Google My Business Drives More Traffic to Your Website
About Google My Business
Google My Business is a free service that helps your business stand out in searches by providing a detailed profile on the results page and in Google Maps. For a brick and mortar business or an online company providing services to a particular region, this tool can provide tremendous value and traffic.
A completed profile contains your company name and a description of services, operating hours, location and areas serviced, phone number, website and reviews. In your profile, you’re also able to include photos, blog posts, and status updates.
How to Optimize Your Business Profile
The key to creating a profile that works for you is to make sure your information and settings are optimized.
First, you’ll need to start by claiming your business listing. Use your Google Account associated with your business to do this and complete the set-up process in full. It’s important to reach 100% on the progress bar.
Secondly, when adding your address and phone number, be sure to use your standard information so that there’s no confusion for the user. Having one phone number or a standardized set of phone numbers used on your profile and your website helps your customers easily reach you.
Thirdly, within the description for your business, you’re able to include keywords that you’d like to rank for. Using Google Keyword Planner can help you choose keywords best for your business. Or, perhaps you already have some in mind.
Then, set up the Google My Business website and be sure to include your keywords there, too!
Finally, uploading images of your business and staff, regularly posting updates and adding blog posts will help round out your profile and give customers a better idea of what to expect from your company.
Your Google Reviews
Including Google Reviews gives customers a sense of what to expect from your business and can speed up their decision-making process. Furthermore, companies with high-quality reviews are able to rank higher in search results. Therefore, this improves your visibility and credibility.
How important are online reviews?
Just take a look at these statistics below to see…
- 97% of people read reviews for local businesses. (BIA/Kelsey)
- 93% of consumers say online reviews impact their purchasing decisions. (Podium)
- 92% of B2B buyers are more likely to purchase after reading a trusted review (com)
- 94% say an online review has convinced them to avoid a business. (ReviewTrackers)
- 13% of consumers will consider using a business that has a 1 or 2 star rating. (SearchEngineLand)
Just The Beginning
Google offers a powerhouse-suite of tools that can be used to enhance and manage the visibility of your business. Combining Google Analytics, Webmaster Tools, and Google My Business, along with a fast website that uses SEO properly, will improve your local page ranking. With more than two trillion searches per year, potential customers are searching Google for answers to their questions – and solutions to their needs. By maximizing the tools that Google provides, you’re able to get your business noticed… and, literally, put your business on the map.
Get Help with Setting Up Google My Business
Signify Studio can set up your business profile and optimize your information and settings so that you can gain better visibility and drive more traffic to your website. Contact us today to request help. We can’t wait to hear from you!