What Is Google My Business and Do I Need It?
Susie Liberatore
??Franchise Marketing Agency ??Franchise Marketing Software Creator?? Software Development ??Business Strategist
Let's talk about Google My Business. It is an essential factor for every business. It doesn't matter if you have a physical location or not. 46% of all Google searches are looking for local information. Google My Business should be used in everyone's business, even if you're in e-commerce.
I use a Google My Business page, and we don't technically have a location on our page. With Google My Business, you don't have to use the location feature to use all the other elements. A Google search typically consists of the website, directions, reviews to help prospective clients searches. When your Google My Business pops up, it provides helpful information.?
SHOW THEM REVIEWS!
Showing up with reviews online is so important. Before purchasing from any company, I always go to a Google My Business page and look at their reviews. You can have reviews turned on or off, and you can reply to those as well; responding to reviews is a great way to engage with your audience.
INFORMATION
Another helpful feature is the way information is broken down and presented. You can look at the number of views on your profile, posts, what people are searching for, website clicks, phone calls, and directions.? Going deeper into your insights, you can see how many people viewed total for that month and for that week. There's so much that you can see on the back end. It is essential to have the correct information on the info page. Check locations, services, hours of operation, special days that you're closed, your website, appointment links, products, and photos.?
SERVICES
POSTS
My favorite thing about Google My Business is the posts section. You want to post similar stuff to what you post on social media, but also be sure to always include a call to action. We are able to see if people are viewing it and clicking it. You can also add a promotion or sales offer. If you are e-commerce, you can also add your product under posts.?
领英推荐
It's the same idea where we can use e-commerce to our advantage on Google My Business, even though you might not have a specific location or want somebody to come to that location. You can hide any location on Google My Business. I want to make sure that's loud and clear because I've had people tell me before “I couldn't have a Google My Business page without having a location.”?
PHOTOS?
Posting images can be so powerful. If you go to the sidebar, there are additional photo tabs. Make sure you always switch pictures, at least three to four photos a month, this can help keep content fresh on Google. It is important to understand the science behind why specific images worked, it will show up fresh and new in Google's eyes if you keep posting and adding new photos.?
Google My Business in a quick, easy summary is just another way to reach your audience, whether it's SEO or if it's just for visibility and local awareness. There are so many significant factors to it, and I highly recommend every single business has it.?
Susie Liberatore is the owner, and Art Director, of Visions2images Creative Services. She helps established businesses grow their brand awareness by using digital marketing and professional branding techniques. With over a decade of agency and corporate experience, she brings businesses' visions to life, while watching their return on investment increase.
Susie helps businesses grow their brand presence and connect with their target audience.