Have you ever found yourself typing something local into the search bar and wonder how all of those hotels, restaurants, retail stores, and more get their name to pop up?
Before you even finish typing nail salon into the search bar, Google is already offering up a dozen options nearby and reviews for another dozen full the page.
So what exactly does Google know that you don’t? The obvious answer is everything.
But there are steps you need to take as a business owner to harness this power of Google and make it work for your business.
The average business is found in 1,009 searches per month. Visibility on Google as a local business has never been more important for sustained growth and success. In fact, according to SEM Rush, it has been reported that 46% of all Google searches are looking for local information and that 4 in 5 consumers use search engines to find local information.
Did you know that you have the power to control what shows up about your business, how often your business shows up and so much more?
With Power, Comes Responsibility
Your mission as a business owner is to make Google love you. The better your relationship is with Google, meaning the more information you feed it and the more frequently you pay attention to it, the better it will work for you.
And your ultimate goal should be to land in the top spot every time someone in your area searches for your industry, your name, or even a word in your name or the service you provide. It’s not enough to be included in the search- you need to always be striving for the top spot.
Because let’s be honest here, if you aren’t that means one of your competitors is.
What is a Google My Business Page?
Business Profiles have replaced Google Places for Business, Google Listings, and Google+ Business Pages. Your Business Profile is a free tool that allows you to take charge of the way your business appears on both Google Search and Maps. When you set up your account you are essentially claiming ownership of your business online and only you can provide the key information about your business from that point forward.
The business page can display important information about your business, including the opening/closing times, contact details, or a link to your website.
The listing is free and it’s necessary for all types of businesses. If your business is an online business and you don’t have a physical shop, you should still consider having a Google My Business page.
Yes, you can have a profile if your business doesn’t have a physical address as long as you make in-person contact with customers. You may also have a profile if you’re a service-area business that visits or delivers to customers directly.
Now that you know what Google My Business Profile is, it’s time to understand why you need it.
Keep reading for my top 5 reasons you need a Google business profile for your business.
1. Get Visible
The number one and most obvious reason is that a google business profile makes your business more visible. As the business owner, it’s your job to ensure that customers can find information as easily and as quickly as possible.
Google makes it easy by integrating multiple features into one place.
Your business page can include where you are located, the hours you are open, who you serve, what services you provide, photos, reviews, and more.
No need to send potential customers to your website because the key info will show up in the most basic of Google searches if you are doing it right.
2. Improve SEO
Reason number two that your google profile is absolutely necessary is because creating your profile online improves your SEO. SEO stands for search engine optimization.
And since Google is the most powerful search engine, the use of keywords in your profile and on your websites is critical in telling google where to place you in searches.
SEO is all about planting the keywords so Google can find them and pull your listing front and center. They actually don’t have to be just words but phrases too.
If you aren’t sure what some keywords might be for your specific business, you can do a quick google search yourself. Type one of your ideas into the search bar and see what shows up as suggested searches. This tells you exactly what other people are actively searching for that might also work for you. The same can be done on Pinterest.
Pinterest is another search engine so type a few words into the search bar and see what pops up as recommended.
3. Leverage Reviews
My third reason you need a google business profile is that this platform is the easiest way to leverage reviews. According to Google, 90% of people read reviews before purchasing.
It feels risky allowing ratings and reviews but it’s necessary. You want to encourage your customers to become raving fans and to use google to share their experiences with others.
When you collect a review, you can interact with the individual on your profile. If they left a positive review you can say thanks and then pull their exact words to use on social media or as a testimonial on your website.
If they left something less than desirable, you can interact with their post to get more information and to ensure potential customers that the issue is being addressed.
4. Data Insights
The fourth reason to claim your listing with Google business is for the insights. Google My Business can help you gain insights into your business that you cannot get through other platforms — they can help you make strategic decisions.
These insights include: The number of views your profile, photos, and posts receives, the different search queries which people are using to find your business, the profile of your audience, and the number of website clicks, phone calls, and direction queries.
Even if you already have the google analytics tool connected to your website, the more information the better.
Google analytics works based on the visitors to your site but the Google My Business tool starts collecting based on where you rank in search. Ideally, one leads to the other but the insights will tell you exactly what action was taken by a customer or potential customer looking for the service you provide in your area.
5. It’s Free
My fifth and final reason is the true no-brainer in all of this. It’s free.
The Google Business Profile is free to set up and use. It’s possible you already have taken this step for your business because you knew it was important even if you didn’t exactly know what you were doing or why.
It will take just a few minutes of your time to create your business page. You will need to know some basic information like your business name and address but it’s a very intuitive process. Once you set up your profile and it is verified, the amount of time and energy you spend on it beyond the initial setup is up to you.
It is my hope that will not only want to set up your profile but make Google My Business a significant part of your marketing strategy.
You will spend a little bit of time with the SEO, securing reviews, and learning from the insights to really leverage this tool for max impact.
There are many great resources available on this topic. Just a few minutes of your time on the initial setup is guaranteed to deliver results. Click here to get started.
