Google Maps is one of the top apps smartphone users use. It has more than 10 billion downloads and serves more assistance than navigation. It helps many businesses to get searched in their locale easily. Businesses these days waste no time registering themselves in Google My Business. Getting listed in Google My Business is the only way to get your business on Google Maps. It helps manage your business at different locations and get easily found by users nearby.
Google My Business is a free-to-use tool without the requirement for any potential website. You can create an account on Google and register yourself in Google My Business. It showcases your business details, images, menus, and contacts and makes it easy for the customers to make reservations. When people search for a business on Google, the top results are the top picks from the users, so it is necessary to work towards your presence on Google search result pages.
Why businesses need Google My Business?
It eliminates the need to build a website or any other listing account for your business that can confuse your customers. It gives your customers great help knowing about the parking availability and the business timings. Your customers can review your service, which will help you learn more about the areas to focus on while delivering your services.
Customers can check the insights about your busy timings and plan their visit. Customers can make direct contact without going to a third-party website. It allows you to add different contact options, including phone numbers, websites, and social media accounts. It automatically adds photos uploaded by owners and customers to a photo gallery, making it easier to attract new customers.
Creating Your Account on Google My Business
Step 1: Visit https://business.google.com/create
Step 2: Type your business name to add. If the business name appears in the search results, it already exists, and you have to pick another. (If the business in the results belongs to you, click on it to claim the listing with verification).
If your business doesn’t show up in the results, continue with creating one. The procedure asks for your address, phone number, and website URL(optional).
Step 3: Once you create your account, verify it to finalise it.
Step 4: Verifying Your Business Account
To verify your business and add it to Google Maps, choose the option Mail. A physical postcard is sent to your address containing a 5-digit verification code. Verify your physical location with this code.
How to Optimize Your GMB Listing?
It nearly takes a month to complete the verification through the physical postcard. Meanwhile, you can work towards optimizing your business listing to prepare an attractive page on Google Maps.
Service Area
If you provide a delivery service, mention the specific area circle on the map. It becomes convenient for the customers outside the service area to avoid unexpected cancellations.
Active Hours
It is necessary to add the hours your business is operating. Google searches prioritize search results based on which places are active at the time of the request. Google Search and Google Maps both have this feature.
Address, Phone Number and Website
You should ensure that the address, phone number and website are correct and working since it directly affects your revenue. If you are looking forward to registering your business on different listing websites, the information must be consistent, or you may find it challenging to get high rankings.
Accessibility Information
Google My Business offers the option to add in-house services. The customers can learn about the restrictions, seating, offers, etc.
Payment Options
It is wise to put the payment methods you accept online to avoid misunderstanding at the time of payment.
Add Photos
You can add three types of media files for your business, logos, photos and videos. The pictures of your team, food, and interior can give your customers an idea of what should they expect when they visit your business.
Bookings
One of the best features of Google My Business is that it provides you with the option to go to booking, which is directly integrated into your listing. When a customer clicks the ‘Booking’ option, they will see the suggested time/date and your cancellation policy.
Even though the benefits of setting up your Google Business account have been discussed earlier, let’s look at a few points that would add clarification.
1. Help People Find Your Business
Google Maps helps to pinpoint a local business. Google Maps is the largest asset for people to find a business quickly. Its search engine shows related businesses to the users, which brings the opportunity to your new account to get recognised in no time. It is estimated that one-third of the traffic generated is related to location, hence it is essential to keep a keen eye on how your business is performing on Google Maps.
2. Encourage People to Visit Your Business
Google Maps nullifies the shuffling between apps to look for the available services, and directions. For shops or restaurants, people can explore the business’ profile to look for the available products.
Businesses that focus on selling their products can also benefit from Google Maps by redirecting the traffic to their website. It becomes simpler for the customers to learn more about the company.
3. Contacting Your Business is an Option Now
While listing your business in Google Maps, you’ll notice that the platform provides a section to add your business contact number. We already know that most of the searches on Google Maps are via smartphone, so one tap can bring the user to the dialer to make a phone call. It becomes convenient for the user to ask questions about the product details, availability, reservation, and delivery options. It makes it easier for the customers to plan their visits and connect directly to the business to form a reliable relationship.
4. Images Bring Quality To Front
Users these days trust images. While exploring your business they prefer to look at various aspects to make up their mind.
For example, if someone is looking forward to visiting your company, they will look at your premises first. They will try to judge the environment and in-house services before they visit. Images build your brand value online, and good images can impress new customers easily. Google Maps is most helpful in creating an image gallery from the pictures that customers add to your location.
5. Users Can Post Reviews On Your Business
It is necessary to receive reviews from your customers to build a trustworthy brand. Reviews can highlight the areas you need to improve and areas that put your business in front of your competitors. These reviews also help your connected social media accounts to get recognised by the users and higher up the chances to get your accounts verified. The reviews include three main features, star ratings, images, and written reviews. These reviews not only help you to improvise but also give new customers an impression of trust by the customers that have already visited before.
Conclusion
Getting your business listed on Google Maps and Google My Business not only helps you bring in more revenue but leaves an impression of professionalism and acceptance of modern technology on your customers. It is wise to adopt a new marketing strategy to stay ahead of your competitors.
Author Bio
Jyoti Kumari I am a WordPress developer with five years of expertise and an in-depth knowledge of SEO and digital marketing. I am working as a freelancer, also I have a partnership with a company that specializes in Web & Mobile App Development. I love working with projects on SEO, WordPress and Digital Marketing.
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