Google My Business lets you register and get your business listed in Google’s local search results.

What’s Google My Business?

And why it’s so important

Google My Business 101

As a business owner, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the multitude of different platforms and it is difficult to know where to spend your time.

Well here is something you need to know: If you are running a business with an address and want to grow your business, you MUST have a Google My Business account.

Google My Business 101

Why is Google My Business (GMB) so important?

In this webpage, we’ll show you why Google My Business is so important, how you can use it to grow your business, and how to easily set it up in 7 easy steps.

What is Google my Business?

Simply put, Google My Business lets you register and get your business listed in Google’s local search results.

Registering for GMB makes it a lot easier for customers to find out about your company, get information about it, and get in touch.

Sure, most of this information is also available on your website, but not everyone wants to visit your website. Some users prefer to stick with Google, and registering your business with GMB is a great way to increase engagement with these customers.

Registering for GMB makes it a lot easier for customers to find out about your company, get information about it, and get in touch.

Why is Google My Business so powerful?

Here are some of the reasons why Google My Business is so important to business owners

It’s free

Google My Business is free, and we expect it to remain a 100% free resource.

This alone is a great incentive for business owners. GMB will not only help your business, but also at no cost to you.

This fact alone makes registering your company with GMB a breeze.

It’s better for user experience

Google’s intentions with GMB are undeniable. They want their users to stay away from Google and your website.

But love it or hate it, GMB is a great user experience for people who search on Google, and therefore it helps generate leads and engagement.

Speaking of which…

GMB can help generate leads

Because of GMB’s amazing user experience, it will absolutely increase your leads.

This is because Google My Business is directly linked to Google Search and local business results. This means if you own a Thai restaurant and someone is looking for Thai food near me, your business will show up.

This is easily the most important aspect of Google My Business and that is why having good reviews is so important. The better your ratings, the better you will appear in the local search rankings, the more leads you will generate.

GMB can help with local SEO

Although it should be obvious, it is no longer debatable. Google has officially announced that better ratings for your company mean higher rankings for your company.

This means that by placing your business on GMB you will open yourself to more great reviews, which in turn will generate more traffic.

If you want to be number 1 in local SEO searches, you have no choice but to register your business with Google My Business.

Access to insightful analytics

The data you can access on GMB can be very powerful. Some examples include:

  • Total interaction rates of your GMB profile
  • What searches your customers use to find your business
  • Your total number of views of your profile, photos and posts
  • General information about your audience
  • How many actions GMB has given you (calls, clicks and other inquiries)
Google My Business - Access to insightful analytics

How to set up Google My Business

Setting up your GMB account is painless and only takes a few minutes. How to start

Step #1 - Go to the Google My Business creation page

Simply follow this link and enter your company name when prompted.

This will show you whether or not you already have a GMB listing. If you don’t, you can move on to the next step.

Step #2 - Add your business name

Keep this simple – don’t try to populate any keywords. Simply enter your company name as you want it to appear to your audience.

Step #3 - Select your company category

Enter a keyword that best fits your business and a drop-down menu will appear. Try to pick the keyword or category

Step #4 - Add your location

Be sure to include your physical address in full so that your customers can easily find your business.

Step #5 - Choose where your business operates

Some types of businesses (like a hair salon or auto repair shop) are limited to one area. Other types of businesses (such as a restaurant that delivers) can cater to a wider range of customers. Make sure you provide this information.

Step #6 - Add your contact information

The company that offers rewards or lottery is far more successful on Google.

This information is required. Either a home phone number or a business phone number is sufficient.

Step #7 - Verify your business

The last (but most important) step is to validate your company. You will not be able to use GMB until this step is complete.

The recommended route is also the fastest – a quick phone call. In the situation that you don’t want to make a call, there are other verification options like sending a letter, email verification, or video chat info.

Final thoughts

If you need help setting up your GMB or SEO in general, contact us at info@yellowdigital.uk today.

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