Formally known as Google Places, the relatively new format of Google My Business pages are a vital element of any local businesses online marketing campaign, because having one that is working correctly can have a big impact on not only traffic to a website, but for visitors to the actual physical location of the businesses as well. Put simply, a fully complete and working Google My Business page can increase the success, for both your online and offline operation. Making sure that your Google Page is complete, and performing is critical.
With mobile searches recently topping 50% for the first time ever over 45% of Google searches containing a locational search aspect, having your page ranking for your local business is a crucial marketing tool. Not only does it deliver instant results, it helps to bring up your long term SEO as well, because your page can contain lots of information about your business and links to your blog posts. Missing out on this traffic because your page is not yet live or simply incomplete is just not worth thinking about. Now is the time to get your website sorted if you haven’t done so already.
How do you make sure that your Google My Business page is ranking where it should? Let’s take a look at some of the things you should be doing to make sure you are getting the biggest impact.
Complete Profile
The first step you need to take is to claim your page if you have not done so already. A quick search on Google Maps and Google Search should be enough to find out if there is a page for your business already created.
If you have no page, then sign in with your Google Account and simply create one. You will need to get your profile up to as near completed status as possible, but until you have verified your listing, you will not be able to hit 100%.
Contact details checklist
- Make sure you have all of your contact details listed (exactly as they are on your website).
- Add the correct categories to your business.
- Add a profile picture and header photo
- Complete the about your business section.
This should take you to approximately 80% complete, which is about as far as you can go for now.
Verified Business
Every business page now has to be verified by post, rather than phone as it was once possible to do many years ago, but this practice was stopped sadly due to the abuse of the system.
At the top of your My Business Page, click on the blue button that says “verify Your Business.” Check the details and Google will then send you a pin code in the post.
This can take up to two weeks to arrive in the post. Once you have received your postcard, simply enter the pin code in your “Google My Business” page. To show that you have verified your account, you should then put a little tick in a shield next to your business name. Once your account is verified it will start showing in the results for both Google maps and Google search.
Updated Posts
An empty Google My Business Page is a worthless page. There is nothing worse than looking at a company before you buy from them and realising that they have not updated their page for years and, generally speaking, look a bit lazy.
Post your latest blogs, customer feedback, news, special offers and shout about you and your business. Include photos and videos and just see how your page takes off. People love content and so do potential customers. When it comes to choosing you over your competitors in your niche, you have to stand out by making the right noises and level of effort.
Customer Reviews
Customer reviews are a big ranking signal these days, so you can start by asking your happy customers to leave you a review on your My Business Page.
Reviews not only helps to reinforce to new customers that your business is worth using, but you will also get a little star rating under your local results search. When you are competing with up to eight other businesses, this can help you stand out from the crowd. Customer reviews and testimonials are so important now that they should form a big part of your online marketing strategy as these are a tried and tested measure of success.
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