What do you know about Google My Business?

For the up-and-coming business owner, gaining exposure is a top priority. With limited brand awareness, it can be exceedingly difficult to reach your intended clientele. Old-fashioned methods of garnering attention, such as billboard advertising and costumed sign-twirling, are now far less effective with the advent of the Internet. 

So how does one vie for the ever-waning attention of the public? It’s easier than you might imagine.

Think about it — what do you do when you’re curious about a business? You Google it — and so does everyone else.

Therefore, appearing towards the top of the front page of Google search results is an easy and surefire way to legitimize your business.

Managing your Google Business Profile  

You probably already know about Google business listings (also known as business profiles). Most small business owners create a business profile in an effort to gain visibility. That said, your Business Profile is often your business’ very first impression. Try Googling the name of your business — or the name of any business. The information panel that appears (view ours below) is your Business Profile. 

This panel contains all the vital information about your business that curious onlookers may need to know. However, what you may not realize is that creating a profile for your business does not necessarily give you management over it. You need those editing and management capabilities to use your Business Profile as an effective SEO and lead generation tool.

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So, how does one obtain editing capabilities over their business listing? It’s easy — in addition to your business listing, you must also create a free Google My Business account for that profile.

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A Google My Business account is the only means by which you can claim ownership of your Business Profile.  

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Making sense of your business analytics

In addition to putting a face to your business’ name, having a Google My Business profile grants you access to a wealth of useful data and statistics for no extra charge. This information includes details on how many calls were made to your office, when people called, how many users visited your website, which terms people searched to find your business, common area codes from your website visitors, and user demographic data.  

Because of how versatile, accessible, and digestible Google My Business administrator tools are, they are among the most useful tools in digital marketing.

Navigating to this information is easy: simply find your Business Profile page (search for your business name), make sure you’re logged into the email account attached to your Google My Business, and then at the very top of the query page, you should see a panel containing everything you need. 

Here’s a sample of our profile analytics:

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Using Google My Business effectively

As discussed previously, Google My Business is the interface that allows you to edit and manage your Google Business Profile. Used to its full potential, your Business Profile can behave similarly to any other social media account. Post updates, images, and announcements, respond to reviews, and engage directly with customers, all from one convenient platform.

Through Google My Business, you can also list your business hours, provide a link to your website (increasing your website traffic), include details about your products or pricing, and highlight what makes your business unique. 

Just as Google has algorithms for determining the most relevant ads or websites, it has parameters that govern Business Profiles. To increase your exposure, you can apply specific keywords to your Business Profile via Google My Business. Choosing appropriate keywords enables Google to promote your business to the right people. 

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Getting started with Google My Business

Now that you understand what Google My Business is and know a bit about how to use it, you probably realize how incredibly useful this tool can be. This free, powerful service is imperative for those who want to level up their local marketing. Secure your account now, update all your information, and take advantage of the world’s most popular search engine.

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