What is Google My Business?
Google My Business is essentially a toolbox to help you manage and promote your company locally on Google Maps.
Let’s delve into everything from uploading photos to your Google My Business listing to communicating with customers through Google My Business’ free messaging service.
Back in 2014, GMB (Google My Business) was unleashed to gather and separate all businesses worldwide (no small feat) from the rest of the search results.
GMB, you see, has a nifty integration with Google Maps, giving you the option to utilize local SEO to target customers in your area.
I know you’re itching to dive right in and get started, but first, grab yourself a cuppa. Don’t fret; you won’t be stuck reading a 5,000-word article. Along the way, we’ll explore different segments in more detail and even try some things out on our own.
So, without further ado, let’s embark on our Google My Business journey.
What does Google My Business do?
GMB provides your company with an array of free tools to help showcase your business.
GMB Info enables you to manage all your company details in one place, keeping your customers informed.
Google Attributes allow you to add simple phrases to inform searches about aspects such as child-friendliness or accepted payment types.
Google Reviews are a splendid way to stand out from the crowd and engage with customers.
Upload photos to your GMB account so people can see your work. GMB photos can be highly beneficial; we’ll delve into that further later on.
With GMB Q&A, potential customers can ask you general questions about your services. GMB Q&A offers an excellent opportunity to interact with future customers.
Google Insights provides feedback on your customer base and interactions, serving as a valuable market research tool.
The GMB messaging service allows customers to interact with you privately through messaging. Activating this feature alone can help boost your sales, as people appreciate the easy access and prompt responses.
Product listings on GMB are another free and valuable feature to take advantage of. You can list your products directly in your GMB profile, potentially reaching millions of potential customers.
GMB services, similar to GMB products, allow you to showcase the services your company offers. You can add your business listing to various categories, enhancing your company’s visibility.
Google My Business posts offer a space to share anything related to your company, similar to social networking sites like Facebook pages. GMB also provides insights into post-performance, enabling more effective audience targeting.
The GMB Website consolidates all data from GMB and allows you to create a free essential website to showcase information, providing you with a link akin to https://hd-pixel-design.business.site/
Let’s begin with the GMB Info page.
The GMB Info tab is the ideal starting point as it serves as the heart of your business listing.
This page is quite self-explanatory. You can add information such as company name, business hours, covered areas, and other valuable details.
Make sure to complete as much information as possible, as it enhances your local visibility on Google.
Within the info section of GMB, you can also add extra hours for holidays and special occasions, along with categories and service areas.
There are a few more advanced features, but they are beyond the scope of this article.
Within the GMB Info tab, you’ll also find your Google My Business attributes.
GMB Info Tab
What are Google Attributes?
Google attributes help distinguish your company by providing unique information about your property or services.
For example, if you run a dog-friendly pub, this attribute can be immensely beneficial.
When people search for a pub in your area, the GMB attributes are displayed alongside your listing, allowing users to make more informed decisions.
Utilize GMB attributes to add
additional information, such as overnight parking, disabled access, private hire, health and safety measures, and more.
Providing such information can positively impact your company’s local presence. Fill in as much data as possible and consider it from a customer’s perspective.
Google reviews and how to manage them
Reviews play a significant role in customers’ decision-making process when they seek products and services.
GMB enables you to collect customer reviews for your company and gives you the option to reply and engage with them.
It’s important to respond to every review, even the negative ones. Addressing negative reviews on your GMB page demonstrates your care and willingness to assist customers.
The simplest way to collect Google reviews is by sending your customers a link to your Google local page. You can set up the link from the GMB Info tab, and it will be similar to https://g.page/hdpixeldesign.
If you sell products on your website, you can also integrate Google My Business reviews into the site. When a customer makes a purchase, Google will email them, asking if they’d like to review the service provided.
Customer reviews on Google
Google Reviews Tab
What are the benefits of GMB photos?
GMB photos are an excellent way to showcase your products or services and attract more customers.
When you post a picture to GMB photos, add a relevant caption to define search results.
You can even track the popularity of your images and the number of clicks they receive using GMB Insights, providing crucial marketing information.
Within the GMB photos section, you can also upload your company logo and cover picture to enhance your brand’s appearance in local search results.
Additionally, you can upload video presentations and virtual tours to the Google My Business photos section.
GMB photos
How does Google My Business questions and answers work?
GMB questions and answers allow potential customers to ask you questions directly through your local Google listing.
When someone asks a question using this feature, you can respond from your GMB account, and your response is made public on your listing to assist others.
Over time, you can build a helpful knowledge base by addressing fundamental questions that customers commonly ask.
What is Google Insights?
Google Insights provides a quick overview of how your Google My Business page is performing.
Within Google Insights, you can find an array of useful information for market research, including:
– How customers search for your site.
– Where customers view your business on Google.
– The number of calls your company receives from your Google Maps listing.
– How do your photos compare to those of similar companies?
Google Insights is worth exploring to gain insights into your listing’s performance and fine-tune your audience targeting.
Google insights
Google My Business messaging service and guidelines
You can activate the GMB messaging service from the info section of the site.
Enabling the messaging service adds a button to your listing, allowing users to contact you quickly and securely.
If you choose to use the service, be sure to read the Google Messaging guidelines.
Google My Business services and products
GMB services serve as a category section where you can select various categories for your company listing.
Don’t underestimate this section; it can significantly impact the number of visitors your business listing attracts.
GMB products enable you to directly add your products to your listing, and they can appear in various search types and features.
Take your time to categorize the products you add. Proper categorization saves time and helps Google understand your structure.
Google services tab
Google My Business posts
Google My Business posts allow you to share information with your customers, presented in a blog-like format.
You can find GMB posts in the local section of Google search results and on your Google Maps listing.
When used correctly, in conjunction with Google Insights, they become invaluable tools for increasing your brand’s visibility in local search results
.
What is the Google My Business website?
Within Google My Business, you can create a free, mobile-optimized website. Google populates your free website with information from your GMB page.
Once the GMB website is enabled, you can make further changes by adding your own images and text.
At the top of the page, you’ll find a unique URL to share online.
Don’t delay; set up your Google My Business page today.
Creating a Google My Business page only takes a few moments. Often, the business already has a local listing, so it’s a matter of claiming your Google listing.
Setting up your GMB page may take a little longer, and it’s important to find time to keep the information updated and fresh.
If you decide to pursue search engine optimization, you can add the marketing company to your profile and provide them with access. This is typically the first step if you’re seeking local SEO services to increase your site’s visitors.