Your Google Business page has never been more important. Here’s why.
Anyone else going stir crazy during quarantine?
Hustling to see your dreams and passions come to fruition in this weird and turbulent time?
We get it.
There are a lot of things that we cannot do right now, but here’s one thing you can do, something that will do some heavy lifting for you and your business if done right. The magic ticket to saving some effort, in the long run, is to update your Google My Business page.
Google is the #1 website used in the world. That being said, we want to make sure Google works with your business, not against it. Here are a few steps to get started and get your business on the right foot post-COVID19:
Claim Your Business’s Google Page
Run, don’t walk. Claim the Google My Business page you rightfully deserve.
If you are a business owner and have yet to claim your listing, that means that you have not been in control of what people are seeing when they are searching for you, which is a big no-no. You have the power to update photos, information about your business, and create user-friendly avenues to convert leads into sales. Start by clicking here.
Update Your Business Description
Next, make sure that your Google My Business description has been updated.
Think about it: if someone is searching for more information on your business, and the Google My Business listing is the first piece of information they take in, wouldn’t you want them to have a full understanding of who you are and what you can do for them? Your GMB description allows you to (in 750 characters or less) promote your business and how you can bring value to your target market’s lives. This is also a great way to promote brand exposure; do you have your elevator pitch down? If not, well, practice makes perfect.
Make As Much Information Accessible as Possible
Nowadays, when people are looking for information, they’re looking for the fastest and most efficient way to find it. It is extremely important that you have all updated information about your business accessible on your Google My Business page, especially if you have different office hours than you normally do or if there are specific instructions about conducting your business during the COVID19 crisis. If you’re able to have information about your business accessible within the first 1-2 clicks of a Google search, not only does that provide your customer the information they need, but also makes a subconscious impression that your business is a valid and trustworthy source they can count on.
Take *Quality* Photos of Your Office Space
Now is the perfect time to clean up your space and take some nice photos that will show up when people search for your business. Photos that are people and car-free can REALLY help in the long run. Not everyone has the means to buy a professional camera or hire a photographer to come in. We get it! But with some natural light and good angles, you can take some quality photos on your cell phone. Here are some great apps to download and take advantage of if you want to take it to the next level and do some editing!
Update Your Profile With Google Posts
Google My Business gives a unique opportunity to create content that is real-time and can add value to your audience’s experience. Utilizing Google posts, you can create content that displays when your site appears in search results. You have full power over the content you publish, whether that is through text posts, images, videos, or event promotions. This is simply another way for you to share relevant information about your business and create a “touch” between you and your target audience, and it’s free which is always a plus! Not to worry about content being outdated- Google removes Google posts 7 days after the published date. If you are promoting an event, the post will disappear only after the event date has passed.
Booking Appointments
If your business would benefit from online bookings for appointments, Google My Business is already one step ahead. Google My Business has created a feature that allows customers to make reservations through a link that the user clicks, which then directs them to your landing page where they can schedule from your site. Google My Business is all about making life easier for your potential customers, so this is a great way to make information readily available and accessible to convert a lead into a sale. Not only is this helpful to your customers, but it is also helpful to your employees as well.
Add a Question & Answer Segment
If you find that customers are asking questions that you think would be valuable for others to know the answers to, you can set up a Q&A segment on your Google My Business profile. This allows for your customers to get answers fast and allows for information to be accessible at their fingertips. And don’t worry- you have complete control over what questions show up. You can take down complaints and irrelevant questions on this portion of your profile, and allow the information that is most helpful to shine through.
Have a Trusted Source Experience Your GMB Page
Take the time to ask your spouse, a friend, another business owner you trust, etc. to vet out your Google My Business page. Let them play tourist and conduct the entire research process on their own- after they finish, ask for their feedback. What didn’t make sense? How could you improve your wording or choices for describing the business? The easier to follow the better.
We understand that the internet can be an intimidating space for some business owners. With so many opportunities to sell yourself, it can be overwhelming to figure out what to do next. We hope you know that your friends at Vector & Ink are here to help and provide information to help you with digital marketing during this time.
Please feel free to reach out to Vector & Ink about photography needs when it comes to Google My Business endeavors!