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Undoubtedly, GMB (Google my business) is a vital channel for lead generation. As many new companies are coming into local search engines, only having a Google browsing listing is not enough to generate leads. Business People must use all of Google my business’s tools to grow their business.
Google business searches are increasing drastically, which optimizes GMB profile quite apparent. You may be surprised that more than 56% of local shopkeepers have not yet claimed Google my business, which creates an opportunity for other Business owners to compete with their competitors.
Want to grow your business? You should know effective ways to use Google my business for lead generation. If a business owner keeps these things in mind, their business will rank on search engines.As a result, people will get your business recommendations when they search “business name” near me.
» Write the Correct NAP (Name, Phone Number, and Address)
Want to rank business well in local business reaches? If yes, then you must add accurate NAP to your GMB profile. Change the details immediately if the contact information is incorrect, outdated, or inconsistent. This is because incorrect details can create big inconvenience for the customers, which is enough to lose them.
Customers can only find the business if details are written on the profile. For example, if the number of the owner is updated wrong, customers will not be able to contact them. This may look simple, but most businesses fail to update NAP information.
According to the data, more than 71% of the customers are not satisfied with the information on local business profiles. If you don’t want to lose customers, update the correct information.
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› Select the Right Business Category
Do you know that Google my business category is the most crucial factor that helps the business to rank on local business searches? It plays a vital role in showing business to the right audience; choosing a primary business category is essential to rank it in local searches.
Google categorizes the business based on details filled in by businessmen and prospective customers. For example, if a realtor also does appraisals and does not mention it on the profile, Google will show him in both categories: real-estate agency and appraiser.
If businessmen select the correct primary category on Google my business profile, it will increase their business ranking and bring in more customers. For example, if you have a medical shop, if people search “medical shop near me,” your shop will be shown on top because it is your primary category. One can use the following step to edit their business category.
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- First, create an account on Google my business and log in.
- Tap on “info” and tap.
- Under the business name, you will bet the primary category; click on the pencil icon.
- Edit the primary category and save it.
› Make the Audience Feel Safe
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This is a fact that people only trust the business that makes them feel safe and secure. According to the data, 62% of people prefer that companies enforce their safety guidelines. After the pandemic, customers got curious about their safety and security.
A business can only attract customers if it provides correct information about social distancing and other pandemic protocols. Therefore, make sure to add the following guidelines to your business.
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- Mandatory mask
- Safety drivers
- No-contact delivery
Ensure you are filling in all the essential information to build trust with customers and Google. Recently Google introduced May AI-based updates for Google my business and maps. Some of these updates include:
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- Indoor Live View
- Updated directions interface
- Eco-friendly tweaks to maps
- Pickup pilot program
Also, to grow the business, Google has added many new features like delivery providers, order minimums, pickups, and fees. Make use of all these updates and fill in the correct information to attract customers.
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› Upload photos to the profile.
According to Google, businesses with uploaded photos get 35% more clicks on their website and 42% more requests for driving directions. This ultimately means the more photos you upload to the business listing, the more customers the business will attract.
Let’s take a real-life example; suppose if you want to buy something from the local market and search on Google for the shop. You will most likely select the shop with enough photos of their shop and the products they sell. Therefore, add high-quality photos to the profile. Even feel free to hire a photographer if needed.
The process of adding photos to the Google profile is straightforward. A businessman will find a photos section on the right side of many of their GMB accounts. One should add the following photos to their profile to increase the chances of ranking on top results.
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- At least post three photos of the shop, taken at different times of the day, to know how the shop looks in the morning, noon, and evening.
- Add clear photos of the product and services the business offers.
- Three interfold pic showing the main counter and products
- Photo of the main area, like the reception
- For the cafés add the photos of most selling café
- For hotels, add a pic of guest rooms of a different budget.
› Maintain healthy Reviews
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Reviews are the second most crucial factor that can help a business to increase its rank on local business searches. As a businessman, you must manage healthy reviews by providing best-in-class products and services to customers. Doing this will have a tremendous impact on local search-ranking businesses.
Google prioritized reviews for ranking the business because more than 89% of customers read reviews of the company before making any purchase. Also, people only believe the latest reviews. You may be surprised to know that 69% of people think reviews older than three months are of no use.
Recently, Google updated GMB with a ‘new’ label for recently added reviews on the business. This is something that tells how many priority reviews Google has. The ultimate motive of this update is to alert the customers to a new review, which must be given more importance.
Therefore, asking for regular customer reviews is the most effective way to rank the business on GMB. Invest in seam lining rewets because it is a crucial element that will help a shopkeeper to boost their conversations with customers.
The ultimate goal of every business is to attract new customers to be profitable. As an owner, you must ensure that the company provides satisfactory services to its customers. This is because people will only give positive reviews when they love the product and services offered by the business.
» Turn on messaging for the GMB profile.
Customers often check for a specific product or service before visiting the company. Again, according to the data, 67% of people confirm whether their desired product or service is available before visiting the company.
Although Google my business shares the contact number of businesses, 75% of the audience prefer messaging over calling.
This is why businessmen need to add a messaging feature to their GMB. Google has introduced a new feature where customers can directly message the business from their profile.
Now, customers can directly contact their favorite business via mobile or PC with the help of Google chat. This means you can now reply to customers’ queries in no time, creating an opportunity to attract more clients. It helps the business to grow by providing a layer of convenience to the customers.
One can quickly reply to their customer from the notification itself. The best part about the messaging feature is that customers can even book the product by sending some payments. Just write the complete process of booking in the description box, and you are done. Also, when more people send messages, the business will increase its rank in search engines.
› Marketing Software
Managing the listing, quick response, and reviews may look straightforward and effortless, but it is not. Most business owners need help managing these steps. This is where the need to manage software comes in. This software will allow you to work all these things seamlessly.
For example, suppose you are willing to buy an Audi car, so you may search “Audi showroom near me,” Most likely, you will select among the top 3 Google results. The top three are only possible when a business perfectly manages everything.
Therefore most big businesses experience managing software to manage the queries and other factors affecting the rating. Also, it will provide you with some special tools needed to grow a business.
» FAQ for Google My Business Listing
› What is Google My Business listing?
Google My Business listing is one of the most trusted and valuable tools for business owners looking to generate new leads. It provides a comprehensive listing of your local business on the google maps app, enabling potential customers to click directly on your website.
› Is listing on Google My Business Free?
Yes, you do not have to pay anything to list in Google My Business. Using the Google My Business website, businesses can create a listing for free and rank higher on search results. The site uses a barcode scanner to determine business locations, so it has no difficulty reporting accurate results to customers interested in finding a business.
› How do I Set up a Google Business Listing?
The first step is to create a Google My Business listing. To do this, head over to https://my.google.com/mybusiness and register an account with Google. You’ll be taken to the “My Businesses” tab in your settings from there. You can then add your business on your phone or laptop.
› How do I Get my Business Verified on Google?
Getting your business verified on Google is a great way to improve your online reputation and traffic. Google will show your business in the right places, such as Google Maps and Search results, making it easier for visitors to find you. Once you verify your business and get the badge, you’ll start receiving notifications about new visitors and customers coming from Google Maps.
› How Long Does it Take to Get a Business Listed on Google?
The Google listing process can take up to 1 or 2 weeks for the business listing to show up in Google Maps. The important thing to remember is that the process never stops, even if your business is listed on Google. It’s important that you manage your online presence throughout the entire process so that Google doesn’t have any gaps or sudden changes in content.
» Conclusion
Undoubtedly, Google by business is the most effective way to attract customers from the local market. But one can only reach customers who will take care of all the aspects discussed above. It is essential to manage all these things together to get fruitful results. First, think with a customer mindset and make the changes accordingly.
Author Bio: Melissa Howard
Melissa Howard is a managing partner at Split Reef, a web design & digital marketing company that helps to grow businesses online and create high-performing responsive websites for your business. Our team can also help you develop customized iOS mobile applications for business needs.
