How To Get Your Business on Google My Business
The most important lesson I learned during my time is how Important it is to choose the right tool for the job, and if you want to get results, you’ve got to utilize your tools in the most efficient way possible.
Introduction to Google My Business
Google My Business (GMB) is a free, easy-to-use tool that helps businesses manage their online presence and appearance in Google Search and Google maps.
Google My Business or GMB gives your business the leverage to reach out to people, rank better on the search engines, and gives you the option of creating a website with a business email and cloud services absolutely free.
Google My Business helps small businesses create and manage their Google listings, which appear when customers find businesses on Google Search and Maps. It helps business attract new customers and share information about what makes them special.
Requirements for Google My Business
The following are the requirements for setting up Google My Business.
- A physical address of your business/shop
- A valid phone number
- A business logo
- Back story
- Photos and Video
- Cover Image
- Product/Service list
- Website (Good to have. Google provides a website option)
Tools provided by Google My Business
- Website
- Business Gmail – Custom Email
- Analytics
- Google Maps and Google Search Previews
- Google My Business Mobile App – Android and iOS App
- Google My Business Messenger
- Multiple locations update facility
- Multiple accounts linking facility
- Online Google My Business Support
- Google Ads Creation
- Multiple Account Handling Profiles
- Free 14 day trial to G-Suite
Benefits of Google My Business
The benefits of Google My Business are threefold:
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Increased visibility in search
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Better shopping experience for buyers
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More traffic to your website, social channels, and front door
Following are the benefits of Google My Business Listing
Easy visibility on Google Maps
When people search for businesses near to them, after user reviews, they look at the distance and proximity of a particular business near them.
Having a Google My Business Listing will help you show in local searches like the one above.
Helps you to show up in local search list
Having a GMB listing helps you to show up on the first page of search results for local search results list.
Trusted by Customers
When your GMB listing comes up in search results, customer looking for businesses see you as a trust worthy business; that eventually help in growth.
Star Ratings Boost your credibility
When people or customers give you star ratings on your GMB listing, it increases your credibility. Along with star ratings, reviews also boost the trust factor. More star ratings and good reviews means your business is going right.
Increase in growth of business and traffic to your website
A GMB listing of your business will increase traffic to your website by 70% and chances of getting new business/clients increases by 50%
Increase in Visibility, Search Results, Engagement
A GMB listing will increase visibility which will allow you to take more innovative approach towards your marketing efforts. A GMB listing that is consistent with posts and updates and images gets easy reach and growth in search results. GMB increases your engagement with potential clients or buyers where people can call you or visit your website with a single click.
Free Advertising from Google itself
With a GMB listing, you need not worry about paid ads or SEO. You get free advertising from Google without spending on paid ads. Although paid ads are good for immediate results and SEO help but GMB is also a type of marketing strategy to reach more people.
Help with Google posting and messaging
Whenever you are posting on Google or on your GMB, Google automatically updates this in its search algorithms and Google Maps. With GMB listing, people can directly message you from their mobile apps and you can help them in real time.
GMB Video
GMB allows video updates for listed business. Video helps in the engagement of people who come on to your listing through search. Videos that showcase your products or services or business setting help in the ranking and increase traffic to your website.
Heat Map Insight
The GMB dashboard gives access to heat maps that shows location, post codes, city and country from where you might be getting more growth or traffic. Tracking customers or visitors through their location info helps to understand the geographies you need to focus on to grow your business. This will help to plan and execute targeted marketing campaigns more easily and effectively.
Steps to create your business listing
Following steps will ensure that GMB Listing is verified.
Login to your Gmail account with the email address associated with your analytics that you have updated on your website (if you have a website already). Or login with your Gmail email address on or with which you want to make your GMB listing.
If you do not have a Gmail email address; create an account.
Click on or type in the search box https://business.google.com/
It will take you to your setup page for GMB, which looks like this
If you think your business is listed on Google, then start typing the name. If it is not or you are unsure of the name, the drop down menu will list all combinations of names. If you are not decided, start typing alphabets and a name of your liking may come up.
If you are unable to find your business listing, you can click “Add your business to Google” link
You will be redirected to the following page
Type your Business Name and click Next. Clicking on Next, you will be forward directed to a new page
Click on “Yes” and then click Next. The next page is about address details which look like this
Fill in the details like Country, Street Address, City, Pincode, and State. You can add another line to the street address and can select any country and state from their respective drop down menus. When done click Next.
If your business seems similar to an already listed similar entity, then Google will ask you this
Click “None of these” and click next
The next page is of Map where you can drag and zoom your location.
After identifying your address on the map, click Next.
The next page is about Service information. You will have to either click Yes or No depending on whether you physically service your customers outside your business location.
Click “Yes, I also serve them outside my location”. Click Next.
The next window shall ask you about the other locations of your service.
You can search and select as many locations as you want. You have the option to change or edit this later. This is an optional input, where you can decide whether to share servicing locations. You can change or edit or remove afterwards. Updating this information is recommended for maximum ROI. Click Next when done.
The next page is of business category. Choosing a business category that fits rightly to your business helps your business visibility when people are looking for your type of businesses. The page looks like this
You can change or edit or add more information later. Click Next.
The next window is about Contact Info that you want to show to your potential target audience. This window looks like this –
This listing is optional but recommended as a “best practice”; because it helps your target audience to reach out to you easily. It asks for your country specific business number which shall be shown in your Search results. If you have a website, then click “Current website url” and add your website link. Click option 2 “I don’t need a website” if your business in face to face. If you need a website, then click option 3 “Get a free website based on your info”. With option 3 you will get a custom website build on the information provided and is absolutely free.
Click any of the three options according to your need and status and requirement. Then click Next.
Click Finish to publish your GMB listing on Google Search.
After clicking Finish, you shall be asked for verification of your listing by “Postcard by Mail’ which Google will send to your address. It may take 12 days for the code to arrive which shall have a 5 or 6 digit verification number which you can update to get yur business listing verified.
The second option is verify later which gives you more verification options.
Steps to own an already existing listing
If your GMB Listing is visible but unverified or un-owned, then you need to search for the business on Google Search and Click “Own this Business?” link (circled in Red) to get started. Login with your preferred Gmail email address so that you have a complete control.
Click on the link circled in red as shown in image above. Clicking it will take you to a new page
Click “Manage Now”. The next window is this
To verify click “call” or “text” option. Either option will send you a code via text or a call from Google Support with the code on the number you provide. Update the code on to the slots given, and your business is owned and verified.
Final Thoughts
Creating and managing your GMB listing is incredibly easy and it is one of the quickest way to rank higher on the Search Engines without having to spend money on paid advertising. This is the most ideal and economic method of getting a business online for small business owners.