Google My Business: The Digital Backbone of Your Local Business
“There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope." - My boy from Missouri, Mark Twain
Digital ad agencies are notorious for long-winded pitches with new ways to creatively waste money running ads & exploring the newest & untested marketing strategies. In reality, there are very, very few net-new things in the marketing universe. At Upstream Digital Marketing, while we certainly have our finger on the pulse of trends, we're firm believers in doubling down on proven methods to drive traffic, customers, and revenue to your business.
Enter: Google My Business, or GMB as we'll call it to ensure I meet my daily goal of using 67 acronyms by 10 am
This humble and digital tool is the backbone of most local businesses. I like to think of it as the digital windowfront of your business. Though it, you're seeking to build trust & entice users to click to learn more, so let's ensure our best foot is forward.
Let's jump right into the benefits of Google My Business:
Visibility on Google Search and Maps: GMB offers your business visibility in local searches and on Google Maps. It's a crucial component for local SEO, as it can increase the chance of your business being found by potential customers in your area.
Improved Trust and Credibility: When customers see a well-maintained and active GMB listing, it fosters trust and credibility. It signals that you are a legitimate and professional business. This is hyper-critical in the era of remote work. If you have a physical presence in your community this is a huge benefit over your competitors, leverage this!
Customer Engagement: GMB allows direct interaction with customers through reviews, Q&As, and posts. This offers you a channel to build relationships, manage your reputation, and obtain valuable customer feedback. I'll be sharing great scripts to solicit reviews in an upcoming article - stay tuned 💡
Insights and Analytics: Woohoo - data! Google provides rich analytics about how people find your listing, where they come from, and what actions they take. This data can help you make informed decisions about your online marketing strategy.
Okay, GMB is important - Let's check out some best practices to make your business pop 🎉
1. Complete and Accurate Information: Ensure that your listing is fully filled out with accurate and updated information. This includes your business name, address, phone number, website, hours of operation, and description. If your hours change for holidays - please update it!
2. Utilize Google Posts: Use the Posts feature to share updates, events, offers, and more. Regular posts can keep your audience engaged and informed about your business. This is an overlooked feature! These posts allow you to showcase your team, and your business, and humanize yourself to potential customers.
3. Add High-Quality Photos: Seriously. Your GMB is the profile photo of your business, don't let the grainy photo a customer uploaded define your business. Use high-quality & thoughtful imagery to showcase your business. Visuals make a significant impact. Uploading high-quality photos of your business, products, or services can attract more attention and provide a better understanding of what you offer.
4. Respond to Reviews: Responding to both positive and negative reviews shows that you value customer feedback. It's also a chance to demonstrate your customer service skills publicly.
5. Utilize the Q&A Feature: Monitor and respond to questions asked by potential customers. You can also pre-populate the Q&A section with common questions and their answers.
Keeping up to date:
Thankfully, keeping up to date with your GMB is a relatively easy task. A few minutes of maintenance a week will keep you running smoothly. Remember, your GMB is often the last touchpoint customers have before entering your local business. Be sure to set them up with clear expectations & position your business as a clean, safe, and welcoming environment.
If you have questions about your GMB or want a free consultation on how it can be improved - let's connect!
