In short, Google My Business is an indispensable tool for small and medium-sized companies. GMB listings differ from Google's organic listings because they are influenced by the user's location. Therefore, local rankings are prioritized and ranked at the top, offering a vital opportunity for small businesses. Stand out and connect with customers with a free business profile on Google Search and Maps.
Customize your profile with photos, offers, publications and more. As people rely more on Google to find answers to their most pressing questions, Google is becoming an important part of how users discover products and services in their area. You might not even realize that Google My Business (GMB) is a free and easy-to-use tool for businesses and organizations to manage their online presence on Google. If you're a business owner, there are several advantages to using your GMB profile to improve your online visibility.
One of the biggest benefits of your Google My Business profile is the premium space it can occupy in search results. GMB profiles appear in the Local “3-pack” area and in Google Maps results. When you do a Google search, the first three ads are usually reserved for Google Adwords ads, also known as “paid search”. Next, you'll usually see a map with three local results highlighted (hence the name “3-pack”).
Next, you'll see “organic results”. The Local 3 Pack used to be a list of seven to ten results. The switch to three was made to better serve mobile device users who are increasingly looking for results that are close on a small screen. The Local 3 Pack is located in a valuable and highly visible space on the Google search results page.
The information that appears about your company or organization in the 3 pack is your Google My Business listing. Having your GMB profile appear in Local 3-Pack for search terms that are valuable to your business can mean that you can leverage potential revenue, as your company will rank high in the results. Because you don't pay to appear in the 3 Local package, your Google My Business listing is affordable compared to the paid ads that appear at the top of search results. Google also recently launched a messaging feature that allows companies to chat directly with customers who find their profile on the search results page.
Through this feature, companies will be able to quickly respond to questions and help current and potential customers. You'll need to activate this feature in the Google My Business dashboard to start receiving messages. Google My Business Heat Map statistics give business owners more transparency through a heatmap of locations where users request directions to their business. This new information gives landlords the ability to discover untapped geographical territories where landlords can expand due to demand for their service.
Claiming your Google My Business profile is the easiest first step to creating your online visibility, which can make your business benefit or not. As a small business, keeping track of daily changes to search engine algorithms and listings can be a challenge. Whether you choose to keep abreast of changes or if you hire a company to execute your SEO strategy, putting resources into your constantly adjusting online presence is vital in today's increasingly digital and changing landscape. Google is the most visited website in the world.
The site currently holds more than 92% of the search engine market share. Creating a Google business profile (formerly known as Google My Business) is an important way to attract new customers to your company through Google search and Maps. The list puts your business in front of potential customers and gives them easy access to your contacts, addresses, website and opening hours. According to Google, companies are 70% more likely to attract local visits from users who browse by having a Google My Business listing, increasing traffic and sales.
In a rapidly changing environment, your customers are looking for up-to-date information about your business, such as whether your business is open, products and services available, contact and delivery information. This is a fundamental step in any local SEO strategy, as it makes it easier for customers to find information about your business and allows them to review it as well. Google Ads incorporates automated solutions that will help you optimize your advertising campaigns to show the right message to the right user, at the right time. It's not just a common company listing, but a robust tool that gives you the benefits of appearing in Google search.
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, it's more important than ever that you use and optimize GMB to display accurate and up-to-date information about your business. Google won't share your phone number with users and gives you the option to receive and reply to these messages via SMS or Google's own messaging app, Allo. The heat map shows the most popular areas where users ask Google Maps for directions to your address. Once you analyze your business information, you'll need to ensure that your company name, address, and phone number (also known as NAP) are consistent across all your online profiles, including Bing, Yelp, and other industry-specific sites.
This information is only used to verify your business and isn't displayed on your Google Business profile or shared with the public. After claiming your ad, make sure your business information is correct and up to date. Google specifically says that “companies with complete and accurate information are easier to find with the right searches.
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