Why You Need a Google My Business Listing
It’s vital for every business to have a Google My Business page in today’s world. It’s not just for brick and mortar stores either. Online and mobile businesses can benefit from having a GMB listing as well.
The basic Google My Business Listing is free and allows you to share important details with potential customers. Business name, website, phone number, and hours of operation are the most basic details to share. Having this listing with all of those details means that when someone googles you, your business shows up on the first page of Google.
It helps with SEO and conversion of leads
In order for customers to find you online, you need to work on your Search Engine Optimization. SEO is driven by a continual stream of good content or paid ads. We all want to be #1, but it usually takes a lot of time and/or money to get there. But, if you have a Google My Business listing, that allows customers to find you without paying for ads, especially in local searches. All you need to do is ensure you have all of your basic info filled out on the GMB listing and create content on there at least once a week. This creates organic SEO. That means it is free content, not paid ads.
Then, converting leads becomes even easier with GMB. Not only can you add options to allow potential customers to call or email you right from the posts you create, they’ll also see your reviews from other clients. It’s been shown time and time again that online social proof allows customers to make quicker buying decisions. One of the easiest ways to do that is by asking your clients to leave testimonials on your Google My Business page. We live in an Amazon world, so people are more likely to buy from you if others before them have given you rave reviews.
Don’t forget the images
You don’t want the Google street view images to be the only thing that shows up in the image section of your GMB listing. While high-quality graphics are best, a well-lit image from your smartphone that shows your business and products can go a long way. If you don’t have products, then it is best to create graphics that represent the services you offer. Google recommends image sizes of at least 250 x 250 pixels and we find that 400 x 300 px works best.
Don’t delay. Start your Google My Business listing today and you can easily add to it later. It may take up to 2 weeks for Google to recognize your business and add it online. They will have to mail you a postcard to verify your business. So, make sure you add a permanent address, not a PO Box.
If you need more guidance on this, we can help. Schedule a free consult HERE
