Let’s face it; the Yellow Pages are so yesterday when looking up business information. Most people turn to Google to find businesses now. That makes it more critical than ever to ensure that your online presence is solid.
While a website is a must these days, companies also need to manage their Google Business Profile to ensure that the most up-to-date and correct information about them is available to potential clients and customers.
A Google Business Profile is a snippet box of information on the right-hand side of a Google search that talks about your business. Claiming and updating this information can help you solidify your brand and increase awareness about your business.
What is a Google Business Profile?
A Google My Business Profile allows you to manage your online presence across the entire Google platform. Once you create and claim ownership of your profile, you can access and edit all of the information that appears in your listing — this includes your business hours, location, photos, and special offers.
By claiming or creating your profile, you control the information that shows up in Google Maps or Google Search when potential customers search for your business online.
Claiming your business profile is a must to ensure that correct and accurate information is always available to the public.
The Google Business Profile Advantage
There are many reasons to claim your profile, but some of the most important are:
Control the information that Google displays.
When you don’t claim your listing, Google provides the best information about your business. However, the information they display isn’t always correct. If you control your listing, you can verify and edit all of the information about it that appears on Google and in other search engines.
Makes sure you are appearing in geographical searches.
More and more online searches utilize Google Maps for finding local businesses. Google Business Profile listings are displayed prominently in Google Maps search results. With over 70% of all searches going through Google, that’s several opportunities to attract new business.
Shows potential customers your verified Google reviews.
Reviews are an essential piece of Google’s algorithm. Consumers are becoming more reliant on third-party sources in making a purchasing decision. Business profiles with more Google reviews, especially more positive reviews, are given priority in a Google Search and pushed higher up the search results. Claiming your profile allows you to respond to any negative reviews you may get and give you a link to request more positive reviews from current customers quickly.
Increases your website’s SEO.
By claiming your business profile, you’re adding quality web links that lead consumers back to your website called backlinks. Backlinks help boost your search engine page rank (SERP) and the position where you may fall in search results.
Allows you to track traffic and create campaigns.
Your Google Business Profile allows you to create special offers and campaigns and track their effectiveness. From your dashboard, you can learn things like how many times your listing has been viewed, how customers find your listing, what actions customers take after seeing it, and more.
Allows you to interact with customers online.
Your Google Business Profile can also allow you to interact directly with your customers. Whether through responses to Google Reviews, the ability to add a get a ask for a quote button, or online messaging, your Google Business Profile has controls in the dashboard for this.
Claiming Your Google Business Profile
To start the process of claiming your Google Business Profile click here and enter the name of your business and select the proper address. If your business profile has already been claimed, additional steps will be required and you may have to request access from whomever previously claimed it. Or, you may have to submit additional verification to Google to prove it is your business.
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