The days of looking up a business in the Yellow Pages are long gone. If you own a brick-and-mortar business, you are most likely doing things like posting on social media, writing blogs, and sending out marketing emails to get the word out and get customers in the door. One of the most underutilized digital marketing efforts that is often overlooked is Google My Business.
Google My Business is an online directory that has taken the place of print phonebooks. If your business has a Google account, you can claim your Google My Business account for free. Why should you claim your Google My Business account? Below are six reasons why you should:
- Your business will show up in searches BEFORE organic searches.
Just by creating your Google My Business account, your company can show up in searches before any of the organic results on the search page. Organic results are the search results that show up that are not paid advertising. The more information you have on your Google My Business account, the higher it will rank.
2. Your business will appear on the Google Maps area of a search page.
If you have a Google My Business account, the maps section of Google will populate with markers that meet a customer’s search criteria. This is a great benefit to you, because it allows potential customers to see how close they are to you so they can visit your business.
3. Your business will rank higher in searches.
Because of the first two points made above, you now have more of a chance to rank higher in Google searches. The more activity you have on your Google My Business account, the higher you will continue to rank. Updating your account with weekly pictures and weekly posts can help you stand out better in searches.
4. People will learn more about your business online.
If you are continuously posting pictures and creating posts on your Google My Business account, people will learn more about your business and what it is all about. Posting photographs, such as the services or products you offer, what your business looks like inside, and photos of your staff, is a great way to give your potential customers a feel of your business. In turn, this will get them walking through your door!
5. Stand out from your competition.
Since Google My Business is so underutilized, having an account already puts you in front of your competitors. Suppose you have a completed account that includes a description of your business, pictures, reviews, relevant keywords, and you can show authenticity. In that case, your business will stand out from your competitors that are not using Google My Business or who don’t have a completed account.
6. It’s FREE!
In our opinion, this is the most significant perk to having a Google My Business account. It costs you nothing! It is free advertising on the largest search engine out there.
Millions of Google searches happen every day. By having a Google My Business account, you allow your business to be more visible to your potential customers. These benefits will only grow and become more valuable in the future. Set up your Google My Business account today to start reaping these benefits for your business.
If you need help setting up your Google My Business account and managing it, reach out to Keep It Real Social, and we will be happy to help.
Grab our free Google My Business tip sheet and DIY social media audit worksheet, just for KRS subscribers!
