Do you want to know one of the simplest ways to gain traffic and customers? It is claiming and optimising your Google My Business (GMB) listing. Recently, Google My Business underwent a major upgrade and is now called Google Business Profile. As a business owner, you know the importance of marketing and advertising to reach new customers and grow your brand. However, what if you could get those same benefits without spending lots of money?
That is exactly what Google My Business provides – free advertising and marketing opportunities that can help take your business to the next level. With Google My Business, businesses can create a profile, list their services and products, share customer reviews, increase visibility in searches and stay connected with customers on Google Maps. By taking advantage of this powerful tool, businesses are able to expand their reach while building recognition for their brand – all at no cost! In this article, I will discuss how businesses can make the most out of free advertising through Google My Business.
Optimising Google My Business (GMB) is indeed a valuable strategy for businesses looking to grow their brand and customer base. Google My Business is a free tool provided by Google that allows businesses to manage their online presence on Google, including Google Search and Google Maps.
Create a profile on Google My Business
Creating a profile on Google My Business is easy and straightforward. The first step is to go to the Google My Business page and click ‘Get Started’. You will then be asked to sign-in or create a new account if you do not already have one. Once you have signed in, you can start setting up your business profile by entering your business’s name, website, address, contact information and other relevant details. After completing the profile setup process, you will be able to access all the features and benefits Google My Business has to offer
List your services & products on GMB
Once the profile setup process is complete, you can begin to list your services and products on Google My Business. This is an important step, as it helps potential customers quickly find out what services and products you offer. To list your services and products, simply click the ‘Add a Service/Product’ button on your Google My Business dashboard. From there, you will be able to select the categories and subcategories that best describe your business’s offerings. Here’s how businesses can use GMB to their advantage:
- Enhanced visibility: By claiming and optimising your GMB listing, your business becomes more visible in local search results. This means that when people search for products or services you offer in your area, your business is more likely to appear in the search results – increasing your online visibility.
- Accurate information: Keep your business information up-to-date, including your name, address, phone number, website, hours of operation and services offered. Accurate information helps potential customers find and contact your business easily.
- Customer reviews: Encourage customers to leave reviews on your GMB listing. Positive reviews can boost your business’s credibility and attract more customers. Responding to reviews, both positive and negative, shows that you value customer feedback and are committed to providing excellent service.
- Photos and Videos: Add high-quality photos and videos of your business, products and services. Visual content can provide potential customers with a better understanding of what you offer and make your listing more appealing.
- Posts and Updates: Use the ‘Posts’ feature to share updates, promotions, events and other news about your business. These posts appear in your GMB listing and can attract the attention of potential customers.
- 6. Questions and Answers: Monitor and respond to questions from potential customers on your GMB listing. This helps provide helpful information and build trust with potential customers.
- 7. Insights and Analytics: GMB provides insights into how customers find your listing and what actions they take. Analyse this data to understand your audience better and make informed decisions about your marketing strategy.
- Messaging: Enable messaging to allow customers to communicate with your business directly through GMB. This can improve customer service and responsiveness.
- 9. Appointment booking: If applicable to your business, enable appointment booking directly through your GMB listing. This can make it easier for customers to schedule appointments or services.
- 10. Special Features: Depending on your business type, you may have access to additional features like food menus, product catalogues and booking buttons. Utilise these features to provide more information for potential customers.
- 11. Local SEO: Optimising your GMB listing can improve your local search engine optimisation (SEO). This can help your business rank higher in local search results, attracting more nearby customers.
Strategies for making the most of free advertising through GMB
Google My Business is a powerful free advertising and marketing platform that businesses of all sizes can leverage to reach new customers, build recognition for their brand and grow quickly, as discussed earlier. By utilising the features available through Google My Business, businesses can maximise their exposure and visibility online with minimal effort. Here is a quick recap checklist of some strategies for making the most of free advertising through GMB as discussed earlier:
- Make sure your profile is complete and accurate
- List all your services and products on GMB
- Take advantage of customer reviews to boost visibility and trust
- Utilise Google Maps for increased customer engagement
- Leverage local SEO strategies to optimise search engine rankings
- Post regular updates and promotions on Google My Business
Final Thoughts – Unlocking the power of free advertising with GMB
Google My Business (GMB) is a great tool for businesses looking to increase their online visibility, brand and reach more customers. As a free marketing platform, GMB provides businesses with the opportunity to create custom profiles, list services and products, share customer reviews, optimise their SEO rankings and stay connected with customers on Google Maps. Regularly updating and maintaining your GMB listing can have a significant impact on your business’s success, especially for local businesses looking to attract local customers. With the right strategies in place, businesses can maximise their potential to increase visibility, build recognition for their brand and, ultimately, grow faster than ever before.
The writer is an entrepreneur and digital marketer
