Manage Your Business on Google
Having a local business nowadays is tough work. Competition can be ruthlessly fierce, and getting ahead of the curve can feel tricky. Oftentimes, many of the tips that can be found online suggest spending a pretty penny in many forms of marketing (e.g. – Google ads, television ads, etc). But these forms of advertising often have a very steep asking price, and maybe you are looking to market your business in a more cost-effective manner. We love to help out small businesses and see them succeed. For this blog post, we set out to do just that; below you will find several marketing strategies that we have found to be successful.
What is a Google Business Profile?
Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business) is a free tool for businesses and organizations to manage their online presence across Google including Search and Maps. With a simple interface designed for businesses of all sizes; you can verify that customers know who they’re looking at when browsing local listings by editing information about yourself or reviewing existing profiles in order make sure everything shows up correctly on page one!
The Importance of Google Business Profile
Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the most valuable tool at the disposal of local business owners is called Google Business Profile. It’s easy to set up and easy to maintain. Whenever you make a search, Google will use your location to pull up a list of the most noteworthy establishments related to your search inquiry. This is one of the first things that Google will show you, precursed only by paid Google ads. Getting your business a Google Business Profile is a simple process. Below we have listed a quick tutorial on how to set up your business’s profile.
How to Set Up Your Google Business Profile
Optimizing your Google Business Profile
With your Google Business Profile page set up, it is now time to begin bolstering your account. The first thing you’ll want to do is fill out all the necessary information. Adding business hours, location and a brief description should all be a top priority. Now that the basic information has been made available, it is time to begin posting semi-regularly to ensure your business continues to climb Google’s algorithm. To do this, you’ll want to regularly post. Adding new pictures is a great way to get your foot in the door. On top of this, you’ll want to post written content to the recent updates section. Brief paragraphs with mini-updates will do just fine. If you are already posting to Facebook or Instagram, it is totally okay to double-up and reuse certain posts.
How to respond to Google reviews
Actively keeping tabs on your Google Business Profile is a great way to build a relationship with your customers. Nowhere else is this more apparent than with the Google Business Profile review system. Responding to Google reviews (both good, bad, and mixed) is a great way to build up respect between buyers and sellers and boost your business for local SEO results. Negative reviews can sting and some of these are left by spammers who haven’t even done business with you. These reviews can be reported and hopefully removed in time. However, responding to reviews with genuine feedback is so important. While shopping around many customers will take a peep at reviews; and if they see that genuine criticism is being responded to with care, they will be more likely to give you that business.
Closing Thoughts
Playing the “Google algorithm game” might feel like you’re constantly hitting a dead end. But success can be found; it just takes a bit of time and dedication. Hopefully, you’ll be able to take this newfound knowledge and find great success. We’re rooting for you! If you have any questions, be sure to reach out to us. We’d love to hear from you.
