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8 Reasons Why Your Website Needs A Google My Business Listing

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Local SEO Series - 8 Reasons Why Your Website Needs A Google My Business Listing



Welcome to the first edition of our local SEO series. The purpose of this series is to provide more information for businesses, entrepreneurs who may be unfamiliar with the benefits of local search engine optimisation. This blog post will focus on the importance of the free tool by Google My Business. 

 In a world where 90% of the UK population were recent internet users (source Office of National Statistics). Four in five consumers use search engines to find local information (source: Google). Your business needs to be able to reach potential customers looking for local services and products before your competitors get to them. Thanks to the internet, there are many tools your business can embrace to reach consumers online. These tools will help you to reach potential new customers looking for local services and products. One of the free tools for your business to use is Google My Business to help optimise your website's local SEO and ensure your brand is visible to your digital target audience. 

Last week’s blog post discussed the importance of local search engine optimisation and how it can benefit your business. This week, I want to explore the “Google My Business tool and share the 8 reasons why your business needs it.”

What is Google My Business?

Introduced in 2014, this is a free and easy-to-use tool for your business to manage your online local presence across Google, including Search and Maps. So, whether your business is in a particular location or you’re an online business, Google My Business can help you to reach your target audience and improve your website's local SEO.


What does your Google My Business profile include?

According to the Google/Ipsos survey, consumers search for a variety of information. With 54% of consumers look for opening times and 53% looking for directions on their smartphones. One of the key features of Google My Business Listing's are they allow you to include the following information about your company for free:

· Opening hours
· Website details
· Contact details; address and phone number
· Photos
· Customer reviews

Example 1 of Google Local Pack

In the example below I have typed in the search terms "digital marketing agency Birmingham" and the below shows the search page presented. At the top of the page is a  paid advert which is then followed by the Local Google Pack. The Local Google pack contains three marketing agencies who have optimised their Goole Listings. There is no cost to be in the Google Local packs, you just need to ensure your Google Business Listing is verified and optimised. 

Each of the listings have their company's contact details, links to website and directions to their office locations making it easier for clients to contact them 





8 benefits of creating a Google My Listing profile for your business 

  1. You control what people see about your business - You get to manage the information that Google users see when they search for your business online.
  2. Customer Reviews - According to BrightLocal 85% of customers trust online reviews. Google actively encourages businesses to ask for customer reviews. Read and respond to reviews from your customers, and post photos that show off what you do. Please view Google My Business Customer Customer Review Guidelines. You can also create direct URL links for customers to give Google My Business customer reviews 
  3. Search Analytics - Discover customers insights such as; how customers searched for your business, and where those customers are coming from. 
  4. Tracking - You can see information such on how many people called your business from the phone number displayed on local search results.
  5. Visibility - Increase the chances of showing up in Google's Business Local Listing platform.
  6. Google My Business Posts - These are similar to social media posts and a great way to promote special offers and promotions for your customers 
  7. Upload Content - You have the ability to not only upload pictures but 30-second videos too.  Please view the Google My Business Video Guidelines 


8.Google My Business Questions & Answers - This feature is a great opportunity to interact with customers




Oh yes.. how can I forget. It's FREE!!


Do you need a physical building to list your business?

No, home-based businesses or a service-area business can list their details to appear on Google with or without an address.

How do you verify your business?

Verification means requesting, receiving and reading a verification postcard from Google. You might also have other verification options.


Here is the link for signing up and a useful guide created by Google.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve found this week’s blog post useful. It would be great to find out who has optimised their Google My Business Listing, to see if you’ve seen an uplift in traffic to your website. If you have any questions about the tool tweet me.


Check out my other blog posts on search engine optimisation: 

Have a great week xox

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