If you need local customers to keep your company going, you probably know why you should optimize your Google My Business listing. Still, even if you don’t — you’re at the right place to learn about it.
In essence, GMB listings are the core of any local search. When users type in a query and specify the location, these listings will be the first thing they’ll see. So, it’s a free tool from Google that allows you to make your business more visible on search engines. Moreover, it’ll help you measure the success of your local SEO campaign and bring you more customers.
Of course, to get the most out of it, you’ll have to do a bit more than just set it up and wait for the magic to happen. You’ll have to optimize your listing and give search engines a reason to show it. We’ll teach you how to do just that, but first, let’s see what Google My Business listings are.
What Is a Google My Business Listing?
As we mentioned, GMB is free for any company to set up, but it won’t replace your website. You can consider it addition that will help you boost your visibility on a local level. Now, if you can be found on Google Maps already, chances are that you have your GMB listing, and you may only need to claim it.
As soon as you register for any other Google service, the Google Business Profile listing is created on its own. A quick search will reveal if it’s there or not, and if it is, you can claim it and manage the displayed information. If someone else has claimed it before you, you’ll need to contact Google support and follow the steps to prove it’s your company in question.
Once you claim it, you’ll see that most information is either missing or incorrect. Hence, the first thing you should do is to make it right. Fill in all the blank boxes and replace any inaccurate info. You also want to connect your GMB with your website, and you’ll be glad to hear that the process is simple. Spend some time on it, and make sure you answer all the questions right. The more effort you put into it, the more benefits it will bring to your business.
Now, when all of that is clear, let’s talk about why you want to go through it. What can you gain from an accurate Google My Business listing?
6 Reasons Why You Should Optimize Your Google My Business Listing:
1. Show Your Company in the Best Light
GMB listings are a great way to make your business stand out from the crowd and highlight all the information you think is vital. As soon as they learn about your company, your potential customers will know when you’re open and how they can reach you.
You can take it a step further and make your business even more appealing by using integrated attributes and photos. Show them how your office looks and who the people working there are. Make it personal, and customers will come to you.
2. Pop Up on Google Maps
More and more people are searching for businesses or services near them on Google Maps. For example, it’s ideal if you need to find a butcher shop in your area. Not only will you get multiple choices, but also the routes to all of them. It’s convenient, and users love it for that.
Naturally, you want your local shop to be offered as an option here. More locals will become familiar with your company, and if you prove your worth to them, you’ll build customer loyalty. Still not sure why you should optimize your Google My Business listing?
3. Get a Better Position on the SERPs
You see, Google My Business is just another Google service. Therefore, if you play ball with their system and use it, they’ll like you more. And the more they like you, the more they’ll push your website and your company.
Your site will get a higher spot on the search engine result pages, and you’ll get more organic traffic, thanks to it. So, if you’re just starting with your SEO efforts, be sure not to skip this step.
4. Improve Your Credibility
A nice website and a fancy business card can go a long way in proving that your company is legit. And a GMB listing is another step in that journey. It lets your customers know that you’re genuine and that they have nothing to worry about if they work with you.
According to citation experts from AZ Citation Services, there’s nothing worse than being mysterious in your GMB listing. You want to offer your clients the path of least resistance, and you do that by giving them as much information as you can.
If they see your business hours, phone number, and address right away, it’s a sign to them that you’re serious and professional.
5. Get Reviews
While we’re on the subject of legitimacy, nothing can assure the people you’re the way to go better than recommendations from your old customers. However, accumulating reviews is a slippery slope.
People are more likely to leave a review if they’re unhappy with your services. So, you want to encourage your happy customers to share their experiences with the world. The better your rating is, the more attention you’ll get when people go over the results. It pays off to work on it, but don’t get ideas of manipulating them in any way. Google will quickly get on track with what’s happening, and you’ll end up penalized.
6. Get Valuable Insights
We all love using Google Analytics to get more data about how our websites are performing. Well, GMB has a similar tab called ”Insights”. Here are some of the things you’ll be able to learn from it:
- Where users find you – Maps or search
- How many people looked at your listing
- How many GMB visits lead people to your site
- What devices do people use to find you – desktop or mobile
- How many of them asked for directions
- How many of them called you from the app
Data is important in business, and the more of it you can collect, the better you can identify your audience. It allows you to make more informed decisions that will bring even more growth to your business.
Conclusion
And there you have it. From everything we talked about, it should be clear why you should optimize your Google My Business listing. It won’t take a lot of your time to set it up, and it can bring many benefits to your company. And on top of all that — it’s free. Why wouldn’t you give it a shot?
