Google My Business 360: How To Win A Local Competition

13 min read

Google My Business can be a powerful tool for businesses looking to dominate their local competition. This blog post will discuss the basics of Google My Business and how you can use it to your advantage. We will also cover some of the more advanced features of Google My Business, such as reviews and insights. If you’re looking to take your business to the next level, read on!

What is Local SEO?

Local SEO is the process of optimizing a business’s website and online presence to rank higher in local search results. You can do this by using specific keywords, Google My Business, and other online marketing techniques. When done correctly, Local SEO can help businesses attract more customers from their local area.

Why Local SEO is Important

Local SEO is essential for two main reasons. First, because most people now use search engines to find local businesses. In fact, according to Google, “50% of mobile users are looking for something nearby right now.” Second, local businesses have a distinct advantage over larger enterprises regarding ranking in local search results.

What Is Google My Business?

Google My Business is a free platform that allows businesses to create a listing on Google. The platform is designed to help companies connect with customers online and enables users to manage their business information, including hours of operation, contact information, and website. In addition to the basics, Google My Business also offers advanced features such as reviews and insights.

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How To Get My Business On Google?

There are a few ways to get your business on Google. The first way is to create a listing on Google My Business.

The second way is to claim an existing listing for your business. Finally, if you find that your business is not listed on Google, you can directly submit a request to add it.

Creating a Google Business Listing

The first step in creating a Google Business Listing is to create a Google account. Once you have created an account, you can create a listing for your business.

Go to google.com/business and click the Manage now button to create a listing. You will then be prompted to enter your business information. Enter accurate information, as customers will use this to find your business.

In addition to basic information, you can also add additional details about your business, such as hours of operation and website. You can also add photos and videos of your business.

Once you have entered all of the information for your listing, click the Submit button. Google will then review your listing, and once approved; it will be published on Google.

Claiming an Existing Listing

If you find that your business is not listed on Google, you can claim an existing listing for your business. Go to google.com/business and click the To begin link under the Business profile header.

You will then be prompted to enter your business information. Be sure to enter accurate information, as customers will use this to find your business.

In addition to basic information, you can also add additional details about your business, such as hours of operation and website. You can also add photos and videos of your business.

Once you have entered all of the information for your listing, click the Submit button. Google will then review your listing, and once approved; it will be published on Google.

How Can I Create Multiple Locations for My Business?

Google also provides the following tools to help companies with multiple locations:

Location groups enable multiple users, such as coworkers, regional managers, and agencies, to administer accounts which helps manage local advertising.

You can bulk-update your listings with a spreadsheet, which is helpful if you work in a large organization with more than 10 locations. With a spreadsheet, you may add, verify, and manage your locations in bulk. You may then request bulk verification to ensure that your listings appear on all Google properties (to show on Maps and Search, your firm must fulfill GMB quality standards). Update via the GMB dashboard or by uploading new spreadsheets.

To add photos in bulk to locations, use a spreadsheet. You may add photographs to particular spots using your GMB dashboard, but it’s more practical to do so in bulk with a spreadsheet. All pictures must be GMB compliant, and you can’t upload images to unverified places. It might take a few days for your photos to appear on Google Maps and Search. You must host all photographs on a publicly accessible URL like your CMS.

Advanced Features of Google My Business

Google My Business offers a variety of advanced features that can help businesses connect with customers online.

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Reviews

One of the most powerful features of Google My Business is reviews. Reviews allow businesses to collect feedback from customers and can help build trust and credibility. In addition, reviews can also help companies rank higher in local search results.

You can view and respond to reviews.

Insights

Google My Business also offers insights, which provide businesses with data about their customers. For example, insights can help businesses understand who their customers are, where they are located, and how they found you.

You can view data about your customers, including demographics and interests.

Managing Your Business Information

Google My Business allows businesses to manage their business information, including hours of operation, contact information, and website.

You can enter or update your business information.

Google My Business also allows businesses to manage their reviews and insights.

Can I Turn Off Google Reviews For My Business?

Yes, businesses can choose not to show their reviews on Google. To do this, go to your My Business profile and click the Reviews tab. Then, select not to show your reviews on Google and click the Save button.

Why Is My Business Not Showing Up On Google?

There are several reasons why your business may not be showing up on Google.

Go to your profile and click the Verify tab to troubleshoot the issue. Then, click the Verify Now button. You will then be prompted to enter your business information. Be sure to enter accurate information, as customers will use this to find your business.

You can also verify your website. If your website is verified, you can then use the “Google Search Console” to troubleshoot the issue.

More Tips for How to Win Local Competition

There are many ways to improve your visibility on Google and win a local competition. Here are a few tips:

Ensure your Google My Business profile is 100% complete

The more information you have on Google My Business, the better. Your account’s completeness aids Google in ranking you higher in local search results while also increasing the number of actions customers take when they encounter your profile. There’s a lot of data to give, so here are some ideas for prioritizing:

Name
Address
Phone
Website
Hours
Category and Attributes
Products and services
From the business
Questions and answers

Select the proper category for your business

When consumers perform a search for a product, service, or categorically defined term linked to a company’s profile, 84% of their Google Business Profile views come from discovery searches, meaning the consumer searched for a product, service, or categorically described term and the business’s profile appeared, as opposed to just 16% from direct queries.

Add specific details

When choosing a category for your business, be specific as possible. Just selecting restaurant will lump you in with many businesses that might not even be close to yours. On the other hand, if you choose Italian Restaurant, you have narrowed down your audience and made your business more visible.

Once you begin to type, a drop-down list of categories will appear. You can also discover a complete list of Google My Business categories here to be sure you select the most specific one for your company.

Choose secondary categories

Don’t forget to add secondary categories to your business listing. For example, if you are an accountant, you might choose “accounting” as your primary category and “tax services” as a secondary category.

Don’t overdo it

You want Google to connect you with consumers who need your service, so choose only categories that match your offering. However, adding too many categories can actually have a negative effect, making your business harder to find.

Keep your profile up to date

A Google Business Profile isn’t a one-and-done marketing project. Instead, it’s a local marketing tool that needs continued effort to improve your online visibility and maximize your gains.

Make sure you constantly add to your profile and keep your information up to date. This includes hours of operation, photos, website, and all other pertinent information.

Publishing posts and new pictures often will help keep your customers engaged. It is also a great way to showcase new and upcoming promos, products, and services.

Use Google Posts

Google Posts is a free feature on Google My Business that allows you to share information with your customers right on the Knowledge Panel. You can write a post, add photos and videos, and even create events.

Google Posts pops up in the Knowledge Panel for local businesses when a customer searches for your business on Google.com or Google Maps. Google Posts expire after seven days, so it’s essential to keep your content fresh.

Encourage customer reviews

Positive customer reviews can significantly impact your business’s visibility online. In fact, they are often one of the first things people look for when researching a business.

You can encourage customers to leave reviews by including review buttons on your website and providing easy instructions for how to leave a review on Google. You can also email customers after having a positive experience with your business.

Be sure to respond to any negative reviews and work to resolve the situation.

Let Ecwid Help You Succeed

If you’re looking to learn more about increasing your business’s visibility online, be sure to check out our blog for the latest tips and tricks. Also, you can get your store up and running online for free with the help of Ecwid.

Ecwid makes online sales a breeze with an easy-to-use platform that allows you to manage inventory, listings, and sales across multiple platforms. Why wait? Sign up for a free account today!

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Mar 23, 2022

About the author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.