You have a brand new amazing website and you want as many potential customers to see it as possible. There are lots of ways you can do this, including social media campaigns and advertising. But you may be missing a very easy, and more importantly, free way of promoting your business online.

For a new business it takes time to move up the search results and establish an online presence. One easy way to get seen is to set up a Google My Business listing. This is a free listing that offers a great opportunity to appear at the top of Google search results.
A Google My Business listing is one of the most effective and easy ways to get seen in Google search results.

What is a Google My Business Entry?

When someone is looking for a business, they will often Google the type of business and the location. For example, “website companies in Thornbury”. When the results are returned, a Google map with business entries will be at the top of the page, just under the paid ads.

These entries provide great visibility for companies and show local users which companies are nearby and can help. Often users just take the information from these entries rather than scrolling further down.

When looking for good and services, users are increasingly likely to use location specific searching For example, most of us will have done a search for something like “plumbers near me”, so this is an easy way for your business to be shown for a search like this.

A Google My Business entry can show your business location and opening hours as well as providing a link to your website and contact details. You can add images related to your business and show reviews. It is essentially a short advert for your business, giving a user important information and the ability to contact you to find out more.

How to optimise your Google My Business Entry

You want your entry to be appealing to potential customers and to all the relevant information. Spending some time creating an impressive Google My Business entry could really benefit your business.

Users now want to access information instantly, so it is important all your contact information is correct and up to date. Any errors and people will move on quickly.

Spend some time writing a good description of your business, making it engaging and relevant. Where you can try and include the important keywords for your business to draw users in.

Utilise the reviews facility. We often say to clients that people are wary of testimonials on a website. It is easy to make up a quote from someone! By asking customers to complete Google reviews potential customers can see genuine comments from other people about you. Reviews offer “social proof” to your potential customers that you have a proven track record and can be trusted. Just as importantly the more reviews you have, the higher you will rank in the map results. Reviews are a key ranking factor in local search results.

It is not always easy to collect reviews so try to to make it as easy as possible for your customers. The easiest way is to send customers a link that they need to follow and even offer them an incentive to give you a review. Try to respond to all your reviews, good and bad, to show that you are interacting with your customers. Bad reviews are not always a negative thing, the most important aspect is how you respond.

Add images to your listing. Visuals are an effective way to engage users. This could include pictures of your staff, office or shop, or some examples of your work. This will immediately entice a user to find out more.

Google states that, “Businesses with photos receive….35% more clicks through to their websites than businesses that don’t have photos.”

Keep it up to date. As your business progresses make sure to keep your listing relevant. Add new images of work you have completed and always ensure your contact details are correct.

Create a Google My Business listing today!

Studies have shown that 64% of consumers have used Google My Business listings to find a local business’s address or phone number* and 38% of consumers recall visiting a website from the business’s Google My Business listing.**

Often, we focus on improving our social media presence and neglect this option. Creating and optimising your GMB entry could pay dividends for your business.

To find out more about how a Google My Business Listing can help your web presence, get in touch.