Why setting up GMB (Google My Business) is the #1 thing you can do for your business
According to Net Marketshare, roughly 80 percent of all searches happen on Google. Guess what that means? Having a GMB listing is really important.
So let’s start with what is GMB? There is no better place to get that definition than at the source. I feel like I’m cheating a little bit but no one knows Google better than Google.
About Google My Business
Google My Business is a free and easy-to-use tool for businesses and organizations to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps. To help customers find your business, and to tell them your story, you can verify your business and edit your business information.
Benefits of Google My Business
Manage your information
Manage the information that Google users find when they search for your business or the products and services you offer. When people find your business on Google Maps and Search, they can find information like your hours, website, and street address.
Interact with customers
You can read and respond to reviews from your customers. Post photos that show off what you do. Businesses that add photos to their Business Profiles receive 42% more requests for directions on Google Maps, and 35% more clicks through to their websites than businesses that don’t.
Understand & expand your presence
Find insights to learn how customers search for your business, and where they come from. You can also find information like how many people call your business directly from the phone number displayed on local search results in Search and Maps. To spread the word about what you offer, you can create and track the performance of Smart campaigns.
For our photography business, we quickly learned that keeping our information updated, adding photographs and posting short articles really increased interactions.
But my biggest takeaway from having a GMB listing: reviews.
I can be the absolute worst at this. I can be shy when it comes to asking clients to give a short synopsis on their experience. If you are like me, whether it be a Google, Yelp or Trip Advisor review, they matter. Reviews impact my decision making.
So why don’t I ask for more reviews? (That will be on my list of things that I need to improve upon)
Asking for a Google review is one of the best things you can do for your business. (Note to self, I need to write a more in depth post on this)
Why you ask?? Here are my top 3 reasons.
1. Increase brand trust. Client reviews give insight how it is to work with you. Reviews also become instant testimonials that you can use elsewhere in your business.
2. SEO. Why does everything in my mind always revolve around SEO? Guess cause it is super important to the success of your business that people find you online. If you can improve your visibility on Google, then you most likely will increase your bottom line. Google Reviews are even a bigger help for local SEO. Who doesn’t want to be at the top of Google search results?
3. Better click through rates to your website. I’m sure you see how all these pieces fit together. You pay attention to your GMB account by updating photos, operating hours, info and your clients inject a little more about your business through their reviews. Google recognizes this and makes your site more visible. Which means more eyeballs on your website.
You would have to live under a rock to not appreciate how important Google is in our lives both personally and professionally.
Setting up your GMB listing will be one of the easiest things you do to help your business. Get going!
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