If you’re a business owner, it’s essential to get your business on Google My Business(GMB) for free organic traffic. Google Maps is a great way to get your business in front of potential customers. When potential customers search for businesses on Google, your business will show up on the map.
Getting your business on GMB is easy and it’s free. You can either create a listing yourself or claim an existing listing.
What is GMB and why it’s important?
Google My Business(GMB) is an online marketing tool that helps businesses manage their online presence. This allows companies to control how they appear in search results, manage their reviews, and track their performance over time. Additionally, GMB provides insights into how customers are finding and interacting with your business online. This information can be used to improve your marketing strategy and online presence.
How to create a Local Google Business listing…
Google is the most popular search engine in the world, so it’s no surprise that many businesses want to have a listing on Google My Business (GMB). While it may seem daunting, creating a GMB listing is quite simple and only takes a few minutes. Here’s how to do it:
First, check to see if your business is already listed. Google can pull citation listings from other trusted business listing websites like YellowPages. Or other users could have suggested it themselves. If your business already exists, click the “Own this business?” link in the listing and follow the instructions.
If you can’t find an existing listing go to business.google.com and Follow the steps for creating your business listing. Enter your business name, address, and phone number. You will also be asked to choose a category for your business. Once you’ve entered all the required information, click “Continue.”
Next, you are prompted to verify your listing via phone or mail. Google will send you a verification code which you will need to enter to complete the process.
Optimizing your Google Business listing…
An optimized Google Business listing can mean the difference between a customer finding your business online and going to a competitor. Here are a few tips on how to optimize your listing:
- Make sure your business name, address, and phone number are accurate and match what is on your website and other directories.
- Include relevant categories that describe your business.
- Use keyword-rich descriptions to help customers find your business when they search online.
- Add photos and videos to give customers a virtual tour of your business.
- Use Google My Business Posts to promote special offers, events, or announcements.
- Encourage customers to leave reviews on your listing.
- Monitor and respond to reviews to show that you value customer feedback.
- Enable chat so customers can contact you and respond to customers in a timely fashion.
Tips for getting more views on your Business Listing
Doing research on which categories and keywords are searched more and targeting your listing with that in mind can help. So many factors and constant maintenance keeps your business showing in the top 3 listings and bring you more traffic.
Posting specials, events, and positive reviews with relevant keywords used in the review, also bring more traffic.
Make sure your website also tags the proper address to match your listing with structured data. Check all other citations(address/map listings) on other sites like Apple Maps, Yelp, and others match. If there is any inconsistency it can lower your traffic.
While doing this can seem time-consuming it is a good revenue stream for new business. You can find companies that offer SEO services to help run your local SEO like GMB. Along with on-site and off-site SEO, which also plays a major factor in your GMB ranking.
More than Google…
There are thousands of business listing websites, some matter more than others. While Google will currently bring the most traffic. Each location your business is listed helps reassure Google of the data they have as being accurate.
Basically, the more information about your business that other websites share helps Google see you as a valid trusting business that should be listed.
IT nerd that has been in love with computers since programming scripts and games at 12 years old.
