Complete Google My Business Guide

In this digital age it does not matter what your business is if you want to grow your business then the only way, is to connect with your potential customers where they are spending most of their time.

According to the 99firms data, 46% of all Google searches are local. It means you have a great opportunity to grow your business by attracting a highly relevant audience from Google.

In this article I’ll inform you about all the important parts of the Google My business tool, so get ready for the insane strategies that will help you to get consistent results.

Below I have provided a complete Google My Business Guide that would help you increase leads from GMB. 

So, let’s get started:

What Is GMB (Google My Business)?

Google My Business tool is provided free by Google for business owners to manage how their local business appears across Google products, like Maps and Search.

If you run a business that focuses on a specific location, or you serve customers within a designated service area, Google My Business is the solution for you. It will help people to find you digitally.

Related: Local SEO Checklist

For this, owners need to verify their Google My Business account and edit some business-related information. Google My Business is also known as Google Local and Google Places. 

Now the question arrives: What makes Google Business Profiles different from other lists?

Google My Business Profiles listing gives brief information about your business with high online visibility.

In the Google My Business guide below, I have provided you a brief on GMB:

GMB Google Knowledge Graph

Google Knowledge Graph appears in the top right corner of the Google Search Page when you research a brand on a desktop. If you search for a brand with mobile, GMB Google Knowledge Graph shows at the top of the Search Result.

Google Local Pack

Google Local Pack appears under the location map of the business when someone searches for a business in or around a specific location.

Relates: Local SEO Checklist

Google Maps

Google Maps helps to get the directions and location of the business. It works on all devices whether it is mobile or desktop.

Google My Business lists everything about the business to make it easier for the customer to find all the details of the business that he/she is searching for. 

Once you register your Business account and Google listing, you can also get started to respond to customer reviews and you can even add images of your business and many more. It also helps your business to be on top of the Search Engine Result Page for the local search. 

If you don’t have a Google My Business account you can not compete in the race to get a higher rank in local searches. The first and most important thing is to create a GMB account if you want to get ranked in SERP for local search.

Related: 500+ Top Local Business Listing Sites – Citation Database

Importance Of Google My Business

It helps business owners to target their customers and help them by providing basic information about their business on GMB with Google listing, customers can easily get the location, directions, reviews, images of the business they searched for.

In this Google My Business guide, I am going to show you the importance of Google My Business:

GMB Helps To Generate Leads

Now the audience searches for businesses near them. Whether it’s a coffee shop, restaurant, bakery, electronic appliances, or anything. Google always shows the GMB profiles.

If you have not created a GMB profile yet so how google can show your business in a local search? So, businesses need to create GMB profiles so that they can compete in local search.

For generating more leads, make GMB a part of SEO strategy. If your leads and revenue get increased you will also start to optimize your profile. 

Helps To Rank In Search Engine Result Page

Every business wants to rank higher on Google search results. No one wants to get lost in the search results because if you rank higher, the possibilities of getting noticed by the targeted audience also increase. 

Google wants to give the relevant result to the users with the best experience with any mode, online or offline. If you give coaching for the English language, your GMB profile would not show for someone who is searching for an Math subject in the area. 

If you want to get ranked and want to have an increase in leads and more clicks, you must optimize your profile and update day-to-day about your business profile, images, and location, etc.

How To Create A GMB For Your Business

Go To Google My Business

For creating your profile on Google My Business, click here.  Here you will get an option, sign-up option on the top right. Click on that link.

Fill In Your Business Name

On the next page, you need to add the name of your business. Then click on “Add your business to Google”. To make it easy for you I have entered a random name as my business name to make it simple for you to understand the steps easily. As I entered my business name as ABC cafe shop if anyone has the same 

Business name as I have then google will show the popup otherwise it shows Create a business with this name.

Name Of The Business & Its Category

On this page, it will verify your business name again when you enter and land on the next page it will ask you for the category of your business. I entered my business name as ABC cafe shop so the category of my business would Coffee shop as it’s showing in the options. I chose the Coffee shop and clicked on the Blue Next Button.

Add Location

The next question would “Do you want to add a location customers can visit, like a store or office?” If yes hit on the yes option, or if you don’t want to reveal your location or address, then you can click on the no option.

If you click on the yes option then it will show your location on the Google map. I clicked on the No option.

Add Service Area

On the next option, you need to add the locations and areas where you want to serve your service. Like I have added New York, USA.

Add Contact Details

On the next page, you need to add a valid contact number and your website. GMB gives you the option if you don’t have a website or even you can get a free website based on your basic details. 

I have entered a random number and clicked on I don’t need a website, but if you have a website or want to get one then you can click on the options that suit your situation. 

Verify Your Google My Business Listing

Once you enter all the details then you need to verify your GMB Listing. This can be done by phone call or text, or you can verify by Postcard to your address. It takes 5 business days to receive a postcard. And you can verify it later.

If you choose to verify it later that means you cant be able to manage your GMB profile completely.

What To Do When Your Business Category Isn’t Available?

It is also very important to understand the category of your business in this GMB guide. If the category you are searching for does not show, choose the more relevant category that perfectly describes your business. For example, if you have a business for food and you are not able to find category food only, then choose “Food Court” instead of just “Food”

Is It Important To Complete All the Information Google Asks For?

Google has added many new features to Google My Business. You can take advantage of these added features as they can help you to enhance your GMB listing and helps you to attract more viewers which also increases your ranking in the local search results. 

Google asks various questions to businesses to complete the GMB profile that helps customers to get some basic information easily about your business. But if you don’t fill in the information, someone else will do it instead of you. Any other person can make changes and suggest an edit to your GMB listing.

When anyone clicks on the suggest an edit option, they can easily make changes to their GMB profile. You do not get any notification if anyone made changes to your GMB profile. This is the reason you need to log in daily to your GMB profile to make sure that no one has done unwanted changes to your listing.

Conclusion

Whether your business size is large or small, every type of business can take benefit from creating a Google My Business profile. With the help of a GMB profile, you have the opportunity to increase your ranking in local search, maximize your visibility on Google, and increase conversion or leads.

FAQs

Who can create Google My Business listing?

Any business can use Google My Business even if your business does not run a business physically. Google allows every business to create a Google My Business listing by which customers can easily find you or your location to get the services you provide.

What is Google My Business posts?

Google My Business posts are mini ads or mini-posts that show on the search engine result page in the Knowledge Panel. 

Where do Google My Business listings appear?

Your GMB listing will show in Google Search and Google Maps. This will help and allow your customer to get information about your business easily with a prime location on Google search and Google Maps.

What is the right size for Google My Business Images?

Businesses need to make sure their logo and images are in high resolution and can stand out in front of their customers. There are many types of images you can add to your Google My Business profile like,

Logo: Logo helps your customer to find your business on Google easily. If you add your basic details to your profile this will also highlight your business logo.

Cover Photo: Set a cover photo at the head of your profile that properly describes your business. This action doesn’t help the cover photo will display as the original image for your business.

Additional Photos: To highlight the features of your business and to attract the customer to add different images on your profile.

How to claim for Google Maps listing?

When you find your business in Google Maps and don’t have a proper GMB set up, then follow these steps to claim your page.

Search for your business on Google Map, go to Google Maps, search for your business name, and hit on the correct listing.

When you click on the correct listing in Google Maps, on the next page you will see the “Claim this Business” option. After claiming, you will get the option to manage the business.

After 4 to 5 working days, you will get the postcard at your mentioned address for verifying the claimed listing.

What is the booking button feature?

Google’s Booking button feature can help your business to increase in ranking on the search engine for local search. It helps the customer to get an appointment to your business in a few steps without even leaving Google.

The booking button automatically adds to your GMB listing, if you have an account with Google’s supported scheduling providers. It helps to get new clients if this button is available in your GMB profile.