One of the first things you should do as a small business owner is create a Google My Business listing. This free listing will give you immediate visibility on Google for a myriad of searches. Best of all, it is a very simple platform that is easy to set up and build out. When done right, a Google My Business listing can be the most important digital profile you can have. In some cases, even more important than your website.
Here is a full guide on how to get started and build out your Google My Business listing to start getting customers in no time!
Sign up for a listing
The first step is to register your business. You can visit business.google.com and move through the prompts to set up your business. Once you fill in the necessary information, Google will mail you a postcard to verify your listing.
Even if you do not want Google to display your address, you will still need to have a postcard mailed to you to verify the listing.
Fill in all the business information
The more you build out your listing, the more likely you are to show up for Google searches. On top of the most basic information (business name, phone number, address, etc.) you can also add hours of operation, a description of your business and much more.
Be as thorough as possible and make sure you add information for every available item.
Add photos
This is a big one. The goal should be to add at least 10 photos to your listing, but you should add as many as possible. You should add photos that not only showcase what you do (products, projects, etc.) but also showcase the personality of your company.
Once you have 10 images, you should then set a reminder to continue to add photos regularly.
Create products or services
Google provides the opportunity to list services and products you offer. Fill in as many as you can and be as specific as possible. The more services you put in, the more searches your listing will be relevant for.
Turn on messaging
The messaging feature in Google allows users to message you directly without having to go to your website. This can help users get in touch with you immediately. In order to make the most of this feature, you should also install the Google My Business app on your phone. The messaging feature requires you to respond within 24 hours of a message being received, so having it available on your phone is important.
Ask for reviews
Another key element to having your Google My Business found is reviews. Like photos, it is essential to have at least 10 reviews, but you should shoot to get as many as you can. When it comes to reviews, it is also important to respond to users who leave a review. Even a quick ‘thank you’ is good enough.
Use the post feature
Just like social media, Google provides a post feature that allows you to create content that can be shared with users. These posts are not only great ways to get information out, but they can also help increase how often your business is seen.
Build out questions and answers
Another feature of Google My Business is a Question and Answers section. While it is designed to allow users to ask questions, you can also build them out yourself to provide answers to common questions. The same way you can have FAQs on your website, this is your opportunity to provide easy answers to users.
Bonus: Create a free website
If you don’t have a website, you can actually use your Google MY Business listing to create a free website. Using the information and images you provide, Google will build you a one-page website that you can use. You can even buy a URL and attach it to this site. For brand new business owners, this could be a cost-effective way to wait and build a better website down the road.
Analyze the Insights
Data is king and Google My Business gives you access to a wealth of data. It will provide you with the searches people use to find your business, as well as where people are when they request directions to your business. This data can be very helpful to determine the most important services you offer and specific locations to focus on.
Whether you’ve been in business for decades or days, Google My Business should be at the center of your marketing efforts. This free tool will put you in front of more users than just about any other platform. And best of all, the people who see your listing will be searching for products or services you offer.