Among the myriad of online digital marketing platforms and tools available, Google My Business (GMB) stands out as a powerful platform for enhancing visibility, attracting customers and boosting credibility.
With over 8.5 billion searches made on Google every day, optimizing your GMB profile can significantly impact your business’s success. But why does it even matter?
In a mostly pay-to-play digital world, Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool provided by Google that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google Search and Maps. By creating and optimizing your GMB profile, you can ensure that your business appears prominently when potential customers search for relevant products or services in your area.
And you can easily do this yourself, with information and resources you probably already have available.
Here are some simple tips to help you optimize your profile today:
- Claim and Verify Your Listing: If you haven’t already done so, claim your business listing on GMB and verify that you’re the rightful owner. This process typically involves receiving a postcard or phone call from Google with a verification code.
- Complete Your Profile: Ensure that all relevant information about your business is provided accurately and comprehensively. This includes your business name, address, phone number (NAP), website URL, business hours and category.
- Add High-Quality Photos: Visual content plays a significant role in attracting customers. Upload high-quality photos of your business, including your storefront, interior, products and team members. Images that showcase your brand’s personality and professionalism are particularly effective.
- Encourage Customer Reviews: Positive reviews not only boost your credibility but also influence potential customers’ purchasing decisions. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on your GMB profile and promptly respond to any feedback, whether positive or negative.
- Utilize Posts: Take advantage of the Posts feature on GMB to share updates, promotions, events and other relevant content with your audience. Posts appear directly in your business listing and can help increase engagement and drive traffic to your website.
- Monitor Insights: GMB provides valuable insights into how customers find and interact with your business online. Monitor these metrics regularly to gain insights into your audience’s behaviour and refine your marketing strategies accordingly.
- Stay Active and Responsive: Regularly update your GMB profile with accurate information and engage with your audience by responding to reviews, messages, and questions promptly. This demonstrates your commitment to customer satisfaction and enhances your reputation.
These tips aren’t anything groundbreaking when it comes to creating and maintaining content, but putting in even a little effort to monitor and update your profile can positively enhance your business’s presence on Google Search and Maps, build trust with your audience and ultimately drive more traffic and sales.
Want to learn more about how to take control of your online presence? That’s where we come in! Get in touch to learn about our digital services and how our marketing experts can create a comprehensive strategy for your business.