How to Create a Google My Business Listing

If you’re running a business that relies heavily on local traffic, it’s essential that people can find you easily online. Research indicates that 86% of consumers rely on the internet to find local businesses. Therefore, it makes sense to be visible to potential customers. Not to mention that 72% of those consumers visit the local store they find within 5 minutes. 

Google My Business makes it easy for customers to find you online, especially when they’re searching for a particular type of store in a local area. The best thing is, it’s simple to set up and start reaping the benefits. Read on to find out how your business can benefit from Google My Business.

What is Google My Business?

When people talk about local SEO, it means marketing yourself to rank well on Google searches for local business. Google My Business (GMB) is the free tool that businesses use to ensure they can be found when people search for certain business types in a local area. For example, if you run an Italian restaurant in Brisbane and someone in Brisbane searches for ‘restaurants near me’, a GMB listing allows you to show up on their search results. 

It’s not just about showing up though – it’s about the information you include in that listing. When done properly, you can make sure your GMB listing stands out from the crowd and drives more traffic to your website and your brick-and-mortar shopfront.

How to Create a Google My Business Listing

Obtaining a GMB listing is pretty easy, which makes it all the more essential that you start using yours today.

Step 1: Login. If you don’t already have a Google account, you’ll need to create one. If you’ve already got one, go to https://www.google.com/intl/en_au/business/ and log in.

Step 2: Fill in your details. This is pretty user-friendly, and the website steps you through the required information. This includes items such as business name, business category and contact details. You can even specify whether you deliver goods – GMB will show customers your delivery area.

Step 3: Verify your business. You can do this a number of ways. Slower ways to verify include by postcard and mail. You can also perform verification by email or phone. You’ll just need a texted or emailed code. If you’ve already signed up to Google Search Console and verified your business there, you may be able to do an instant verification. *Note: If you have multiple business locations, there is an option to perform a bulk verification for all of your sites.

It’s as simple as that! You just need to follow the easy step-by-step process. Once you’re registered, the next step is to optimise your listing for best results.

Optimise Your Profile for SEO

Once you’ve got your GMB listing up and running, the next step is to get it optimised. This means including as much information as possible to make your business attractive to the user. Never has this been more important than right now, with the massive increase in mobile search users. In fact, a whopping 78% of mobile local searches result in an in-store purchase, so you want to make sure your listing is the most appealing of the bunch.

Google My Business makes it incredibly easy for a business to create a listing which is packed with information. All you need to do is head to the dashboard and start filling out your info. Here’s where you really get out what you put in because the more info you include, the better your listing looks. Some of the basic information you can include is:

• Hours
• Phone Number
• Physical Address
• Website
• Menu (Link)

Of all this information, your location is the most important, as it allows your business to be shown on a map amongst other similar businesses in your area.

Google My Business Reviews

In a world where people’s buying choices are so heavily influenced by the experience of others, reviews are integral to your online success. GMB displays your average star rating based on Google reviews from your customers, and also allows users to easily click and read your reviews. 

While providing a good customer experience is squarely in your hands, we can recommend you make an effort to respond to all reviews. Almost two thirds (64%) of customers are more likely to trust a brand who interact positively with customers on social media, and this principle also applies to reviews. You can also get creative and use social media to entice satisfied customers to leave a favourable review on Google.

Photos and Videos

People are more likely to click on a listing with photos, mainly because it gives your business a professional edge. Remember, that’s the goal here – making your listing stand out from the crowd and attract customers through your door, so you can do that with photos and videos.

The cover photo is the first one users will see, so you want it to be appealing. It could be a bright, bold logo, or a classy picture of the inside of your business. Try to stay away from street-view photos unless they are extremely clear and your shopfront stands out. Often these can appear messy.

You can also add a profile photo, and this is used to identify you when posting photos or reply to reviews. This is more like an avatar, so your logo works really well as a profile photo.

Videos are also a great way to introduce your business to the world. If you’ve ever made a commercial, or you know someone who can help you make a short promotional video for your business, these can be a great way to make your listing stand out from the crowd.

Need Expert Help Setting up your Google My Business Listing?

Call out if you need help! For assistance with Google My Business and all other aspects of SEO, BDM Media are the experts to call. Our dedicated team works to boost your online presence and give you more exposure. The aim of the game is to drive more traffic to your site and increase conversions, and it’s our business to help you succeed. Contact BDM Media today to see how we can help to grow your business today. https://www.bdmmedia.com.au/create-google-business-listing/