If you own a business, it is essential that you claim your Google listing and regularly verify the information for accuracy using your Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business). When a potential customer searches for a business near their location, they’ll find a list of suggested businesses at the top of Google’s SERP, with detailed information about each business, such as their hours, phone number, a link to their website, customer reviews, and photos of the business. Google Business Profile is a powerful, free tool that allows businesses to edit the information on their Google listing. While this tool is often underutilized, it is essential that you regularly update your business’s Google listing, as this will likely be many people’s first impression of your business. Yet, you may find yourself wondering what you need to do to ensure your Google listing stands out from the competition and brings in new customers. To help get you started, take a look at our top tips for managing Google Business Profiles.
Claim and Verify Your Business
If you haven’t done so already, the first thing that you’ll need to do is set up a Google Business Profile and then claim and verify your business. This is an essential step as it allows you to gain access to and modify your business’s Google listing by verifying that you are the rightful business owner. Claiming and verifying your business listing is also important as it signals to Google that your business is legitimate, meaning it will appear more prominently in searches on Google and Maps, potentially leading to increased customer traffic. Furthermore, customers can see if a Google listing is verified, and verified listings are often seen as more credible and are thusly more likely to be chosen by customers.
Optimize Your Profile
Once you claim and verify your business, the first thing that you should do is review your business listing for accuracy, update any missing/incorrect information, and optimize it so it stands out to searchers. To increase the chances of your business being chosen over a competing listing, make sure that your listing is as complete as possible, as this will also ensure that your business shows up in relevant searches in your area. Information that you should include in your business’s listing includes:
- Your full address
- Your phone number
- A link to your website
- Your business hours
- Business type and the services you provide
- And any other relevant information that may be useful to customers, such as whether there is parking or free wi-fi
You should also make sure to add a compelling description of your business that will attract customers by highlighting what makes your business unique. You should also consider adding high-quality photos and videos of your business, as visual content can help capture people’s attention and convert them into customers.
Regularly Engage With Customers
Once you’ve optimized your business listing, your job isn’t done, as regularly interacting with your listing is essential to convert casual searchers into customers. In particular, you should make sure that you are actively engaging with customers by responding to reviews (both positive and negative) and answering any questions people leave on your business’s listing. Engaging with customers shows that you care about your customers, which can help your business stand out from the competition.
Regularly Check Your Listing for Accuracy
It is also essential that you regularly check your business’s listing for accuracy. Since customers can suggest edits to your business’s listing, you will want to regularly check to make sure that information such as your address, phone number, and hours are still accurate. Otherwise, you may deal with confused/upset customers if they arrive when your business is closed, but Google says it’s open.
Regularly checking and engaging with your business’s Google listing is essential in order to stay ahead of the competition. The fact is that digital marketing strategies are constantly evolving, and having a well-maintained Google Business Profile is now just as critical as having a well-designed website. Fortunately, you do not have to handle all of this alone. Feel free to contact us to learn how we can help you manage your website, Google listing, and Google Ads to ensure optimal SEO and improved conversion rates.