Google My Business (GMB) Listing is a completely FREE business directory listing offered by Google to help a local business be more searchable and easier to find. It helps the person searching by providing directions, reviews and additional information on the business. If you search for a specific company’s name, this listing (if they have one) will come up on the right side of the page if you are on a computer or at the top of the page if you search on your phone.
When you search for business category on Google, what is the first thing to come up? Google ads (up to four) come up at the very top of the page followed by a map with listings of businesses, which fit the search term you used. This map is pulling from the GMB listings. This allows businesses to be found that maybe you don’t even know about. For example in the image below, you will see that I searched for “Hair Salons” but I didn’t specify a location. Google pulled from my IP address at my company’s office in Delray Beach and shows two ads at the top as well as the first three listings for “Hair Salons”. I can then click ‘View More’ to see the rest of the listings.
Google determines local ranking based on three important aspects:
- Relevance: how well a local listing matches what someone is searching for
- Distance: How far the search result is from the location term used. For example, if I search for Hair Salons in West Palm Beach, a Delray location shouldn’t show up. If I am in Delray and search Hair Salons and don’t add a location, Google will try to pull my location based on my cell phone or IP address and give me the closest listings.
- Prominence: This refers to how well-known a business is. It is also based on information that Google collects from across the web.
Optimize your company’s Google My Business listing
- Verify Your Business and Locations: If you are the business owner and you either don’t have a listing or haven’t claimed your listing, you will want to do this asap. The only way to improve the listing by adding to it is to have it verified. You are also able to have multiple office locations but each needs to be verified as well.
- NAP: Name, address and phone need to be the consistent across all listings starting with your Google My Business Listing. The address on this listing should coincide with the “correct” address on Google maps and be consistent on your website, social media and other citations, directory listings or websites.
- Complete All Data: Make sure to complete all of the information on a GMB listing. There are multiple sections on a GMB listing so don’t forget to review and fill in all of the information requested.
- Relevant Business Categories: Business categories are based on a set list that Google has provided. Google does allow you to have more than one business category and you are able to add Services with service descriptions for each category.
- Photos: Don’t forget to add images to your listing including a logo, any outside images of your office building, inside images and team head shots.
- Reviews: Probably one of the most important aspects of GMB are the reviews. Don’t forget to ask your clients for a review once your business is complete. More and more consumers and businesses are going on Google to check out a company’s ratings. When you receive reviews, don’t forget to respond to them, even if it is simply with a thank you for the business. The more specific you can be with the details, the better in proving authenticity on a review. To assist your clients, we recommend going to your GMB listing and get the actual Review Link to send out.
- Special Announcements: Businesses are able to post special announcements on their GMB feed. These might include special hours for a holiday or any closures for special circumstances.
- Regular Posting: Google is always looking for new content whether on a website or a GMB page. Don’t forget to continue to ask for reviews or make a post about a new project or blog.
Your Google My Business listing is one of the most important things that you can keep up to date and accurate! Take the time to ask your clients for reviews. On the flip side, if you have a positive experience with another business, don’t forget to take the time to post a review. That business will appreciate it.
