Google has revolutionized the way search works, and it seems now it is revolutionizing the way Google works. Your business website is still a crucial ingredient in your marketing mix, but Google is making it easier every day for users to get what they’re looking for directly in a search, without having to visit a website. Google My Business is enabling this experience when it comes to local searches. That’s why it’s more important than ever to create, claim, and optimize your Google My Business Listing. Read on to learn how to align your business with Google and leverage its power to grow your business.
What’s So Important About Your Google My Business Listing?
Google My Business itself is not a public-facing, searchable directory (such as Yelp), BUT your listing on Google My Business is what many other public-facing, searchable directories pull from. This includes Google Maps, which has become its own hybrid form of a review site/business directory/navigation service.
Your Google My Business listing can also impact your rankings in search results on both Google Maps and regular Google searches.
If that’s not enough to convince you, here are some compelling stats that highlight the importance of not just a Google My Business Listing, but an accurate and complete one.
Businesses with a Complete and Accurate GMB Listing:
- Are 2.7x more likely to be considered reputable
- Get 7x more clicks
Complete and Accurate GMB Listings:
- Are 70% more likely to attract location visits
- Are 50% more likely to lead to a purchase
7 Ways to Maximize the Impact of Your Google My Business Listing
Claim Your Listing
Did you know that anyone can list your business on Google? That’s a little scary, but fear not—you as the owner can claim your listing which grants you the access to edit and update your information, to post timely information, and to manage reviews. The claiming process requires a few steps, but it is a must. Google is always evolving, and you need to be able to make adjustments to your listing to continue benefiting from it.
Complete Your Listing
This step is simple but potentially the most important: make sure you fill out every field in your Google My Business listing. This is important for Google but for listings in general. The impact of inaccurate or inconsistent listings is not one you can afford. A complete Google My Business listing includes:
- Business name
- Address
- Phone number
- Category
- Website
- Hours of Operation
- Description
- Photos
- Depending on your industry, there may be additional fields such as menus for restaurants
A complete listing makes it as easy as possible for potential customers to find and contact your business. In addition, the more complete your listing is, the more favor you will receive from Google when ranking you in results.
Perfect Your Description
The description part of your profile should be used to add color to your listing. Use this space to highlight the features of your business that attract customers most and set you apart from competitors. You only get 750 characters here, so don’t repeat information that is already seen in other fields. Also keep in mind that only the first 250 characters show up in the Knowledge Panel, so prioritize your information. Finally, no links or HTML.
