Google My Business has grown to become one of Google's most popular products. Google itself even says that "My business is Google’s product that helps people find and connect with your business on Google." 

Every day, billions of people use Google to search for a wide variety of information — a local coffee shop, home repair tips, fashion trends, celebrity news, and so much more.

It's a way for businesses to manage their Google listing, including Google Maps. With Google My Business, you can claim your business information so that it appears in search results on Google.com and across Google Maps. 

If you are a small business owner, then there are many benefits to using Google My Business. Not only can it help increase traffic to your website, but it also allows you to better manage the reviews and feedback left by customers. 

In this blog, we will discuss the benefits of Google My Business for small businesses so you can decide if it's something worth investing in!

What is Google My Business?

Google My Business is Google's product that helps people find and connect with your business on Google. With Google My Business, you can manage the information Google uses to advertise your business across different Google properties like Google Search and Maps.

It will allow your business listing to show up alongside other related local businesses whenever someone looks up your business name or a related term. Your business information like your phone number, website, address, review ratings, hours, and more will all be available on one easy screen for potential customers.

Claiming a listing makes it easier for customers to learn about where they’re headed:  Customers will be able to get accurate directions and hours of operation from search results (Google Maps) or ads (AdWords). - Managing how users see your business in local search results lets you control what information appears online so potential customers know exactly who you are when they look for you: You may choose whether or not this includes one name, multiple names, or other identifying terms such as "Plumbing."

Benefits of Google My Business

1.Better Visibility From Google Search & Maps

While a quick Google search is effective for narrowing down options especially for consumers on a mobile device— 86% of people use Google Maps to locate businesses nearby. According to Search Engine Watch, 50% of the  people who use mobile phones for local searches end up visiting a store.

Notice the highly visible map and the list of business names that appear right on top of the page whenever you search for places on Google? That’s called the Local Pack, which is highly visible because it's the first thing any Google user will see after they type in their query and it enables users to see the information they need at a glance

The Local Pack is a Search Engine Results Page (SERP) which displays the places related to your search. It also includes a bunch of other relevant information that any potential customer might want access to — where it’s located on the map, the business’s contact number in case potential customers have additional questions or want to make a quick reservation, store hours, and even the establishment’s star rating. It’s a convenient feature for both the business and the customers.

By simply creating a Google My Business listing and completing the verification steps, your store location will start to pop up for local searches in Maps as well.

2.Google My Business Easily Host Customer Reviews

Google My Business allows customers to leave ratings, reviews, and images on your listing. Think of it as a more modern and personalized version of Yelp.

One must never underestimate the power of customer reviews, especially when it comes to search rankings. Online reviews are thought to make up 10% of how search engines rank results.

Many rely on reviews when making decisions about their purchases. In fact, as much as 93% of customers might be influenced by online reviews. In other words, almost all of them.

It’s because these little blocks of text are testimonies of actual consumers who weren’t paid by the company to promote their product or service. Thus, people feel that they’re more credible, and so, many believe what they say.

Now, how do you maintain a balance to keep your Google My Business reviews in green?

You monitor and respond to your Google My Business reviews.

Don’t wait for customers to go to your Google My Business Account. Instead, share a short URL with customers on your online and social media platform to drive reviews your way.

3.Google My Business Can Increase Your Traffic

A common challenge local businesses face is that of getting an increase in quality website traffic as well as in-store visits. According to Google, Just by having a listing and showing up in local searches, businesses are 70% more likely to attract local visits from browsing users, thereby increasing traffic and sales. 

Plus, your Google My Business listing can pull in up to 35% more clicks to your website. So, your local listing will grow your traffic in more ways than one—both on the web and on foot!

4.Google My Business Profile Helps You To Rank Higher in Results

Your Google My Business can be one of your most powerful SEO tools. But it’s not enough to add a few contact details. You’ll have to optimize your Google My Business to see the best results.

Google wants to tell customers about your business because it needs to provide searchers with valuable information. The more Google knows about your business, the higher it will rank you on the search engine and Maps results.

How do you get Google to favor your business more? By supplying quality, consistent, and accurate information. Your Google My Business profile is the best way to feed Google this information so that it can successfully meet your consumers’ search needs.

5. Google My Business Can Teach You More About Your Customers

Google My Business will not only promote your product or service, it will also help you understand the market. From your Google My Business page, navigating to the Insights section will give you a wealth of valuable analytics that breaks down how visible your brand is, who your target customers are, and how they’re engaging with your business.

These insights on important areas  are powerful features to assist you in creating strategies and in making decisions. This tool enables you to access statistics and insights that can help determine where your audience is coming from.

It’s no secret that the more you know about your customers, the better you’ll be able to appeal to them.

Conclusion:

Any company looking to grow its local reach, visibility, and profitability should be using Google My Business. If you’re short on time, you could also find a marketing partner to help you with Google My Business. Either way, we know Google My Business isn’t a want-to-have, but a need-to-have asset to your marketing plan.

The benefits of Google My Business are vast, and companies who take the time to optimize and manage their profiles are more likely to gain more reach and sales from nearby customers. Remember to optimize and update your GMB listing weekly, monthly or quarterly. Take care of your Google My Business listing and it will take care of you.

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