Let us get this straight so there’s no confusion whatsoever – Google My Business is the best way to transform how you acquire customers online for your small business.
We are talking about the most viewed online business listing on the Internet which many small businesses don’t even have an idea about. We get it though. We know how much noise SEO and PPC is making, luring you to invest your time and hard earned money in it. It does provide ROI, for sure.
But, is it a smart move to invest in them when you haven’t yet used GMB to its full potential? We are going to answer this and many other questions you’d want to ask in this blog post. So, stay with us till the very end. Let’s get started!
What is Google My Business?
Google My Business, commonly known as GMB, is essentially a business listing displayed on the Google search engine. It works the same way like Yelp and is a core component of a website’s Local SEO optimization.
The Google My Business listing is incredibly detailed than other popular online directories and Google uses the information you provide in a variety of ways to help you gain high online visibility in important online spaces like Google Knowledge Graph, Google Local Pack, and Google Maps.
Potential customers who are looking for services and products on the search engine have direct access to your contact details which makes it easier for them to reach you. This customer acquisition technique pretty much works on autopilot.
How Google My Business is Boosting Business Growth?
Here’s how Google My Business is helping businesses boost their online presence and maximize their growth through the roof.
1. Online Consistency
With a great business profile, which we discuss later in the post, you are able to keep your customers informed throughout the Google network. Google pulls information from your GMB listing whenever it has to show the details of your business on its network.
2. Great First Impression
With GMB, you have a perfect opportunity to provide a great first impression, thanks to features like photo and video uploads. This helps businesses to set expectations and also boost the foot fall in your physical store.
3. Improves Local SEO
This is a no brainer. Local SEO is done to improve your website’s visibility for all relevant local searches. Optimizing your GMB listing can really boost your Local SEO campaign and get you a higher organic ranking.
4. Helps Gain Customer Insight
Google My Business has its own analytics centre where it helps businesses get customer insights like the number of people who viewed your listing, how customers are coming to your listing, actions they take when they look at it, and other important interactions you would want to know. You can use this information to strengthen your marketing strategies.
Why is Google My Business so Powerful?
Google My Business is a powerful way to let your target audience connect with you. But, don’t take our word for it. Let’s discuss some of the statistics that reveal how business owners have been underestimating its worth and potential to boost their sales.
1. The percentage of Google searches that are local intent-based – 46%.
We are talking about 1.6 billion daily searches made by people looking for local products, services, and information!
2. The percentage of local searches that feature Google My Business listing – 93%.
You gotta be kidding me if you didn’t get goosebumps out of this one. There is a huge percentage of online users that are using Google for local purposes. A staggering 93% shows how important Google My Business listing is to Google and its users.
3. The percentage of people contacting a business from the search result – 68%.
You were waiting for this, weren’t you? We have said it now. Given the fact that more than 50% of the online traffic Google receives is from mobile devices, your target audience only needs to tap once to get you on a phone call. Either they are calling you, or your competitor.
We have kept the best for the last :
The percentage of people trusting online reviews to make a purchasing decision – 88%
Word-of-mouth is still the best form of marketing because it never fails to impress. Your customer’s reviews on your Google My Business listing makes a huge impact on your sales figure.
How to Take Advantage of Google My Business?
Want to take complete advantage of Google My Business for your local store? We have the perfect advice for you. This section will help you understand what you need to do on your Google My Business listing.
1. Business Profile
All important information about your business needs to be there on the Google My Business listing. Your NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number), website, business hours, and other updates should be readily available to your potential customers. Do not fill in incorrect information because it may affect your local rankings.
2. GMB Posts
People are always looking for updates from their favorite local stores. The events, product offers and other updates can be made to the local panel and reach out to potential customers. Not just that, the posts also allow you to offer a one-click CTA. You can publish up to 10 posts at any time.
3. Reviews
Reviews on your Google My Business listing is essentially your reputation in the market. It’s what people think about your products and services. Reviews allow you to show up on the Map Pack. A good rating on the listing will automatically make your listing stand out on GMB. While good reviews are always appreciated, don’t ignore the negative feedback. Make sure you embrace it and respond professionally.
Wrapping Up
There you have it. By now, we hope you are well-versed with Google My Business and know exactly how this simple tweak in your online listing can bring in so much positive ROI for your business. We hope this piece of content brought great value to you. Let us know in the comments section if you have questions. We’d love to hear from you!