How to use Google My Business - TechRadar
Google has been the most popular search engine in the world with about 8.5 billion searches per day and 88.6 billion searches per month (opens in new tab). It has been used and is still used by many people to search for locations, get tips on products, get recommendations and reviews on products, etc. One of its tools, which is Google My Business, is a free, powerful, and important tool used by many business owners to improve their visibility in Google search results and increase the number of visits to their sites.
Google My Business makes it easier for businesses to promote their store and products, and manage their store effectively. It's like a virtual phone book, it increases your chance of reaching potential customers thereby making your business easier to be found on Google search results.
Setting up a Google My Business Profile is one step to success for a business owner, it increases your chance of appearing in local search results thereby boosting your online visibility, and credibility. It's a tool that allows you to effectively manage and communicate with your customers, which helps to build trust and loyalty between you and your customers.
In this article, I will be showing you how to use Google my business for your business advancement. This article contains a step-by-step guide to setting up your Google My Business Profile, including how to optimize it for your business. Let's dive in!
Chapter 1
What is Google Business Profile?
Like I said earlier, Google My Business Profile is a very powerful, easy-to-use tool, used by businesses to manage their business effectively, increasing visibility and appearance on local search results. It's like an ecosystem, it comprises your opening hours, closing hours, contact details, location, etc.
It helps customers find your business online, by creating a unique profile with the interface, it allows businesses to create an extension of their website to increase visibility. This tool is worth adding to your digital marketing channels for your business. According to a survey by Bright Local (opens in new tab), it discovered that the average business which uses Google My Business for their business expansion or visibility has a total of 1,009 searches each month, with 16% of these searches coming from direct searches, and 85% of these searches coming from Discovery searches.
Why you need a Google My Business account
There are several reasons or benefits of using this powerful tool, no matter the industry you operate in. This tool is very important if you want to boost your brand or business visibility, discoverability, credibility, etc. If you are still considering or thinking about creating a profile, let me walk you through the things or benefits your businesses can gain from creating a Google My Business Page.
1. Increase Online Presence/ Getting Found on Google search results
Creating a Google My Business Profile is the most effective strategy to increase your online presence. One reason you need a Google My Business Profile is that the world is becoming a digitally focused world and setting up your online presence is essential to staying ahead or in front of other local customers.
Your brand visibility not only provides your brand awareness but also drives more potential customers to you. Setting up your profile accurately with the correct address, business category, hours of operation (opening and closing hours), phone number, and website will make it easier for potential customers to find you online. By simply listing your business on Google My Business, you are setting your brand up to get found on Google search results thereby increasing your chance of getting found online.
2. Customer Insights
Knowing your customers gives you insights on how to appeal to them or serve them better. Google My Business, gives you insights into who your target customers are, their location, and how they are engaging with your business.
By navigating through the insights section of your Google My Business Profile you will find what your customers are doing, if they are requesting your store location if they are clicking on your website if they are checking any products out, or if they are calling your business, etc. With this information, you can know how to modify your changes, understand your customers better and improve your business.
3. Promote Your Products
Creating awareness of your products is very essential. Running ads to promote a product can be very costly but with Google My Business Profile you can run that for free.
Google My Business listing is a great way to promote your product, accurately listing your product and regularly updating your listing is very important for a successful SEO.
Ways To Promote Your Product on Google My Business Profile:
Offer Page: These are billboards in your Google My Business Profile for your product. They help bring your offers and products to the forefront of your profile. The deals or offers will appear above your reviews with the image of the products attached to them giving shoppers the urge to make an impulse purchase.
Events: Do you have any events coming up? Are deals or promotions coming up? Then with your Google My Business Profile you can schedule and set the event, providing information on the location and time of the events to enable interested persons to attend.
4. Show Up in Google Map Search
About 90% of people use Google Maps to locate a business nearby. With Google My Business Profile it makes it easier and more convenient for customers to visit your store and they will be more likely to make a purchase.
5. Boost Sales With Reviews
The majority of people love to go through the review of a product or service before making a purchase. Google My Business enables customers to be able to leave feedback on your business for other customers to see, and by doing so increases trust, credibility, and sales.
Chapter 2
Setting up your Google My Business account
Now, it's time to take the big step. Setting up a Google My Business account is a very important step to take for the success of your business.
Here are some of the things you need to set up a Google My Business Profile.
1. Google Account
To set up a Google My Business Profile you'll need a Google account. If you have a Gmail account then you probably have a Google account but if you don't have a Google account, below is a walkthrough on how to open a Google account.
How to Open a Google Account
Creating a Google Account takes only a few minutes. To set up a Google account on a browser, you should follow the steps below.
- Go to accounts.google.com
- Click On the signup button to create a Google Account.
- Next enter your Name, Password, and Username name of your choice.
- Click on the Next button to enter your Date of Birth, Phone number, recovery email, and gender.
- Follow the next step to verify your phone number.
- Follow the remaining instructions to create your account.
To Create an account using your phone;
- Go to your phone 'Settings'
- Select 'Account' for Android phones, for IOS go to the 'Mail' option to find this setting.
- Click Add Account and Select Google to create a Google Account.
- Then Follow the instructions on the screen, provide the personal information as required, and click on 'I Agree' to create an account.
2. Business Name and Business Information
You will be requested to provide a business name, and also your business information such as Business Location, Operation Hours, Categories, Service Area, etc.
All this information will be used by Google to set up your Google My Business Profile. Make sure to provide this information because if the necessary information required isn't provided you stand a chance of losing some potential customers to your competitors.
3. Verification
Once you have imputed the necessary details, the last thing you will need to do is to verify your account before it can be published.
Your verification code will be sent to your provided email address or phone number you provided. Once you have completed this process, your business can now be published and seen on Google search results.
How to create a Google My Business account
Follow the steps below to create a Google My Business Profile.
Step 1: Create a Google Account
If you already have a Google Account, you can make use of it in setting up your account, but if you don't have a Google Account then you should follow the steps I provided above to create an account.
Step 2: Go to business.google.com
More information about Google My Business can be found here
Once you've created an account, you'll be able to manage your business listing, post updates online, reply to reviews, and upload photos.
With this account, you'll have access to your dashboard via the mobile app at any time, from anywhere. This means that when a review or question is made, you and your staff will be able to respond quickly, gaining a new customer right away.
Once you're on the Google My Business page, select "Manage Now" by clicking the large, green button.
Step 3. Business Name
What is the name of your business?
Provide the information as requested. This is an easy part to complete. Provide a name that will be recognized by your customers if you have multiple names.
Step 4. Business Location
Enter where your business is located. If you don't have a physical location then select 'I deliver goods and services then click on hide my address to hide your address to make sure it isn't shown to your customers.
Step 5. Area of Service
In this section, you will provide your area of Service. If you run a service-based company without any location, then choose "Specific areas" and list the areas you serve.
If you do have a physical location and only offer your services to those who live nearby, choose "Distance around your business location" and enter the desired number of miles or kilometers.
Please only use your primary location for now if your company has multiple locations, you can add that later.
Step 6. Business Category
Choose a business category that suits your business best. Tell Google what you do, start by typing in the letter, and a drop-down of suggestions of various categories you can choose from will appear. Choose one that fits your business best.
Step 7. Contact Details
Your customers can only contact you through the contact details you provided. This section is optional but if you choose to fill it out, make sure you input the correct details.
The next step is to verify your business. I will be showing you how to verify your business in the next topic.
How to verify your business
Google My Business is a very powerful and essential tool to boost your visibility In Google search results. The first step to Optimizing your Google My Business Profile is to verify your business. I have shown you steps on how to set up an account, now we are going to look at How to verify your business. Verification of your business is very important because it ensures that your information is displayed accurately to enable you to see statistics and customer reviews, and also lets Google know that you alone have access to the profile.
Here are steps to verify your business
Step 1. Sign In to your account
To get started on the verification of your account you need to start by signing into your Google My Business Account by going to https://www.google.com/business/
If you don't have a Google My Business Account, go to Google My Business website and click on the blue button that displays "Start Now", fill in the necessary details in the provided boxes. If you need a detailed guide, check out the 'How to create a Google My Business account' section above for a step-by-step guide. Once your account has been created, sign in to your account.
Step 2: Click On the Verify button
When you sign in to your account on your dashboard you will see a 'Verify' button next to your business name. Click to start the verification process.
Step 3: Choose the Verification Method
You can verify your business on Google My Business through several methods:
Email Verification: Google will send you a verification code in your email which you would confirm by entering the code on your Google My Business dashboard to complete your verification.
Postcard Verification: Here Google will mail your verification code to the business address you provided, once received, enter the code in your Google My Business dashboard to complete the process.
Phone number Verification: This is the final method of verification, here Google will call the business number you provided and then provide you with the verification code. Enter the code in your Google My Business dashboard in the space provided to verify your account.
Make sure you choose the method of verification that is convenient for you, also note that depending on your business category some verification methods might not be available or accessible.
Step 4: Wait to be Verified
Wait for your verification to be complete and approved. Once you have followed these methods of verification accurately, you will have to wait for Google to review your business and get you verified. This period might take a few days, just be patient.
Step 5: Confirmation
Once your business is Verified you will have to go through the information you provided to make sure it's accurate or correct. You won't like to provide misleading information to avoid losing some potential customers.
The verification process is very important to ensure the visibility of your business on Google search Maps and results.
We'll update this guide each month over the next six months to provide a fully comprehensive guide to using Google My Business, so do check back regularly for more help and tips as we publish them.
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