GOOGLE MY BUSINESS

Google is constantly evolving to keep up with its users’ needs and stay on the cutting edge, and one such way it is refining its experience is through Google My Business. Google My Business is the platform by which consumers can search for businesses and services near them via Google Search and Maps. It is crucial for local businesses to create a Google My Business account and optimize it to get found, stand out, and get chosen by local customers. Whether you have a listing or not, you may be confused as to what exactly Google My Business is.

What is a Google My Business listing?
Google My Business is a tool created to help businesses manage their online presence across the Google platform. A Google My Business account (or listing, or profile) can be considered a combination of an online directory listing and a social media profile.

As with an online directory, business owners must create and claim ownership of a Google My Business listing and populate it with vital information such as hours, location, and photos.

As with social media platforms, business owners can publish posts to their Google My Business profile. Similar to social media stories, these posts are not permanent—they delete after 7 days. Also similar to social media, customers can upload photos of your business to your listing without leaving a review. However, they can leave a review if they want to.

Do I need a Google My Business profile?
Yes! There are many benefits of a Google My Business listing.

• First, it enables you to show up in Google Search and Maps, giving you maximum visibility as well as instant credibility with potential customers who find you there.

• Second, your listing is interactive, which makes it easy for potential customers to engage with your business.

• Third, it contains all of the information customers use to decide whether to choose you over a competitor.

• Fourth, your profile affords ample opportunities to showcase your best features.

• Finally, a Google My Business listing can help improve the organic rank of your website and help you to attract more customers.

What is the difference between a Google Maps and Google My Business listing?
The short answer is: your Google Maps listing is your Google My Business listing.

As mentioned above, Google My Business is solely the concern of business owners. General consumers do not create an account for, log into, or search Google My Business; they use Maps and Search. Business owners create a Google My Business listing so they show up in those searches. Google My Business also provides business owners with tools to gain insights into their audience.

Google Maps is the public-facing online directory and navigation tool that consumers use to explore and get directions to the products and services they need. A user can search Google Maps itself, but a regular Google search will also pull Maps info for its local results section (located beneath the paid search results and above the organic results).

Anyone can use Google Maps and anyone can add a location to Google Maps. However, to have control over your business listing, you must create a Google My Business profile and claim that listing.

How do I get my business on Google?
In order to get your business on Google, you must set up a Google My Business listing. You can then optimize your listing to rank higher in search results and get chosen by consumers. Google’s driving focus behind creating the Google My Business platform is to create an accurate online representation of the physical world.

Let us help you create your Google My Business Account. Call us today.