Google My Business is free. It is a free tool that helps business owners manage their brand’s online presence, not only across Google’s own search engine but also within its growing portfolio of online utilities.
Google My Business is designed specifically to give brands much needed impact they need to establish local exposure through online search.
Why is Google My Business great for search engine optimization?
There are certain features such as the Google Local Search the provide local establishments a priority when it comes to users looking for a specific store, service provider or other neighborhood establishments.
Typing in a particular search query for services or products within a specific location – “such as where is a dry cleaner near me” – will yield a different search result.
Today Google is attempting to become much more adept at discerning user intent – that is – a better ideas of what you are searching for and strive to provide you the best possible search results.
Therefore, it is not enough to give you a list of dry cleaners on a page. You now have a prominent section before the main search results that provides you just about everything you need to decide on which dry cleaner to go to that is nearby your home.
I am amused to see that the maid cleaning company has its ad listed under dry cleaning. Nevertheless, in this image showing the list of dry cleaners nearby, you can see that it has a few recommendations. These recommendations contain information such as the name of the business, their address, phone number and approval ratings. Then at a glance, you can get an idea where they are located at in the Google Map.
Where else is Google My Business Useful For?
When users search for localized keywords or terms using Google, they are presented with relevant local business results. All of them tailored to the search term used. These searches can happen in variety of places including:
- Google app search
- Google Search in third party browser or Google Chrome
- Google Maps in mobile desktop browser
- Google Maps app
- Google Home Voice Search
- Google Voice Assistant Voice Search
How it Works with Google My Business
Your Google My Business is synched with your Google Map location. Then it ties into the usual Google Search functions. You can say that yes, your brand can optimize itself for search, but you get an added advantage when someone specifically searches for your products and or services in your general location.
Google My Business Listings offer everything you need for a potential customer to find and use your services, buy your products or visit your business. Once you have registered or claimed your Google local listing, you can respond to customer reviews, add images and much more to help your business stand out in local search.
In other words, if you do not have Google My Business profile, you literally cannot compete in local search. Therefore, Google My Business is one of the very first steps you should start when working on a local search engine optimization strategy for your business.
Post on your Google My Business for Organic SEO Growth
You can connect with your existing and potential customers through your Google My Business profiles on Google Search and Maps through posts.
You can create and share announcements, offers, new or popular items in stock or event details.
Google My Business has 4 different post types.
- What’s New posts: (Add an Update) Posts that provide general information about your business. You can include a photo/video, link, Call-To-Action button, and other information. For example, a restaurant could make a post to promote a new menu item.
- Event posts: Posts that promote an event your business is involved with or supports. Event posts require a title, start/end dates and time, and may include a photo/video, Call-To-Action button, and other information. For example, a bookstore may advertise a local author’s book signing or a book club meeting.
- Offer posts: Posts that provide promotional sales or offers from your business. Offer posts require a title and start/end dates and times. A “View offer” Call-To-Action button is automatically added to the post. You can also include a photo/video, coupon code, link, and terms and conditions with the post. For example, a pizza parlor may advertise a 20% off large pizzas for a week.
- Product posts: (Add photos) Posts that emphasize a specific product your business sells. Product posts require a title and photo or video. You can also include a Call-To-Action button and other information. For example, an electronics store may promote a new phone for sale.
So, you’ll want to post something on there at least once daily or once a week. My recommendation is whatever you post on Facebook, post on your Google My Business. Use the Call to Action button to link back to your website or to your product or services pages.
Google My Business posts are also a great way to improve your overall search engine strategy. By posting to Google My Business page profile, it can help you generate more organic clicks. Google My Business posts come with Call to Action buttons which will encourage users to take action off the post.
How do you post on Google My Business Profile?
You can download the Google My Business app to your smartphone – it is available for all smartphone applications. Or you can use your social media scheduling app to post on your Google My Business Profile.
There are some social media scheduling tools out there that may help with posting on Google My Business profiles.
- OneUp is a social media scheduling tool that supports Google My Business, in addition to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
- Socialbee is another app that supports Google My Business in addition to Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
- For businesses that have multiple locations, such as dry cleaners, restaurants, medical clinics and the like, may want to consider dbaplatform.
Google My Business positions your business information in front of the eyes of your potential customers (as well as your existing customers) who are looking for your products, services or experience.
It helps with your local SEO and it is a free and valuable tool.
About Christine Laikind: Founder of SCS Digital Marketing, WordCamp and local WordPress Speaker on various topics including Web Accessibility and Digital Marketing, Coffee Lover and enjoys motorcycle riding through the mountains in the South with her husband.
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