There are billions of internet searches every single day, and about 75% of monthly desktop/laptop searches come from Google. Yet 56% of local businesses are missing out on one of the biggest super moves to get seen on Google: claiming
their Google My Business listing.
If this is you, you need to stop everything and get this done because it can help you be seen on the first page of Google for local searches. And since the first page captures the majority of traffic and clicks, how much money, customers, leads, etc., are you missing out on by not having your Google My Business listing claimed and optimized? Below are the specific steps I’d recommend every business take to ensure they are visible to their ideal and likely buyers.
1. Go to business.google.com, click “manage now” and follow the prompts. It is important to fill out every single section in its entirety to have a complete business listing. Fill out as many categories that apply to your business. Also, make sure to include the correct phone number and website. I cannot tell you how many times we see the wrong phone number or URL in a Google Business listing.
2. Fill out your business description. This is an opportunity to set your company apart from others. Make sure to highlight your services that match the business categories you’ve selected. I’d also suggest having a great “no-brainer” offer that makes it easy for potential customers to decide to use your product or service (e.g., “Try us for only $1”).
3. Upload photos, videos and/or a virtual tour. A virtual tour can be a great way to show potential customers the experience they can expect from your business. However, you should only do a tour if you have a storefront that you are proud to show off to the world. Photos (make sure they look good!) can show customers you and your team, action photos of your product or service in action and, of course, more cat photos! (Joking about the cat photos.) Also, video testimonials can be uploaded to share previous customer experiences. This leads me to my next point …
4. Get reviews. This is super important for both your Google My Business ranking and your potential customers. How many times have you chosen to go to a certain place due to the reviews? Make sure you are intentional about getting objective reviews from your customers. Make this a focus for you and your entire team to get a review from everyone that uses your services. Never stop getting reviews. You can also respond to reviews from your Google My Business dashboard to show engagement with your customers. A great way to ask for reviews is to inform your customers that you are always looking for feedback and ways to make their experience even better, so any comments would be greatly appreciated.
If you have not claimed your Google My Business listing, it doesn’t mean that you don’t have one. It could have been created by someone else, like a past customer, because Google tracks trends and usage, so you can often have a listing that is not verified. You can check this by Googling your company’s name and see if a Google Map listing pops up. By verifying it, you can ensure that you are in control of the information that is being shared online about you.
Getting on the first page of Google for organic listings can be a very long and costly undertaking, but claiming your Google listing is free and can help you start seeing results to rank on page one. This is something that businesses can do immediately and start seeing increases in sales/leads. Stop reading this article and go claim that listing!
