A Self Starter’s Approach to Building a Better Business
When you’ve chosen to market your business online, setting up a profile to boost your SEO to it’s best potential should be your number one priority. A top pick to take advantage of this is readily available via Google. They have the capacity to operate one of the most highly efficient tools for your use at GMB; Google My Business.
Through this simple optimization resource, your business will have the potential to attract and pique the interest of each and every consumer searching for services available in your type of industry, whether or not they are planning for a future purchase or an immediate buy.
Proximity, price and popularity. We have all done it. Enter a few key words, much like the meta in an SEO, into a search and we choose the closest, open and best reviewed. From emergency plumbers to take out food, so how can you be exposed to that clientele pool?Use Google Maps as you would a billboard to post your resume or business card. Start by:
- Logging in or setting up your account at Google.
- Go to google.com/business
- Type in your business name.
If another business shares the same name, follow the autocomplete option to verify that you already show up on your regional map. It is here where you can now drop in your new GMB profile. You can’t claim what’s already been taken.
TIPS AND TRIVIA: Did you know that, according to a recent online research poll conducted by BrightLocal, 70 to 80 percent of consumers will NOT consider retaining your services if the basic information is incorrectly located, advertised, or has improper grammar, punctuation and et al while 40 to 50 percent WILL choose your business if you are clearly marked as close by, open or closed and can offer what the consumer needs at that time. Especially handy during an emergency situation
NAP your map properly. When entering in your location address for your business (or URL a little further into the set-up process), make sure each drop down required element is correct; this includes STATE and ZIP.
You will also be prompted to choose what areas your service covers in your region. The perimeter circumference radius can be modified to your specific mile options OR different cities/zip codes altogether.
If you were asked to choose the one category which best describes your business, could you do it? Keywords and meta modifiers are integral tools to both your SEO and GMB.TIPS AND TRIVIA: Assuming you’ve already completed a feasibility market study, you can get an idea of how many pizzerias there are in Dallas, TX., where you’ve just relocated your business from Queen’s New York. If you want to gain headway on the take out/delivery/dine in pizza market, are you going to offer the same tex-mex style of pie or will you take advantage of advertising that you make the ONLY, BEST AWARD WINNING TRADITIONAL THIN CRUST N.Y. SICILIAN PIZZA IN THE DFW METRO AREA?
To further optimize your GMB, it must first be verified before you continue. This is accomplished by:
- A postcard with a code being mailed to the address provided on your GMB. Upon final verification, you can now add in all the bells and whistles from your marketing arsenal to make your business profile POP!
- Pictures and videos of location, staff setting scene staging, or before and after should never be chosen from online stock photos but rather be taken with your own camera. Consumers are eagle eyed and can spot a “representation fake”/Stock Photo within seconds.
- A well-written description crafted to hit your highlights.
- Q & A sections, coupons, discounted seniors and Veterans rates, handicapped-accessible parking, bilingual languages spoken, TTY onsite. Virtually anything geared toward your business can be made use of when it comes to these keywords. Don’t forget to include Holiday and Observances hours of availability.
- Finally, finish up with the golden star review meter by encouraging your customers to leave positive reviews and testimonials.
These are the basic steps required to get started with optimizing your Google My Business maps listing. We use them every day. Now, you can be in those top three initial google searches with a few hours of research, simplifying and streamlining while still improving your brand awareness and getting a piece of the consumer market pie that your business deserves.
Glossary of Terms:
SEO. (Search Engine Optimization)
NAP. (Name, Address, Phone)
HCR. (High Conversion Rate)
SAB. (Service Area Business a.k.a. Sticks and Bricks, Physical Location)
GMB. (Google My Business, Google Business)