Why Google My Business Important For Local Business?
Every day, people search for nearby businesses with Google. More people use Google than any other search engine, Googling 3.5 billion times a day. Lucky for you, Google provides you a free page for your customers to find you easily. And it works well on desktop and mobile. It’s Google My Business.
For many businesses, more customers will see this page first before discovering you and your website. So it’s crucial to create an excellent first impression.
(1) Verify your phone number, address, and all other public information
Make sure it’s right. You don’t want to lose customers because your number or address was incorrectly listed. These errors happen all the time. If you don’t fix it, customers who wish to contact you will be unable to. And these kinds of small mistakes early can mean you miss out on long-term customers just because of bad luck.
(2) Show up in local searches
When a customer searches nearby, unless you have claimed your business, you might not show up for them at all. Google knows that verified businesses are more likely to be what customers are looking for and lead to positive shopping experiences. If you’re unclaimed, chances are local searches won’t show you at all.
(3) Manage your free account and interact with customers
Your GMB account is entirely free for you, and it’s advantageous to use all its features. You can update your photos, add posts, change your business hours, link to your website, and review customers’ comments.
(4) Boost your rank with SEO
Just because you’re on the list when customers search doesn’t mean you’ll be #1. That’s where SEO is essential. By claiming your business, you start boosting what is called SERP (Search Engine Results Page-rank). You create backlinks and other vital qualifications in Google. After a while, you’ll begin to climb the ranks.
(5) Manage Customer Experience
It’s a competitive landscape out there, and those businesses who do better listening to their customers will succeed. Luckily, Google My Business gives you the unique opportunity to see reviews, comments, and talk directly with customers. Let satisfied customers know how else you can help them, and assure the unsatisfied that their complaint has been heard.
If all of this seems like a lot, and it can be. But once you start it gets easier. Claiming your Google My Business is an essential and important goal for any growing business.