Your customers no longer open phone books to find local services. They are looking for services online. One of the best ways to get in front of your customers is through Google My Business, now officially called Google Business Profile.
If you are not leveraging this tool, you are missing out on one of the most efficient opportunities to get discovered online.
In this article, we’ll explain what Google My Business is, its benefits, and walk you through creating your Google My Business account, listing your business on Google, and verifying your business on Google. It does not matter if you are a small local store, a national brand, or a B2C company; having a strong Google presence is crucial.
Table of Contents
- Google My Business (Google Business Profile): Overview
- Importance of Google My Business for Business Owners
- How to Create a Google My Business Account
- Business Profile Verification Process
- How Do I Put My Business on Google Maps?
- How to List My Business on Google
- How to Advertise My Business on Google
- Google My Business App: Manage on the Go
- Pro Tips to Maximise Your Google Business Profile
- Conclusion
Google My Business (Google Business Profile): Overview
Let's explore the Google Business Profile, often known as Google My Business. A Google Business Profile is a no-charge profile that enables business owners to manage their business’s visibility on Google Search and Google Maps.
Google Business Profile allows business owners to showcase the business details like:
- Business name
- Address and phone number
- Website
- Photos
- Business hours
- Customer reviews
- Services and products offered
With a Google My Business profile, potential clients are able to easily discover your business and access the required information.
Importance of Google My Business for Business Owners
If there are still doubts on why business owners should register for Google My Business, this list will help clarify:
1. Google Business Profile for Higher Ranking
When a user is searching for a service in their locality, Google has a tendency of showcasing the local listing. These listings are pulled from Google Business Profiles. Claiming a profile Google My Business for your business gives the business a competitive advantage over other businesses that haven't claimed their Google My Business profile.
2. Local Marketing That Is Free and Useful
Setting up your Google My Business profile offers free advertising opportunities that are sometimes neglected and just like paying to advert your business is a total waste. This is a very helpful marketing strategy as a sharp tool to utilize in small businesses.
3. Increases Trust and Credibility
Customers look for business on the bing search engine. If your business profile is appropriately verified and managed properly, it reflects the business's image as it should receive. This motivates customers to reach out and potentially visit.
4. Contacting Clients Directly
Your Google My Business profile allows your clients to call, send an SMS, and even question directly from the listing. Master and cover special offers that you want to showcase, updating as you wish and even review feedback, all from the simple dashboard they provided.
5. Critical for Mobile and Voice Discovering
Most people now use voice and mobile phones to search. Depending on how well your Google My Business profile is set up, you could boost your chances to the top of the search and be at by “Find a bakery near me” and “I want my AC device fixed mu”
How to Create a Google My Business Account
Setting up a business profile is simple. Here is a guide on how to create a Google My Business account step by step.
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Google Business Profile Manager
Log in at https://www.google.com/business and use your Google account to sign in.
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Type In Your Business Name
You can claim your business if it appears in the search. If it does not appear, you can create a new listing.
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Select Your Business Category
Pick a category as accurately as you can so it describes your business (e.g. “Digital Marketing Agency” or “Bakery”).
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Input Location Information
You will be asked if your business has a physical location, or if you serve clients at their place. You need to provide the exact address and service area, if applicable.
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Input Business Phone and Website
If your business has a phone number and a website, put them in the required fields.
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Manage Your Business Profile
After the data submission, the next step is business verification.
Business Profile Verification Process
It is vital to confirm your business listing as soon as it is created. So, how to verify my business on Google?
Google Verification Methods:
- Postcard by Mail (most common): The most common method. Google sends a physical verification code to the business location provided. After receiving the verification code, you enter it into your profile to claim verification.
- Phone Verification: A small number of businesses can authenticate instantly over the phone.
- Email Verification: Offered to a small number of business types.
- Instant Verification: If the business is already verified in Google Search Console.
- Video Verification: Sometimes, you may need to have a video call with a Google representative.
Without verification, you cannot view or edit your listing.
How Do I Put My Business on Google Maps?
If you are asking how do I put my business on Google Maps, the answer is in the previous section. After finishing your Google Business Profile, upon verification, the business is listed on Google Maps.
Let’s confirm it:
- Open Google Maps.
- Enter your business name in the search field.
- If it doesn’t show up, check that your profile is verified and the location is correct in the business dashboard.
Pro Tip: Enhancing your listing’s visibility on Maps requires adding quality photos and a thorough business description.
How to List My Business on Google
Let’s make how to list my business on Google a little easier by breaking it down into several steps:
- Create Your Profile: Access Google Business Profile Manager and fill in the business details that you have.
- Verify Ownership: Go through the verification steps with one of the methods provided.
- Optimize Your Listing:
- Insert images with high resolution.
- Provide detailed information in services, business hours, and also, fill out the FAQs.
- Use business description to include business keywords. Use them naturally.
- Encourage Customer Reviews: Review responses and request actions improve trust and ranking.
- Keep Your Info Updated: Your listing should always be up to date, whether it’s new services or holiday hours.
How to Advertise My Business on Google
With your business listing up, you might be wondering how to advertise your business on Google to reach more customers.
Here are additional ways to maximize your presence at no cost.
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Use Google Ads (Previously AdWords)
You can run paid search ads targeting specific keywords, such as “best dentist in Delhi” or “AC repair near me”.
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Local Services Ads (LSA)
These are pay-per-lead ads that highlight your business at the top of search results with a Google Guarantee badge, perfect for service-oriented businesses.
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Promote posts in Google My Business
You can publish offers, events, or product highlights through your GMB profile, and these can be sponsored for wider reach.
While Google My Business is free, using it in combination with Google Ads can yield impressive results, especially in competitive industries.
Google My Business App: Manage on the Go
Although Google My Business App has been discontinued, its features are now part of Google Maps and Google Search apps. Hence, you can:
- Edit your business profile
- Post updates
- Respond to reviews
- Track insights
In other words, the Google My Business app we previously relied on is gone. But it is still indispensable and fully feasible to manage things on the go.
Pro Tips to Maximise Your Google Business Profile
Here's what you should consider to optimise GMB profile:
1. Post Regular Updates
Update your profile by sharing events, promotions, blog snippets, and customer success stories.
2. Use Keywords Strategically
In your posts and description about the business, organically weave in relevant keywords, like “yoga classes in Mumbai” or “best jewellery store in Jaipur.”
3. Respond to Every Review
Responding to both ends of reviews demonstrates your business's commitment to feedback and showcases care to potential clients.
4. Enable Messaging
Allow clients to send you messages. When they do, reply in a courteous, timely, and business-like manner.
5. Track Insights
Keep an eye on the metrics such as profile view counts, clicks, requests for directions, and phone call interactions. These analytics aid in determining what is successful and what requires changes.
Also Read: How to Do Local SEO for Multiple Locations: Local SEO Strategy
Conclusion
On that note, Google My Business is now Google Business Profile. It remains an essential asset for any business today. Be it a restaurant, a freelance gig, or a healthcare clinic, appearing on Google can substantially alter your customer or patient volume.
We’ve covered everything from what Google My Business is, how to create a Google My Business account, how to list my business on Google, how to verify my business on Google, how to put my business on Google Maps, and even how to advertise my business on Google.
The bottom line? If you're not on Google, you're invisible to a large part of your audience. And the best part? It's free and easy to get started.
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