With the Yellow Pages no longer being printed, we can all acknowledge the power of the internet. In the last century, we have seen a major shift towards digital information. But, not to be worried, if you can leverage the internet in your favor, it can be very beneficial to you and your small business! The internet makes your business easier to find and with resources such as Google My Business (GMB), you can attract the ideal customer – who you may not have been able to reach before the digital era!
Google My Business is a free tool created for small businesses to develop their online presence and attract the audience they truly want. Whether you are a law firm, yoga studio, or nail salon, Google wants to help your small business succeed by providing you with a GMB page.
What is a Google My Business Page?
Your GMB page is what appears in local search and map results in Google. It gives the user accurate information about your business such as: hours, address, business category, and reviews.
If Google recognizes that the user is searching for a local business or service, organic results will pop up with a map and a few local businesses at the top! These come before the pages and pages of websites below it. Meaning your website isn’t always going to be your first impression– It can be your GMB page. For many local businesses, searchers decide to become customers without ever visiting your business’s website!
What is the importance of having your own business listing?
Okay, so you understand what a GMB page is, but why should you spend so much time creating and optimizing it? We’ll go into some reasons here.
Helps your website rank better
Ideally, you want to show up as one of the top three businesses in the results page. By starting and optimizing your business listing, you are building a ranking in the top three.
Your business listing also shows up on a mobile device and Google Maps. With convenience being a big factor in 2020, many consumers use Google Maps to find a local business. Therefore, you have another way to showcase your business and bring in a new customer!
Engage with your audience
Your listing gives you a concrete way to connect with your audience. Within your business page, you can respond to reviews and answer questions. Additionally, by utilizing the posts section of your GMB page, you can give your customers insight into who you are and what you do.
Because all the information a customer needs is right in front of them– your listing gives them the option to connect with you. They can book an appointment or give you a call with one simple click. There is also a helpful feature called “Questions and Answers” which allows customers to ask you their own questions. After a question is asked, you will receive a notification to prompt you to answer!
Strengthen your local SEO
Perform local SEO tactics, like integrating relevant keywords, to generate high-quality traffic and conversions. Google has an algorithm that crawls and ranks your business in search results– keywords help Google understand what you’re about
Reviews increase appeal
Google also makes it easier for your customers to write reviews, by providing you with a URL you can share. The URL directs customers to leave reviews for your business in a quick and easy way. You can share this link on your website or emails. It is a good idea to share the link after a customer has just had a recent experience with your business, that way too much time hasn’t passed. Overall, Google wants your small business to succeed and start building reviews– that’s why they make it easy for you!
Google My Business reviews are also important because it will boost your SEO and rank you higher in Google search results. Google’s algorithm will pull keywords from your reviews (and replies) to give searchers what they are looking for. Not only that, but the more positive reviews you have, the more likely a potential customer will click on your business which continues to work in your favor.
Does this all seem too complicated?
There are many digital marketing agencies and companies that are willing to help your business grow and achieve the results you are looking for! Whether it’s criminal lawyer marketing or real estate marketing, there is someone who can help! Bottom line, don’t feel too overwhelmed and hire someone to help.
