Started your own business but are yet to claim your Google Listing? Then this is the post for you!
If you have not got around to registering your business with Google My Business then there is a good chance you are going to struggle!
I’m sorry, it really IS THAT IMPORTANT to get set up on Google and to claim your Google Listing.
In this article, I am going to explain the top 5 reasons why it is so important that you claim your Google listing, especially if you have a brick and mortar business.
When people search for your company on Google, a Google listing will appear on the right-hand side of the page—but only if you’ve claimed it.
A key reason to claim your Google listing is to ensure all the information that Google is providing a potential customer is 100 percent accurate. After all, this is your business reputation on the line.
Why do I think it is that important?
Let me try to explain it by way of the following analogy…
Let’s say you decide to go out and bought a lottery ticket today. Later on, when you come to check the results you find that you have picked the winning numbers, I am sure you would race out to claim your winning as soon as possible, right?
Of course you would! I know I would!!
Think of your Google My Business listing as your winning lottery ticket in business. The sooner you claim your Google listing as your own, the sooner you can promote it effectively. And in doing so the value to you over time could be worth thousands to you in new revenue.
The first step you need to take is to claim your Google listing. It’s important that you do so because Google doesn’t know your business, so they need your help.
Claiming your listing will ensure your business is categorised correctly, your website has the correct link and perhaps most importantly, your address is correctly listed.
Seems simple enough right?
Imagine how frustrating it would be if you were to miss out on potential new customers because the information Google had for you was incorrect or worse… led to another business!
Here Are 5 Reasons Why You Should Claim Your Google Listing Today:
Have you ever searched Google or Google Maps and seen the profile for a business pop up?
That’s a free local business listing called Business Profile on Google.
In a noisy online marketplace, local listings such as these serve as a virtual billboard for prospective customers who want to find you quickly and easily. This is especially right when they’re ready to make a purchase.
Keep reading to learn why filling out your Business Profile can help you.
The more complete your profile is, and the more often you use it, the more effective it will become.
And, the simpler you make it for potential customers to buy directly from you, the more sales you have the chance to attract.
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KEY REASON #1. – INCREASED CREDIBILITY AND TRUST
When potential customers search online, they look for products but also signs that the businesses selling those products are real, active, and trustworthy.
When they come across an incomplete online listing, doubt begins to form in their minds. A local business listing without a logo, photos or a description is the equivalent of finding a shop with boarded-up windows.
Not the first impression you were looking for!
Claim your Google Listing Profile and this enables Google to confirm that your business name is accurate. Make sure you add the following to your listing:
- Your logo
- A description of your business
- Your contact information
- Your opening hours (including seasonal variations)
- A link to your website[divider style=’centered’]
- A cover photo
- Photos of the outside and inside of your business, as well as products
Filling out the profile confirms everything prospective buyers expect to see:
Up-to-date hours, contact information, and, possibly, recent customer reviews – social proof that your business is worth visiting.
Business owners who fill out their profile in full are perceived to be twice as reputable by consumers. This makes your business immediately more attractive and trustworthy to potential consumers in your local community as well as tourists and other out-of-town visitors.
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KEY REASON #2. – BOOSTS YOUR CHANCES OF BEING FOUND IN LOCAL SEARCH RESULTS
Searches on Google may be global, but most of your prospective customers think local when they use it.
More than 80% of people search the web to find local information using keywords like “[business type] in Greenwich” or “near me”.
For example…
“Personal Trainer in Greenwich“
or
“Mexican restaurant near me“
By filling out your Google My Business listing, you’re more likely to show up in those local searches and have the opportunity to engage with potential customers.
A sandwich shop in Nottingham that has filled out its profile, for example, could show up when nearby people search “sandwich shop”, or could show up for those who search “best sandwiches in Nottingham” in any location.
The people searching could live in town. Be visiting. Or simply be planning a visit. The sandwich shop’s local listing could reach them all.
When a Business Profile on Google shows up in a search, it appears at the top of the page, to the right-hand side of other organic search results as a ‘Knowledge Panel’, making it immensely valuable to small businesses who might otherwise struggle to be discovered online.
If visitors click, it can lead to sales.
Research shows that complete listings are 29% more likely to attract purchases. Make every impression count by completing your profile and keeping it fresh with new photos and posts.
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KEY REASON #3. – HELP CONVINCE MORE POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS TO CHOOSE YOUR BUSINESS
The simpler you make it for potential customers to buy directly from your profile, the more sales you have the chance to attract.
This means being clear about what you offer and how potential customers can shop or visit, and making the purchasing process as simple as possible.
Here’s how you can achieve that:
- Post photos
Images are a powerful tool for marketing your business, so be sure to take advantage. Research shows that businesses that add photos to their profile receive 42% more requests for directions than those that don’t. A Brighton pub that serves fish and chips, for instance, can make its profile more attractive by uploading mouthwatering photos of its freshly battered cod.
[divider style=’centered’] - Share posts
Business owners can write posts on their Business Profile on Google to highlight their products or announce special offers. The more often you as a business owner post promotions, the more reasons you give to prospective customers to visit your business. Or buy from you online. And if those posts are targeted to particular audiences – such as tourists – they’re more likely to catch their attention.
[divider style=’centered’] - Answer questionsUsers can ask you questions directly through your Business Profile on Google. So it’s important to check back regularly and respond to any queries as promptly as possible. This is where I see a lot of businesses fail – they neglect to manage and review their profiles which is why we work with businesses to help manage this processThis indicates to users that your business is active and engaged. And that you’re keen to deliver good service. If there are particular questions that potential customers ask frequently, businesses can answer them in the Q&A section of their profile.For instance, a Liverpool restaurant could announce that it caters, but only to specific postcodes, and an Edinburgh dry cleaner could explain the cut-off times for its same-day dry cleaning service.
[divider style=’centered’] - Use a call-to-action buttonGoogle gives business owners the opportunity to allow customers to make a booking or message them directly via their Business Profile on Google.Encouraging potential customers to take action at the moment they’re browsing reduces the number of steps involved with calling or visiting. This increases the likelihood that they’ll decide to follow through.
Businesses that engage users with posts, photos, answers to common questions, and call to actions can create a profile that’s more inviting to potential customers. This makes it more likely to attract clicks and visits.
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KEY REASON #4. – PERSUADES PAST CUSTOMERS TO RETURN
Business owners can maintain a conversation with previous local customers by updating their profile frequently and giving them reasons to return to their shop or website.
They can post limited-time discounts. Announce new seasonal offerings. And share general news about the business to stay top of local shoppers’ minds.
If customers have left reviews, you can build a relationship with them by responding. You can do this easily from your phone or tablet via Google My Business app.
When you receive reviews that are positive, saying thanks makes users feel valued and may inspire repeat visits.
If however, the reviews are negative, you have the opportunity to win over unhappy users by replying thoughtfully.
Even if you don’t change a reviewer’s mind, you’ve at least shown other potential customers that you care and are responsive.
Make a habit of responding to your Business Profile reviews regularly.
That way, it only takes a small amount of time each week or each month. And you won’t accumulate six months of reviews to respond to all at once.
To keep up-to-date, enable push notifications from your profile so that you are notified when your business receives a new review. Or hire a team of review management experts to manage your listings for you
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KEY REASON #5. – MAKES YOUR LOCAL ONLINE ADS MORE EFFECTIVE
A complete Business Profile on Google can make your digital marketing more effective. It does this by offering insights into who your local potential customers are. And how they interact with your listing.
From the Insights tab within the Business Profile on Google dashboard, you can view details like:
- How many customers visited your Business Profile on Google
- The buttons customers clicked
- Which of your photos customers viewed
- The geographical locations customers searched from the most
The free insights provided by Business Profile on Google can help with various aspects of your digital marketing. Including Google Ads campaigns.
Based on this information, a cycle shop in Cardiff, for example, could learn that they should include the keyword “bike repairs” in local search ads.
Or they could use a particularly popular photo of a mountain bike in their display ads.
Or target ads to people living in the Riverside area of the city.
Setting up a Business Profile on Google can be an incredibly valuable resource for you as a small business owner.
It can help your business appear more credible. Show up in online searches. Attract the attention of new customers from near and afar. And create a more robust digital marketing strategy. All for a small time investment.
And remember, the more complete your profile is, the more likely it is to deliver results and help your business grow.
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