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Everything about Google my business (GMB)

Get to know the benefits of Google my business, why you should have one, why optimization makes sense and how to get reviews!
Win the local battle with Google my business – it's FREE!!

What is Google My Business?

Google my business is a FREE and easy-to-use tool that helps businesses promote their products and services to local customers on Google.com and oogle Maps. With Google my business, businesses can create a listing with information like hours of operation, contact information, and photos. Businesses can also add coupons to their listing, and manage to post information for their listing. If you ever searched for something near me in the Google Maps mobile app, you might used the benefits of Google my business already. It is perfect for mobile users and local searches to find near me interests.

 

How do I get my business on Google – Setting It Up?

To be able to upload information and manage your business directory, we recommend you create a Google my Business Account if you haven't already. Once you've got your listing set up for your business on Google, make sure that the phone number and website listed are correct and up-to-date. That way customers can find you easily online or on their mobile devices.

Add the physical address, business hours,logo, your business category, and a business description with max. 750 characters for your business. Make sure you fill out everything about your business information. It helps the local search ranking (Google maps) to include your main keywords in the description! Google reads everything to serve customers best!

You can also upload photos for your listing by clicking on the “Add photo” button at the bottom of the page. Make sure to use high-resolution photos that show your business in the best light. If you have a short video clip of your business, then you can upload this as well.

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How can I optimize my Google my business?

The best thing you can do to optimize your Google my business is to provide valuable content for customers. Content includes the information that you choose to display on your GMB profile, as well as the reviews that are left by customers. If Google sees that people are leaving positive reviews about your company and/or visiting your web page(s), you will be more likely to show up in SERPS (search engine results pages).

If you need further help with optimizing your Google my business for local SEO – we are here to help you!
Simply write us an email and we'll get back to you within 24 hours!

 

What are the benefits of Google reviews?

Google reviews are one of the most important factors that help businesses rank higher on Google. When you get a review from a customer, it not only helps your business rank higher but also helps your business show up in local search results. Plus, customers are more likely to trust businesses with high-quality reviews. With different plugins for WordPress it is possible to show the Google stars on your website or the Google SERPS.

 

How many stars can I get on Google my business?

The rating system for Google my business goes from one to five stars, and customers can leave a review rating and/or write a review about your company anywhere between one (worst) star and five stars (best rating).

 

How do I get more Google reviews?

There are a few ways to get reviews from your customers. You can ask customers to leave a Google review for your local business after they've had a positive experience with you. You can also send an email request to your customers asking them to write a review. A link for leaving a review directly on your profile is in your Google my business dashboard, 2/3 down.

If you have a physical location, you can put up a sign near the register or at the exit asking customers to leave a review.

Google my business also offers a few features to help you get the most out of your reviews. You can see how many reviews your business has received, and you can filter your reviews by rating, date, and type. You can also respond to reviews from your Google my business account. By responding to reviews, you show your customers that you care about their opinions and that you're listening to what they have to say.

 

What are Google My Business guidelines?

Google my business guidelines help businesses know the dos and don'ts for creating a listing on Google. The guidelines promote consistency, accuracy, and high-quality content across directory listings. These guidelines will also help businesses understand how customers use their listing information to get in touch with a business.

To provide customers with the best experience from Google my business, we recommend you create listings that follow these guidelines. These guidelines include:

– Listing only one location per listing.

– Listing businesses where customers can physically go and transact (this includes doctor's offices and dental practices)

– Listing businesses that own the location, or have written permission to use the business name.

– Creating accounts for your business versus creating multiple listings for different locations of your business under one account.

Here are the complete GMB guidelines, directly from Google.

 

Can I control Google reviews of my business?

Yes, you can control the reviews of your business on Google. You can respond to reviews, and you can also report reviews that violate Google's guidelines.

 

Addressing Negative Reviews On Google My Business

If you have a low star rating on Google review, don't panic. Address the issue head-on and try to resolve it with the customer. By responding to reviews, you show your customers that you care about their opinions and that you're listening to what they have to say. You can also offer a discount or coupon code to apologize for the issue your customers had.

Even with bad reviews, you can rank higher in Google maps. It takes many positive reviews to outweigh one negative review, so don't get discouraged just because of a bad review or two. If there happen to be more than one or two bad reviews on your business listing, then address the issues and try getting them removed. Best option is to get more Google reviews with four or five stars.

Want to improve your customer reviews? Read this blog post about how you can increase Google reviews for your business https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/google-reviews-tips

 

Where are Google reviews shown?

Google reviews can be seen on Google Maps, Google search, and Google my business. They are also used in the local pack and local SERP (Google listing).

 

Can you pay for Google business reviews?

No, you cannot pay for Google business reviews. Google does not allow businesses to pay for reviews, and any attempts to do so may result in a penalty from Google. Instead, focus on providing a great customer experience so that your customers will be more likely to leave a review on their own. It's not even allowed to offer a discount or other benefits for leaving a review!

 

How can I edit the Google my business listing?

The Google my business listing can be edited by the business owner or someone with admin access to the account. To edit the listing, you'll need to have the Google my business login information and log in to your business profile.

 

What is the Google my business verification process?

The Google my business verification process is a way for businesses to prove that they are the rightful owner of the business listing. This can be done by submitting a verification code, or through a phone call or postcard from Google. (See Stap 8 above)

 

What is the verification code from Google my business?

The verification code from Google my business is a unique code that is generated for your business listing. It's used to verify that you're the owner of the business, and it's sent to the email address associated with your Google my business account. If you don't have access to the email address associated with your account, you can ask someone else at your business to access it. You can also call Google to verify your listing.

 

Can I get a notification when someone leaves a review on Google my business?

Yes, you can receive notifications when someone leaves a review on Google my business. To turn on notifications:

– Login to your Google Business Listing account and click “Manage Locations.”

– Click the name of your business.

– Click the menu for that location and select “Notifications” from the options listed. Then check which types of reviews you'd like to receive notifications about (phone calls, online reviews, and Google Posts).

– Click “Save.”

You'll now receive a notification whenever someone leaves a review, whether it's positive, negative, or neutral.

 

What should I do if I see a fake review on Google my business?

If you see a fake review on Google my business, report it to Google. You can report a fake review on Google my business by following these steps:

– Login to your Google My Business and click “Manage Locations.”

– Click the name of your business.

– Scroll down, find the review you want to flag and click the three dots in the top right corner of the review. Then select “Flag as inappropriate.”

– Select the reason for flagging the review and provide any additional information you think is relevant.

– Click “Submit.”

Google takes violations of its policies seriously, and fake reviews can result in a penalty from Google. If you see a fake review, report it right away to help protect your business listing.

 

Can I interact with my customers on Google my business?

Yes, you can interact with your customers on Google my business. Once you installed the GMB business app on your phone, you will get the following message: “Tap to start a live chat with your customers from Google My Business.” After tapping on it, you will be able to see the messages of your customers. If you have more than one location, you can switch between them.

The GMB app also allows you to answer questions about your business. You will get a notification when someone sends you a question. You can also see all the questions that have been asked about your business on the “Questions” tab. You can answer them, or if you don't know the answer, you can ask another member of your team for help.

 

What are Google Posts?

Google Posts are short, 280 character posts that businesses can create and share on Google. They're a great way to keep your business top of mind for customers who are searching your business name, products, or services. You can create then directly form your Dashboard. You always have to be logged in your Google account to do that.

 

How do I know which posts will show up in the search?

Generally, Google Posts with images will have the greatest visibility in search results because they help your business stand out. Posts without images may show up in search results, but they're less likely to be seen because they blend in with the other results on the page.

Posts that are timely and topical are more likely to show up in search results than those that aren't. For example, a post about a sale you're running is more likely to show up than a post about your company's culture and values.

 

How long will posts show up in the search?

Posts that you've created today may show up in some searches as long as eight days from now, and posts that you create over the weekend may not show up until next week. This is because Google uses a variety of signals to determine which posts are most relevant for each search.

Posts that are highly relevant, useful, and timely will show up in search results for longer than those that aren't. However, there's no set time limit for how long a post will stay in the search results.

 

What type of content should I post?

Any content that will help your business stand out to specific audiences is a good choice for posts. This may include sales, deals, coupons, announcements, events, contests, new products or services, support information, holiday hours–virtually any type of news that would be useful to someone searching your business name or location. You can even post about customer stories to showcase the people you serve.

When should I post?

There's no set time that you should post. You can post at any time that works best for your business, as there's no algorithm used to determine which posts will appear in search results. It's also okay to schedule a recurring series of posts, like weekly reminders about your business location.

Google Posts are meant to be short and spontaneous, so you don't want to write a detailed blog post or create an elaborate graphic for each post. Keep them simple and easy to share on social media.

 

Can I re-post content from other sources?

You can sometimes re-post existing content. For example, you can share a post from your business's official Facebook page (if authorized). However, don't re-post any content that violates copyright or other laws. We've seen cases where people have reused existing content and claimed it as their own. That is not a good practice and we never recommend doing this!

 

Can I use someone else's images?

Google Posts can include almost any type of content, including images. You can either use your images or find free stock photos online. Just be sure to credit the photographer or source if you use someone else's image. Stealing images may cause some legal problems. We recommend to get your own images for the business profile.

 

What's the best way to promote my Google Posts?

You can share your Google Posts on social media, in email newsletters, and on your website. You can even link your Google Posts to your website, Google My Business listing, and other online profiles. All together helps your local seo.

For more information check out the official post from google: https://www.blog.google/products/posts/what-are-google-posts/

 

How to use Google My Business for local marketing?

Google my business is the perfect tool for local business because it targets local customers and you will show in the Google maps. This is when people speak about local SEO. By using Google my business, you can increase your online presence and promote your company to potential new customers. This can make you stand out from other local businesses and increase chances that customers visit you instead the competition.

When a customer searches for a near me, your google business profile will show up on Google maps and all the information your company provided – if it is relevant to that search. This means that if your company does not have an active Google my business, you're missing out on sales opportunities.

– Use hashtags to reach local customers: Hashtags are keywords that allow users to search for posts using specific words or phrases. By using local hashtags, you can reach people in your area who are interested in what you have to offer. Now, you target Google maps with your business profile…

– Promote your business on location pages: Have you ever searched for a nearby restaurant or gas station? A location page is where Google displays all the businesses that are near the user. On these pages, your company can advertise your product and services to new customers.

– Create engaging content: Online marketing is about more than just posting links to your website. Customers want to see engaging and valuable content that will help them solve a problem or learn something new. If you can provide this type of content, you'll be more likely to attract customers and keep them coming back for more.

– Use Google my business insights: Insights is a free tool from your Google business listings that provides data about your company's performance with regards to your competitors. By using Google my business insights, you can create a strategy to beat out the competition and improve your ranking in local search results.

Google Ads on Google my business?

Google allows businesses to run ads on their Google my business page. This type of advertising is called “Google Ads.” With Google Ads, you can drive traffic to your business profile by placing ads on Google maps.

 

Can somebody manage my GMB?

Yes, if you are using Google my business, you can let somebody manage your account. This person is called the “manager” within Google my business and will be able to approve or decline customer reviews, post updates about your company, make changes to the website address for your listing, among other things. For more information about how to add a manager to your account, please follow these instructions: https://support.google.com/business/answer/2475757?hl=en&ref_topic=3064111

Many local businesses professional services to manage and optimize their Google my business.

These professionals will generate more business reviews (more Google reviews), handle negative reviews, maintain your business profile and optimize everything to get the best possible position in a Google search.

 

How does an SEO Company include “Google my business” for local digital marketing?

An SEO company can include “Google my business” as part of their local digital marketing services. By setting up and optimizing your Google my business account, the SEO service can help you increase your ranking in local search results and reach more potential customers. Additionally, the SEO agency in Halifax can create engaging content for your website that will help you attract new customers and keep your current customers happier.

 

How can I change my GMB account from “Unverified” to “Verified”?

If you have a Google My Business but it is showing as unverified, this means that you have not yet provided the proper verification information for your company's website. The page usually displays a message asking you to add a custom URL to your website, but there might be other messaging depending on your specific account status.

To change your GMB from unverified to verified, you must provide the following information: 1) Your business name 2) Your physical address 3) The city where you are located 4) A phone number that people can use to contact your business. Once you have provided this information to Google, your business profile should be updated within one week. If it has not been updated after a week, please follow these instructions: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3064111?hl=en

 

How can I change my GMB name?

If you need to make a change to your business listing, such as changing the name or phone number associated with an account, you can do so by following these instructions: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3064111?hl=en&ref_topic=2475757

Can I use my Google my business account to manage AdWords?

Yes, your GMB account can be used to manage your Google Ads account. To link the two accounts, follow these instructions: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3064111?hl=en&ref_topic=2475757

 

Can I syndicate my GMB profile using RSS feeds?

Yes, Google allows you to use RSS feeds to keep up-to-date with your listings. To get the URL for the feed, select “My business” within your GMB dashboard and follow these instructions: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3064111?hl=en&ref_topic=2475757

 

Can I delete my Google My Business?

Yes, you can delete your Google My Business profile. However, before you do, make sure that you've exported all of the information from your account. This includes your business name, address, telephone number, website URL, and hours of operation. Once you've exported this information, you can delete your account by following these instructions: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3064111?hl=en

Sometime it takes Google weeks to remove you from Google maps listing and your company will still show up in a Google search.