If you don’t have a Google My Business account, there’s no time like the present. This free service is an underrated gem that your business could be capitalizing on right now. As the digital age continues to grow, less and less digital marketing strategies are relying on their local presence.

As you search for business all around the world, don’t forget about all of the potential customers that are right next door.

So let’s dive into some of the best ways to create an account and tips on how to get the most out of Google My Business.

Make Sure That Your Listing Is Complete

This might sound obvious, but plenty of businesses that have a Google My Business account, do not utilize it to its potential. You need to make sure that you’re filling out every required section, and even the optional ones. This will make your business more visible, and it will show legitimacy when people see it.

Google gives you 750 characters as a description, use them all. Make sure all of your contact information is up to date, and consistent with all other business listings that you might have. Choose ten different categories that best describe your business, and choose wisely.

The biggest takeaway is that you shouldn’t leave anything blank. The more, the merrier, take advantage of it.

Respond To All Reviews (Even Negative Ones)

Responding to reviews on your Google My Business account is crucial. When customers are looking for a place to conduct business with, they aren’t simply looking for five-star ratings across the board. Though it is nice to have great ratings, you also need to understand that it doesn’t take much to upset a client, and receiving bad reviews from time to time is imminent.

If you receive good reviews, thank them. If you receive a poor review, try to handle it diligently and take the opportunity to turn a negative into a positive. Ask them what you could have done better, and see if there’s a solution to the issue at hand.

People read these reviews and responses. And if they see that you deal with the poor reviews in a positive and optimistic manner, they will notice that and appreciate it.

Be Visual

You can upload images to a Google My Business account, and it's suggested that you do this. People are visual, and they want to see a picture of you and your team, as well a view of the interior of your business.

Not only do visuals attract potential clients, but it’s also another way to show the legitimacy of your business. If people see a full profile with pictures, they are more likely to believe that you are for real, and this will lead to a better opportunity of attracting them.

Google My Business Has Proven Benefits

There’s no denying the benefits of Google My Business. It’s been proven that it:

Improves SEO
Improves your online visibility
Increases sales
Increases engagement
Helps reward you with a higher search engine rank

These are only a few of the benefits of Google My Business. If you’re not using these, you’re missing out on great and easy ways to capitalize on your business. It’s free, it’s easy, and there’s no reason why you shouldn’t do this.

START BENEFITING FROM GOOGLE MY BUSINESS!

Ready to start making the most out of Google My Business, but need a little help getting started? We offer a digital marketing training program that can help you learn to craft a top digital marketing strategy, which includes Google My Business. Together, we build your digital marketing solutions to help ensure a top SEO ranking, while teaching you the ins and outs of managing your tools and strategies. Take your marketing to the next level. Get help with Google My Business today! Connect with us.