GMB- A guide to Google My Business profile

If you have a business and want to get more local customers, you must be very strategic. Even when you're a local business, Google is one of the best places to give you a larger number of local customers. This search engine is the most visited web in the entire world. It holds over 92% of the whole market share.

So, when it is about getting more local customers and a reputation in the local market, Google business profile, which was formerly famous as Google My Business, is one of the finest ways to improve your customer base through Google maps and search. It is incredibly beneficial in enhancing your customer rate visibility within a very less time.

What do you mean by Google business profile?

The Google business profile is known as the free business listing provided by the search engine. While the search engine has always been working forward to improving user experience, it also provides you the opportunity to give photos and other business details, including products, services, locations, and your contact number.

When you use this opportunity and create a profile in Google business, it can increase your business visibility and this search engine. The information users will gather from Google business profiles might show in Google maps, Google search, and Google shopping.

However, the Google business profile will be available only for businesses that would like to interact with customers. It would require a business to have a proper physical location like a store or restaurant and is applicable for businesses that provide services to clients by meeting in their or other places like plumbers and other service providers.

If you have a business with only online customers and no physical location, it is better for you to stick to the Google tools like Google Analytics and Google ads.

Why do businesses require Google my business account?

● It helps you to get discovered in Google maps quickly.

If you're looking forward to gaining Web traffic or foot traffic, nothing can be better than choosing a search engine like Google. The Google my business profile will become helpful as it ensures that the people looking forward to your services or products will be able to find you in their times of need. This means local customers will be able to find you in the local areas through this search engine.

When you have a Google business listing, it will show the searchers how to visit your business and where you are located. This profile can be incredibly beneficial for improving local SEO. To be more particular, local business listings will mostly appear when your nearby people are searching for a nearby business through Google maps.

● It helps to make you credible through reviews.

In the online world, reviews are the only elements that work as social proof. It is one of the best ways to build credibility and trust among users.

Google provides ample space to provide ratings and detailed reviews. This space can be highly beneficial for customers to share as much information as they would like to give about the business. This will become helpful for the potential customers to decide if the business is worth choosing for the services or products that they would like to buy.

It can be intimidating for businesses as this is a public platform where people will be sharing their reviews, and businesses will not have any control. You can't choose which reviews they would like to share with their potential customers. However, do not panic, as Google chooses a combination of negative and positive reviews and synchronizes pages accordingly.

● Control the information of your online business

With Google my business profile, it will provide you the opportunity to update and control the information you would like to share. Some of the most common information includes your contact number, business hours, and other essential details required in the profile.

You also have the opportunity to post updates about the expanded services, fully reopened services, or closed status if required. It is a robust and local SEO platform where you can share every piece of information that you would like to provide to your potential users.

How can you set up a profile in Google business?

So, if you're willing to take advantage of this platform provided by Google, you need to set up a profile properly. Following are some of the major steps that you need to perform.

● Step one: Sign in to the Google business profile manager

If you have already created a profile, you will be automatically logged into the profile manager page. However, if this is the first time you are entering, you need to create a new Google account and then log in using your credentials.

● Step two: add your business to the profile

The next step is to enter the business name. In case you do not find it appearing in the drop-down menu, you can manually add your business. You need to select the business category and click on the next button.

● Step three: Enter your business location

If your business has a physical location, all you need is to select YES. Then you need to correctly add the business address where your potential customers can visit. You might also be asked by Google to position the marker on the map. In case your business does not have any proper location for your customer but offers in-person deliveries or services, you can easily list the service areas and then click on next.

If you have not entered any physical address, Google will further ask you to mark the region where you're based specifically. So you need to choose from the drop-down menu and then choose next.

● Step four: Properly write the contact details

In the next step, you need to properly enter the business website and phone number so your customers can easily reach you. If you are a business where you want to avoid your customers contacting your location by phone, you can skip providing the phone number.

Once you're satisfied with the contact information, just click on next.

● Step five: Business verification

Now you need to enter the physical address of your business. This information will be used for business verification and will not be displayed on the Google business profile or shared in public.

Now you need to enter the address and then choose next. You can find applicable options to verify the account. A physical business will require getting postcards through mail to verify the location. Businesses in the service area will be verified through email addresses. Once you receive the five-digit code, you need to enter it and then click on the verify button.

Once you find a confirmation screen about being verified, just click on next.

● Step six: Customize the Google business profile

Now you need to customize the profile according to your choice. Enter messaging preferences, business hours, photos, and business descriptions accordingly.

Once you're ready, just click on continue. Now you will be taken to the Google profile manager dashboard.

This is the place from where you can easily manage business profiles, reviews, views, and insights, create ads, and check messages.

How can you optimize the Google business profile?

This search engine generally determines the local search ranking based on three factors.

● Distance is the factor where Google shows the result based on how far your business is from the searchers' location.

● Prominence is how good and reputed your business is, which will be based on the number of reviews, SEO, review, score, and links.

● Relevance is how great your business listing is and how compatible it is according to the search.

Following are some practical ways to improve your school and improve the opportunity to reach more businesses.

● Fill in all the details on your profile.

You must know that the customers will be only choosing your businesses over others when they get accurate information. It has been served that 2.7 times the customers will be more likely to choose your business when you have completed the Google business profile. It increases the chance by 70% when you fill in all the elements in the profile.

As said by Google, businesses that provide accurate and complete information will become easier to match with the searches. This will improve the relevancy score, which will again bring them close to the visitor. When your visitors know what you do, when they can visit your store, and where you are based, it will increase the chances of choosing you over others.

You have to make sure that you update the profile. In case there is a change in business hours, especially during seasons or holidays.

● Verify the location

When the businesses have verified their location, they are more likely to show above in the results across Google search maps. When You include the verified location, it also improves the score in the distance ranking factor. In case you have not confirmed the site, it is requested to take this step, as it will make a big difference in your business.

● Add real videos and images of your business.

You will be provided with space to include a cover photo and logo of your business. You have to make sure that you use consistent images on Google business profiles, like social profiles, as it becomes easier for people to recognize the brand easily.

However, this is not all. You make sure that you add real videos and images to showcase your team, work environment, and location. It can be greatly beneficial in the deciding process of the customers. If you have a restaurant, make sure that you post pictures of the dining room, menus, and meals. Make sure that they look professional and appetizing. You can also choose to add videos of the whole place as it increases the chances of choosing You.

● Encourage your customers to provide reviews.

You should know that your customers will trust other customers more than your business. So a good review matters a lot in deciding whether You're a reliable choice for their requirements or not. Besides, reviews also have a direct impact on Google's ranking.

If you're wondering when to ask for a review from your customers, then the answer is after you have provided a great experience. You can simply provide a direct link and request to give a review to your customers.

● Include specific keywords in the profile:

You should also not forget to add keywords, as it has a great capacity to improve the relevancy score. However, if you're not sure how to choose the right keyword, you can use some of the most widely chosen tools like Hootsuite insights, Google analytics, and several other social monitoring tools.

It will help you to find out the most used term by your potential customers. Make sure that you incorporate them in the Google business profile in a natural way, and don't overstuff them with keywords.

● Keep updated business information.

Make sure that you properly edit the business profile. In case there is any change in the contact information, operational hours, and others. You must understand that your customers will be very annoyed and irritated when you provide wrongful information with improper operating hours. If you have any special hours for seasons or holidays, make sure that it is well informed to your customers.

You can create Google business posts for sharing, updates, news, particular launches, events, and offers. If you have made any mistake, don't worry, as you can go back to the dashboard as many times as you want and make the edits.

● Add special things

By special feature, we mean to provide details about your business. However, these special features will be provided to you according to the category you have chosen for your business. Following are some of the significant features that are specific to some types.

● Hotels will be able to display highlights, class, writings, check-in and checkout times, amenities, and sustainability practices.

● Bars and restaurants can upload photos of dishes, menus, and popular dishes.

● Healthcare providers can add insurance information.

● Service businesses can display their service list.

● Business is well provided with a range of buttons, depending on the categories like reservations, orders, appointments, bookings, and others.

If your business can use these features, but you're not able to see them, you might have chosen the wrong category. You can find up to 10 categories for your business which will add attributes to your profile.

● Use the free marketing tools provided by Google.

Google provides businesses access to free marketing tools. It offers social posts, stickers, and printable posters. You will be able to create customized videos.

Properly manage your Google my business page.

Now, this is everything you need to know about Google my business and how it can benefit every local business. However, if you constantly want to enjoy the many benefits of this local listing services opportunity provided by the search engine, you need to thoroughly manage your Google my business profile.

As mentioned earlier, you need to provide all the updated details to your potential customers. Hence you need to be really vigilant about it. Since customers will completely abandon you if they are not able to find the correct information, it is recommended to provide accurate details. However, if you need help managing the GMB page, it is better to hire an expert.

An expert marketer with years of knowledge can easily create and manage your GMB page, which will be beneficial for you to get more customers. Besides, since the optimization of the GMB page is strongly mandatory, hiring an expert can be extremely helpful. If you're looking for one such expert, choose Digital Habibi. With years of experience in this platform and working with several clients, I can take proper care of your GMB profile and optimize it for the better.

Frequently asked questions

What is Google my business?

Google my business is a platform provided to businesses by the search engine to improve their visibility among local searchers. As Google holds 92% of the search chess, having a Google my business page can be extremely beneficial in improving visibility and conversion. Therefore, businesses who are yet to use the features of this high-end platform or actually leaving their customers on the competitors' plates.

How advantages is GMB Google for businesses?

GMB Google for businesses is beneficial as it helps you to come closer through the local searchers. As Google is the first thing that people do when they require a service or product, when you optimize your business using Google my business profile, you will be able to show up in the results. The chances of choosing you over other service providers are always higher. So eventually, GMB Google for businesses can improve your business revenue.

Is it necessary to hire an expert to manage Google my business page?

No, it is not. But in case you are not able to pay ample time for optimization, it is an excellent choice to hire an expert. Since you have to pay attention to optimizing the GMB Google page and profile with proper keywords, descriptions, posts, and other images and videos, hiring an expert can be beneficial as the professional will be able to take care of the entire digital appearance.

Do I need to use keywords for optimization?

Yes, it is crucial to add keywords while you're optimizing the Google my business page. When you write a description, add the competitive keywords that the people are searching for while choosing similar services and products. Using it in your description and other areas improves the chances of showing your businesses on top over others.

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