Your Google My Business (GMB) listing is a great opportunity to communicate important information, and since it’s completely free there’s no excuse not to use it. Not only does Google prefer businesses that are active and engaged, but if you don’t keep your business details up to date (address, phone number, opening hours etc.) then you could be losing out on valuable leads.
It’s also worth noting that Google adds new features to GMB listings all the time and it’s just waiting to give you some SEO brownie points for using them. Examples of these features include the ability to:
- View latest reviews and star ratings.
- Respond to Google reviews.
- Create Google Ads.
- Create a Google post which can include videos and pictures.
- Set up a Q&A section to answer some of the common queries you get from customers about your business.
What’s more, GMB is integrated with Google Maps, which is a fantastic tool for local businesses. If you own a coffee shop, for example, and someone nearby is on Google Maps, you won’t want to miss out on displaying your business to them when they fancy a quick cappuccino.
Benefits of keeping your GMB listing up to date:
- Maintain Google’s trust — Google needs input. The more active you are on their platforms, the more signals you send that your listing is reliable and accurate.
- Increase your reach — According to Google, 30% of searches on smartphones are location related, and 87% of smartphone owners use a search engine daily.
- Make sure you appear in front of new customers — It is essential that you choose a category for your business, particularly if what you do is not implied by your name. For example, if you run a pub called ‘The King’s Head,’ it won’t come up in a local search unless you’re in the ‘pub’ category.
- Drive leads — Competition is fierce on Google Maps listings, and customers will be comparing your business (including the reviews you have) to your local rivals, so you need every advantage you can get.
Reviews and questions
Finally, it’s important to remember that it’s not just you who can post things on your listing. Responding to bad reviews, for example, is absolutely essential. Hopefully you won’t have too many, but when you do get them, how your respond will show other prospective customers they can trust your service:
- Focus on what you can do to make things right for the customer.
- Be empathetic and acknowledge their frustrations.
- Thank them for their feedback.
By the same token, if a customer asks you a question in the Q&A section, try to reply as quickly as possible. Nobody knows exactly what goes into Google’s search algorithms, but there’s a very good chance it’ll improve the SEO for your business if you reply promptly to questions from customers.
At Alloy Marketing, we have many years of experience helping businesses small and large to stand out online. We can help to keep your Google listing up to date and we also provide a social media advertising service.
