Customers are what makes a business successful. Moreover, without satisfied customers, low-ranking reviews will make a business will struggle to manage a consistent local presence on Google My Business.
Google My Business lets businesses tell Google what contact information and company details to display in search results, most importantly, on Google Maps. As Google says, “businesses can manage their online presence across Google.” An interactive element is implemented in Google My Business, as business owners and management can also use the platform to directly address customer reviews and post photos of their establishment.
How to Get Started with Google My Business
Before your company can shine on Google, the first step is to claim a Google My Business listing. If you have a business and want to get ranked on Google My Business, follow these steps to get started:
1. Claim the Business Listing
First, claim the Google My Business listing by entering the company name. Here’s some help from Google’s Help Page in How to Add or Claim Your Business Listing. Be mindful that even if a business hasn’t created its own Google My Business listing, an unverified unclaimed listing may come up as Google automatically creates listings based on the current information online. The disadvantage of leaving a business unclaimed on Google My Business is that generic information spread out on other unverified websites makes the business look too general without any specific reviews and creates an inconsistent web presence.
To find out if a Google My Business listing exists for a specific business, enter the name of the company in Google. If a business already exists, there will be a “Are You the Business Owner” link on the webpage. From there, click on the link and it will ask you to sign into Google.
However, if the business name you enter on Google does not display the “Are You the Business Owner” link, that means another person has claimed the company name. Try signing with the email addresses associated to the Google accounts that are associated to the company’s Google My Business page and try contacting those who might have claimed it previously.
Lastly, if you enter the business name on Google and there’s no match, that means it’s time to open a Google My Business listing, by creating specified content and current contact information.
2. Make Sure the NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) is Accurate
When a business claims and monitors their Google My Business listing, they benefit from preventing the spread of falsified business information and inaccuracies on the web. Once a Google My Business listing is verified, make sure that all contact information including the exact address and business photos accurately show the business’ current location of its headquarters. Consistent NAP ranks high on local SEO, so double check your company’s NAP on other web pages and update those as well.
3. Choose the Accurate Business Category
Remember Google likes specific information, so only choose business categories that are related to the business. Choosing too many business categories not only confuses potential customers, but it can harm a business’ ranking and not to mention it can mislead customers who are looking for something specific. Check what competitors have set as their business categories and determine which categories your business places under them.
4. Choose and Upload High-Quality Images of the Business
Only upload photos to a Google My Business listing that are high-quality because photos get 42% more requests for driving directions and click-through rates increase by 32%.
Google always recommends defaulted photos for a listing and cover photo that matches search results. However, try not to use stock photos and always include the brand’s logo for the listing photo.
5. Add a Brief Company Description
Log into the business’ Google+ Page. Remember, log into the Google Plus’s account of the business, not Google My Business log in page. Insert the correct address and enter a succinct description of what the business offers. Do not stuff it with optimized keywords, just keep it clear and straight-forward. Whether the goal is to have more customers look up driving directions or book an appointment, a good, short company description will convince potential customers to come to your location.