What is Google My Business?
GMB the detailed information you see when clicking on a business in your Google Maps app. It’s also the business listing on the right-hand portion of a search results page when browsing on a desktop.
GMB highlights:
- basic contact information
- photos
- links to your website
Why is it important?
GMB provides a free sidebar business listing on a search engine results page. Google and Google Maps are the most widely used search engine and maps platform. Therefore, GMB maximizes your total visible “real estate” on any given search results page.
GMB is also one of the best signals of reliability and authority for visitors looking to make sure your business is legitimate. It’s a quick way for visitors to understand your location or contact you directly without spending a lot of time browsing your entire website.
How do I start?
As with all Google platforms, we recommend running through any available training material before setting up your account. Google features a comprehensive Get Started Guide to further understand the platform and how it can benefit your business.
Getting your business verified on Google is a simple process and can usually be done by phone or mailed postcard combined with a verification code. Once your business is verified, setup is a matter of adding contact information and content to the platform’s editable sections (e.g., name, phone, address, photos).
The more content provided, the better the information that will be available for your online visitors to see and interact with.
Best Practices
Get the most from Google My Business by doing the following:
Add Your Website or Landing Page URL
Adding your website or landing page URL to GMB is crucial in getting visitors to click through the website button featured on your listing.
We recommend keeping these items the same (or nearly the same) as what is on your website:
- listed name
- description
- messaging
Google will search your site’s landing page for accuracy of information, and you want to present a consistent user experience for all visitors.
The More Information Featured In Your Listing, the Better
We recommend adding information to the entire left section of the menu. Don’t forget photos, even if you only have a few. This information will help Google to better:
- understand your business
- pair your information with that found on the website
- offer users more reasons to trust your business
Using the New Post Feature In GMB
Posts are a relatively new feature in GMB, and allow you to publish quick updates about your business, such as:
- product offers
- breaking news
- unique value propositions
While they do eventually expire, they’re a great way to help show ongoing developments at your business and encourage users to take part.
More information on Google’s Post feature can be found here.
Spark New Interest Using Reviews
Reviews are a great way to:
- highlight your reputation online
- respond to reviews
- connect with online community
- spark new interest in your business
As Google users leave reviews about your business, they can be managed and responded to directly within the GMB platform. We recommend responding to these reviews to:
- show you care about the community and those who write reviews
- answer both positive and negative reviews
More information on how to engage with Google users can be found here.
