You are a small business or an SME and you recently made your first steps on the web with the creation of a website or a Facebook page (or you are considering it soon).
You are looking for all the tricks to be present on the web and develop your visibility especially at the local level, but your budget is a bit ric-rac. Do not panic!
I have the solution: turn to a free solution by creating a Google My Business page that has many benefits including the 10 that I present in this article.
What is Google My Business?
Google My Business is a free service launched in June 2014 by the search engine. Very easy to use with ease of registration, it can be positioned on Google.
Before launch, it was necessary to register for its various services: Google +, Google Address and Google Maps. With My Business, only one registration is enough instead of many before. It is to satisfy its users that Google has created this service.
Who is Google My Business for? It is aimed at SMEs and very small businesses and all types of companies, especially with a local activity. The condition is to have a shop because an establishment carrying out an activity only online will be refused.
There is also a mobile app to manage your Google My Business page.
Let’s now discover 10 interests of having a Google My Business page.
Why create a Google My Business page?
Have a presence and visibility online
If you create a Google My Business page, people will have access to all your information as if they were visiting your physical store. But in addition, you make sure to be visible 24h / 24h 7d / 7d everywhere in the world and to make known to your future customers and you develop your reputation.
They will be able to know the name of your establishment, your address, your telephone number, your days and opening hours (therefore, users know your closing periods). Even without an address, that is, if you have a home business, you can have a Google My Business page.
In addition to this information, they will be able to access your photos (indoor or outdoor), a virtual visit via Street View, a map via Google Maps, a link to your website if you have one.
You can even insert a URL with your menus if you are a restaurant, a bar or an establishment serving food or drinks… or an URL with the services offered if you are a hairdresser, owner of a fitness center…
You can even configure attributes if you offer a wifi connection, a terrace to accommodate your customers…
To give a good impression
Having an online presence contributes to a positive image. In addition, reviews (provided that they are positive) posted on Google or those from Facebook serve to reassure Internet users. Creating a Google My Business page (just like a website or page on social networks) is a guarantee of trust for your prospects.
With a Google My Business page, you’re twice as likely to be trusted as if you do not have one (Google Source).
Interest in your photos
Having pretty pictures, as long as they are good and respect certain rules (between 10K and 5 MB, a minimum resolution of 720px X 720px) serves to arouse interest and attract the attention of Internet users. Make beautiful shots by taking your dishes if you are a restaurateur, the front and the interior of your beauty salon if you are a beautician, your yards finished if you are a craftsman.
Please note that photos provide an average of 42% more route requests on Google Maps and 35% more clicks to your website compared to an establishment that does not have a Google My Business page (Google Source).
Exchanging with Internet users
An My Business page is also used to interact with your prospects or customers who leave comments.
Whether the reviews are positive or negative, do not forget to answer them. If you do not bother to answer them, you will be considered someone who is not very professional. On the contrary, ensuring it is a good way to retain your current customers and acquire new ones.
Be referenced (locally)
Create a Google My Business page allows you to appear in 3 or 4 different places: in Google’s search results (right-side inset or between advertising and natural results), Google + and Google Maps.
Being geolocated on Google Maps helps generate routes for users, especially for mobile users. But especially, its main interest is to improve the local referencing of your establishment.
Share your news
From your Google My Business page, you can create posts to inform your prospects of your news, special offers or news… This published content must be relevant and help users better understand your business.
You can turn your publication into an event and even add a call-to-action button “Book”, “Registration”, “Buy”, “I’m taking advantage of it”.
Get statistics
From Google My Business, you get a variety of valuable data to improve the content of your business page. Different information is available like the number:
- of people who have contacted you by phone
- of route requests
- people who visited your website
- pictures of your business and similar businesses
Stand out from your competitors
Many companies do not use this Google service. Being present at My Business helps you to stand out from your competitors and get ahead of them.
Be able to create a free website
Since June 2017, Google offers a website creation tool but the prerequisite is to have a Google My Business page. Thanks to the information contained in your page, Google will automatically create a website. After, you can customize your site by editing the images, text and the graphic theme. Then you have to choose a domain name then publish your website which will have the advantage of being responsive.
Conclusion
Now you understand why it is essential to have a Google My Business page. With this list of arguments extolling its merits, I’m sure you have one thing in mind: create one as soon as possible.
If you prefer to be accompanied by the best SEO agency for the creation of your Google My Business page then visit TopXListing now.
