What is Google Business?

Google is the world’s largest search engine, with numbers incomparable to that of any competitor. Ranking 91.75% in global search stats, if you’re a business, you’ll want to know about Google Business and how to optimize your profile. If tended to regularly, your GBP is a free SEO jackpot!

…your GBP is a free SEO jackpot!

Essentially, Google Business is an online directory that allows you to manage your business’s appearance on Google Search and Maps. Google understands more about a company with an optimized GBP, so the more they know about your business, the more types of searches your listing can appear in! When used correctly, Google Business is a powerful tool for driving customers your way and dominating the first page of a Google search!

The information you display is what your future customers see when they search for your business. Your Google Business listing features your business name, location, and hours of operation, along with space for customer reviews, the ability to accept bookings, and the opportunity to have a Q&A section. You can also upload photos, 360º images, post updates, products, and events. Click here to read our blog post: Quick Tips For Optimizing Your Google Business Profile Right Now.

There are several ways to optimize your GBP for short-term and long-term results. Ultimately, it’s best to tend to your Google Business profile consistently, posting photos and updates at least weekly.

The information you display is what your future customers see when they search for your business.

The Map Pack

The Google Map Pack is a set of highlighted Google-Maps-based results featuring the most highly ranked businesses based on the factors that determine local ranking. This group of local businesses within the Map Pack appears in response to search queries.

Unlike organic search results, which are taken from Google’s index of websites, the listings in Local Packs originate from the Google Business directory and get 44%-61% of the total clicks! The Google 3-Pack can position your business as one of the most relevant listings in a consumer’s eyes, as it holds the number 1 position in 93% of all Google searches.

The Map Pack massively helps improve your brand’s online visibility. If your business appears on the Local Pack, it means you will appear on the first page of Google. Click Here to read our Blog Post: How To Get On the First Page of Google Search Results. (What is the Google Map Pack?)

Does Google Business outweigh your website in 2021?

GBP compliments your existing website and puts the power of free online marketing at your fingertips. If optimized, your business could be on top of search results, ranking in the top three of your niche organically! Google Business can improve your visibility through local SEO, connect you to new audiences, and help you understand customer behavior.

While optimizing your Google Business listing involves consistent time and effort, the benefits of GBP management far outweigh the challenges of startup and maintenance.

• 64% of consumers use Google Business listings to find a local business address or phone number over a website
• Search result information will send 70% of consumers to a physical store
• 92% will choose businesses that come up on the first page of the Map Pack.

What this tells us is that consumers are almost always led to a “call to action” before they ever even make it onto the business’s website. As you can see, the importance of your business coming up in the top search results is more valuable now than ever.

If optimized, your business could be on top of search results, ranking in the top three of your niche organically!

What you can expect with Google Business

By ensuring a complete and accurate Google Business profile, and consistently utilizing the posts and photos feature, you are taking the necessary steps to optimize your GBP in a big way. A few of the most popular features within Google Business include photos, posts, bookings, reviews, Q&A, and Google Insights. By utilizing these features, you can expect that with time, your business’s local ranking will improve!

PHOTOS

Google’s primary goal is for the digital world to replicate the real world. Strong visuals add tremendous weight to the visual proof a listing has and is crucial for good first impressions. Entice customers to click through your listing by posting relevant, high-quality content of your establishment, displays, products, services, and team members. Not only does this play a huge role in your local ranking, but it’s a significant player in a consumer’s decision to choose your business over someone else’s.

Additionally, there is a category within your GBP photos for 360º Photography. Have a 360º photo taken of your storefront or lobby, or get a full walk-thru virtual tour of your business to put on your website, Google Business Listing, and Google Maps. Click here to learn more about 360º Photography and hire a Google Street View Trusted Photographer near you.

POSTS

Invite customers to engage further and make return visits to your listing by posting custom updates, products, offers, and events. Utilize GBP posts to increase clickability and time spent within your listing, your local authority score will thank you! Not sure what to post about? Check out our Blog Post: GBP Post and Photo Ideas Your Customers Will Love

Increase clickability and time spent within your listing…

BOOKINGS

Google integrates many of its services into one giant bundle for a consistent experience across the board. Email, Calendar, and GBP- it’s all connected under one roof so you can conduct business seamlessly. GBP Bookings allows customers to schedule an appointment or book a service directly from your listing. Integrated scheduling partners help you to organize, track, and easily manage your bookings all in one place.

REVIEW MANAGEMENT

Review management is not only a gigantic contributor to your local ranking but to your customers’ trust. Did you know that 91% of consumers read online reviews and 84% of them trust reviews as much as personal recommendations from friends? Now, those are some numbers! It’s imperative that your GBP has a healthy engagement rate for strong Social Proof. This shows Google that people care about you, and you care about them. If your business is worth talking about, it’s worth mentioning in the top search results, makes sense to us! Engage with customer comments and reviews and Google will reward you for it!

91% of consumers read online reviews and 84% of them trust reviews as much as personal recommendations from friends…

Q&A

The Q&A section is a great place to increase your profile footprint. It adds to the helpfulness of your listing by pinning frequently-asked questions for easy viewing. Responding to customers’ direct inquiries about your business is a great way to get frequently asked information out there and for the knowledge base around your business to be more broadly explained. It shows Google that your listing is updated and active which is an excellent thing for your Local Authority Score.

GOOGLE INSIGHTS

Google’s dashboard provides vital insights into customer activity and interaction, allowing businesses to learn what is working on their listing, and what is not. Also, Google Insights can help a business to understand their community better as they target new customers. How did searchers find your business?  How are your photos performing? Google insights highlight the answers to these questions and help companies optimize and improve their performance over time.

Google Insights can help a business to understand their community better as they target new customers.

YOUR GOOGLE BUSINESS ACCOUNT

• Google accounts for 92% of all desktop and mobile search traffic worldwide.
• 46% of all Google searches are linked to something local.
• Only 12.6% of all Google clicks go to one of the top 100 domains.

With stats like these, Google Business is hard to overlook. As a small, local business, you can largely benefit from utilizing this free SEO strategy. Optimize your profile and allow Google Business to assist your company in becoming more visible, visited, and accurately represented.

If your business already appears on Google Maps then you have a Google Business listing. If you need help acquiring your account then log in to your business email and follow the instructions below.

STEP ONE- After logging in to your business email account, click the icon on the top right with the nine small dots.