How Do I List My Business on Google? 10 Quick Tips to Help Customers Find You
As service to customers continues to migrate to digital platforms, one of the most common questions by new business owners is “How Do I List My Business on Google?” Creating and maintaining a Google My Business (GMB) listing is increasingly important as customers utilize digital devices to research, find, source, and locate business to help solve their problems or needs. We’ve complied a list of 10 quick tips to help customers find your business on Google.
How Do I List My Business on Google? We’ve Got You Covered
First things first – what is a GMB listing? GMB is a multi-faceted platform driven by Google that enables you to submit information your businesses, manage customer reviews and questions, and publish videos, photos, and post announcements. The best part – it’s FREE!
Follow these tips to create a listing that is sure to beat out your competitors and bring more business through your doors – both physically and virtually.
1. Set your business category
By filling out your business category, this helps potential customers understand what kind of business they can expect to find at the location in question. To attract people who are interested in your products or services, it’s important to make sure your business category correctly represents what you do. For example, if your primary category is “Italian restaurant”, Google may show your business in local search results to people who search for “Restaurants”, “Italian restaurants” or “Italian food” in their area.
2. Add service areas
If you’re a gardening company, painter, or a business that serves at the customer’s location, you are considered a service are business. Adding the areas (or locations) you service helps Google understand the geography of your business.
3. Verify your GMB listing
Verifying your business is crucial for the visibility and performance of the listing. It proves to Google you can manage and do, in fact, represent the business you claim. You can select phone or postcard verification methods.
4. Include keywords in your business description
Yes, SEO is relevant within your listing! Google uses a variety of algortirthms when serving search results, factoring in keywords from your listing.
5. Create posts on GMB and use keywords
Publish business updates and events and product or service updates directly to Google. Posts keep your listing fresh and active and allows for links back to your website. This is also an opportunity to create optimized posts with relevant keywords for your business.
6. Keep operating hours accurate
This is an obvious tip but one that is frequently missed. Google offers the ability to change hours frequently as well as post special hours for holidays and other events. Keep your hours updated so no one shows up to your door when closed!
7. Encourage and respond to reviews from customers
As customers continue to take it upon themselves to research business they want to support, customer reviews has become one of the biggest factors in customer decision making. Positive reviews are also rewarded by Google and increase your visibility in the SERP. Hot tip – create a quick link to send to your customers asking for a review. Follow these steps for creating a custom reviews link.
9. Add photos and your logo
Photos are one of the ways to up your game in the GMB world. Customers are more likely to visit your store or understand your business through visuals. Post interior and exterior photos, videos, and your logo. According to Google, “Research shows that businesses that add photos to their profile receive 42% more requests for directions than those that don’t.”
10. Submit products in the product catalog feature
Provide information about your products including descriptions, photos, pricing, and even link to shop the product directly on your website. These products also give Google more insight into what your business does and who you serve.
We hope you found these tips helpful as you create or claim your GMB listing. As marketers, we stringly recommend including your GMB listing in your marketing strategy as a way to engage with customers.
Ready to take the next step? Congrats, you’ve past the “How Do I List My Business on Google” stage! Next stop, optimization station! Contact us if you’re looking for a team of navigators to guide you through digital marketing!