Are You Using Google My Business? You Should Be!

Every business owner knows the value of Google. There is an average of 40,000 search queries per second. That means more than 57 billion searches in a day! And some of those searches are going to be for the service or product you offer. So how can you make sure you’re visible to those potential customers?

 

WHAT ARE GOOGLE LISTINGS?

 

 

First off, you need to understand what the different types of listings are. When you Google, for example, “injury lawyer Las Vegas”, three distinct categories of search results will pop up. On the top, you’ll see the paid listings first. These are the business that used Google Adwords and paid a fee based on the number of clicks to be seen on the top of the results page. This means you’re in prime real estate, but it can get pricey fast. So what other types of results are there?

If your search was for an in-person business or something you will need to travel to, then a map may pop up in your search listings. Below that are the local map listings, or, in simple terms, brick and mortar locations. They’ll have an address, sometimes an option for directions, and hopefully a phone number. This is the most valuable spot to be because it’s the most clicked on area of the search results. It provides a quick way for people to see if what they want is nearby and access to ratings and reviews.

Underneath that is the average, organic listings. These are the websites that utilized SEO and wrote creative, engaging content to attract readers. Their strong use of keywords that match your search parameters puts them at the top of the organic results. You can learn more about the value of SEO optimization in our article here.

 

SO WHAT CAN GOOGLE MY BUSINESS DO FOR YOUR BUSINESS’ GOOGLE LISTING?

Google My Business is a free tool that Google offers to business owners. Sign up on their website at www.Google.com/MyBusiness and fill out the form you find there. This is a complete profile of your physical business location, including hours, address, phone number, and more. It doesn’t take long at all, but it can make a world of difference.

Once you’ve completed your business profile on Google My Business, users will see you pop up under the local map listings. These are ranked above organic listings, making them a crucial part of your marketing strategy.

There are many benefits to signing up for Google My Business. Here are just a few:

• It is usually the highest listing you can get for free – while Google AdSense can be draining to your budget, you can get the next best thing at no cost at all.
• It is optimized for customers to find you – users love local map listings because there’s no searching through a website for information. They can find directions and hours in just a couple clicks.
• It gives you control over how you’re viewed – Google sometimes automatically make local listing profiles based user reviews and check-ins. But making a Google My Business profile means you can choose the information and pictures showing, putting you in charge.

Budget friendly, user-centered, and revenue focused, Google My Business should be a must-have for any business user. Don’t settle for just SEO optimization. Though it’s an important tool to use in your content, you can take your business to the next level. Your customers are out there, so make it easier for them to find you.