The benefits of Google My Business

Google My Business (GMB) is a free business tool that helps businesses of all sizes to create and maintain a listing on Google. GMB helps businesses appear in people’s searches and on Google Maps, meaning your business can attract new customers and share information. 

Within your Google listing, you can link to your social media profiles and your website and display any Google reviews your business has. You cannot disable Google reviews, which many see as a negative, but reviews show customers that your business is legitimate and can give them an insight into what you do. People trust what people say about a business more than what that business says about itself - a good review could influence whether a potential client parts with their money or not.

If you want to get the most out of your GMB listing, you need to make sure that you’ve given Google as many details about your business as you can. With more information, Google can better match your business to potential customers’ searches. To draw people’s eyes to your listing, you can even also images; these could be of staff serving customers within your business, infographics, menus, pictures of your office and more. According to Google, businesses that include photos within their GMB listing receive 42% more clicks for directions, and 35% more clicks to their website. 

One great feature of GMB is that you can include recent post updates and any special offers your business may currently be running. Promoting offers is a great way to increase your website traffic and sales. 

The category your business falls underdetermines whether you’re eligible for GMB’s additional features, which are as follows:

• Businesses that are heavily service-oriented can include a service menu and booking button

• Restaurants and bars can upload their menus and add links for customers to place online orders and reservations

• Small to medium-sized businesses can add a product catalogue

• If you are a hotel, you can display your ‘star’ rating and list amenities available

If, after you’ve created your profile, you think you qualify for these additional features but you cannot see them as an option, you may have accidentally chosen the wrong category for your business; it’s worth double-checking your choices.

Maybe you offer free Wi-Fi or wheelchair access and want potential customers to know - you can include this, too. You may wish to mention that your business is led by women, for example.

Google My Business has a lot to offer, and it’s definitely worth creating. Follow the link to start creating your free listing: https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/business/