaction with the customers. they can be malls, stores, saloons, schools, colleges, etc that are physically present.
Professional business
If you are a doctor, lawyers, consultant, etc then you fall under this category. You need to have a physical office for this. Real estate agents are the exception who can have virtual offices instead of physical ones.
Providing indoor services
Businesses which provide the indoor facility to the customers can make their account. You can create an account that helps customers to find you and deliver your services at their homes. Servicemen fall under this category like mechanics, electronics repairer, plumber, etc. You can have an office at the physical location where your employees operate at the office timings.
Which type of the business is not allowed to have my listing account
Ecommerce business
Businesses that deal with the customers online do not have to create my listing account. They sell the products online and there is no physical interaction at all. So, such businesses are not eligible to make my listing account.
Business having virtual office
If you have a virtual office, then you miss the opportunity for creating my listing account. There is no physical interaction with the customers. Your account cannot be verified until and unless your office has an address.
Co-working spaces
Naturally, Google also doesn’t allow coworking space to create my listing account but if you meet all the google requirements then you can take its benefit. Some requirements are you need to be present at your office in the working hours, You must list your office phone number so that customers get in touch with you.
Meetups
If you organize meetups of your clients with the customers and you don’t have a physical location then you cant create this account. Even if you have face to face interaction with the customers, you are not eligible if you don’t own your business space.
HOW TO CREATE YOUR GOOGLE MY BUSINESS ACCOUNT
To create google my business account, you should first sign in to google my business account
Then choose the category of your business and then click on more information.
Then you must write a description of your business and enter your address on it. After these steps then verify your business.
One of the easiest ways to verify your account is by mail. You will receive your mail at your business address which you may have entered while making your account. Through this Google is able to verify only those business which provides authenticate information. Hence, Google my business is also able to maintain its importance as a reliable source.
The process of verification takes less than a week and you will get a verification postcard, you will enter this code, and then your business becomes official.
How you can optimize your Google My Business Listing
It is important to publish all your data on the google listing. Don’t think that people will guess on their own. Make sure the business includes all the information which will be needed by potential customers. Include all the detailed information and what your business offer. You should add popular and relevant keywords for your business. This is very essential because when people will search using a keyword or a phrase then your business will appear on the list. Keep the information about your business hours accurate and update it whenever your working hours change on the occasion of any event or festival. Customers should not get confused.
Add multiple photos
You should add multiple photos of your business. Customers get attracted to the visuals you upload. You can add cover photos, logo image, and additional photos. The photos should be of good quality and high resolution. You should not edit any image you post and should put only the real image. You should add such images that wonderfully display your business.
Encourage your customers to leave a review
Customers always look for reviews before visiting a business. You should always respond to your customer’s reviews. Positive reviews have good impressions on potential customers while negative reviews can be problematic for you. Whenever customers leave positive feedback, you should respond by adding sugar-coated lines and show your gratitude. When a customer leaves a negative review, you can ask them their problem and offer them help. This shows how much you value your customers and your activeness in business.
Monitor your business insights
You can constantly monitor your google my business insights. You can understand how consumers interact with you. Can find out how consumers find your business. For example, Did they directly search about your business name or did they get to know about your business when they were searching for a particular category and your business appearing in the list?
You can also check the number of views you get from Google search and google map.
You can also monitor what were the customer’s actions when they see your list. Whether they see photos, or they call, ask for directions, or visit their website.
CONCLUSION
Google My Business is a free and user-friendly tool. You can manage your online presence by listing your website. Can purchase the premium version which is affordable for all businesses. You can engage more with the customers with the help of posts and reviews. You can monitor your online performance. Customers can also get to know the products and services offered by the firm. They don’t have to go anywhere for the information. They can make their decision real quick and it will save their time.
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